So it's already nearly the end of January, which I think means I am well overdue a January accountability post, not to mention a 2018 goals post, and probably just a general update post. Consider this post to be a three for the price of one!
Readers who follow my (sporadic) blog posts will know that last year I was greatly knocked back in my writing by anxiety and depression. I started Slater's Claim in July 2017, and it's still not done. My writing got bogged down, and eventually stopped altogether, because I was in such a low mood. Worrying about work, worrying about my health, worrying that I was no good at writing, worrying that it didn't matter if I stopped, and finally becoming convinced that it absolutely didn't matter if I stopped. So I stopped.
Of course, all of this was in my head. Which is not to say it wasn't real. But once I started taking medication for the depression, I got a better grip on my emotions and worries. Getting through Christmas without any stresses was a big help (it's a difficult time of year for me, as it is for a lot of people). And then going on an amazing holiday in Japan straight after Christmas helped some more. I got to relax, have incredible experiences, and remove myself from some of the physical causes of my anxiety.
Over the past several weeks, I've gradually gotten into a much better state of mind. I'm feeling happier and more level-headed, and ready to pick up Slater's Claim again. One of the nasty things my anxiety always tells me is that the book I'm working on is boring. The only way to confront that is to re-read it and see for myself whether there's any truth to that. I can't always be the best judge of my own work, but it was a relief to me when I genuinely enjoyed what I read. It reminded me that I have a solid plan for the Wild Blood MC series, and I'm excited to get to the next books and the next couples.
So my 2018 goal is pretty simple: focus on Wild Blood MC. My January goal was just to get writing again, which I'm slowly doing. I'm not back at a level I'd like, but I'm definitely doing more than I have been since about September. February's goal will be to finish and submit Slater's Claim. After that, I'll be working on a Naomi Clark book. My plan for the rest of 2018 is to just work on Wild Blood MC books whenever I'm "being Amber." I have plans for another five books in the series in total, and I'm keen to crack on.
So wish me luck! I plan to blog more regularly to keep myself on track, and you can also find me on Facebook and Twitter, naturally. Here's to a creative and productive 2018!
Readers who follow my (sporadic) blog posts will know that last year I was greatly knocked back in my writing by anxiety and depression. I started Slater's Claim in July 2017, and it's still not done. My writing got bogged down, and eventually stopped altogether, because I was in such a low mood. Worrying about work, worrying about my health, worrying that I was no good at writing, worrying that it didn't matter if I stopped, and finally becoming convinced that it absolutely didn't matter if I stopped. So I stopped.
Of course, all of this was in my head. Which is not to say it wasn't real. But once I started taking medication for the depression, I got a better grip on my emotions and worries. Getting through Christmas without any stresses was a big help (it's a difficult time of year for me, as it is for a lot of people). And then going on an amazing holiday in Japan straight after Christmas helped some more. I got to relax, have incredible experiences, and remove myself from some of the physical causes of my anxiety.
Over the past several weeks, I've gradually gotten into a much better state of mind. I'm feeling happier and more level-headed, and ready to pick up Slater's Claim again. One of the nasty things my anxiety always tells me is that the book I'm working on is boring. The only way to confront that is to re-read it and see for myself whether there's any truth to that. I can't always be the best judge of my own work, but it was a relief to me when I genuinely enjoyed what I read. It reminded me that I have a solid plan for the Wild Blood MC series, and I'm excited to get to the next books and the next couples.
So my 2018 goal is pretty simple: focus on Wild Blood MC. My January goal was just to get writing again, which I'm slowly doing. I'm not back at a level I'd like, but I'm definitely doing more than I have been since about September. February's goal will be to finish and submit Slater's Claim. After that, I'll be working on a Naomi Clark book. My plan for the rest of 2018 is to just work on Wild Blood MC books whenever I'm "being Amber." I have plans for another five books in the series in total, and I'm keen to crack on.
So wish me luck! I plan to blog more regularly to keep myself on track, and you can also find me on Facebook and Twitter, naturally. Here's to a creative and productive 2018!
