It's the end of 2014 and I am looking out of my hotel window at bright sunshine over Hong Kong. I have a number of thoughts at the end of the year but, for this blog, I'll concentrate on writing.
My big discovery this year was that I am a lot more comfortable writing stories in the 6-8000 word range than attempting novels. My life has been improved by this discovery because it has allowed me to concentrate on specific short projects with a tight focus.
Secondly, I have found myself writing stories I did not expect to write. I am forming a linked series of stories set in a world which continues to evolve in my head. I'm pleased about this too. The unexpected bit is that this world has vampires in it.
Thirdly, despite being busy with work, I have completed the first draft of 5 stories, a couple of which I regard as essentially finished, subject to the evolution of the world in which they're set. Of the other three: I'm happy with one and, even though it needs revision for some rough patches in the last third of it, I regard it as a key story in developing a style; a second needs to be tightened up a lot in its second half but the story is sound; and the third is good so far as it goes but is the last in the planned series of stories and therefore subject to change as the other stories develop.
All of this has happened because of the encouragement and feedback of my first readers, the wonderful Rosie and Rach.
By this time next year I'd like to be able to report on further growth and development. I'd like to try and draft around a story a month if I can. If I manage this to any sort of quality, then it will turn out to be around (revised) 100,000 words in the year. That sounds like a New Year's Resolution.
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