The year so far
2021 has been one of those years when life, and not enough hours in the day, have overtaken my writing life. But, I’m getting back into a routine… slowly.
My writing plans for this year were derailed early on. Family health, and my own physical and mental health took priority.
I did manage to get my submission in to The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme (RNA NWS) with five days to spare for the end of July deadline. It was the first 10k of a 1st draft of novel number 3.
This month I’ve completed the remaining research I need for progressing with novel number 2- the contemporary romance that I submitted into the RNA NWS in 2020 and 2021. Early September I’ll be returning to complete the 2nd draft during this autumn/winter.
I’ve also gathered together my old short stories and flash fiction to see what can be reused, or needs updating. Some have connecting themes, others don’t. I know a few should be ‘left in the drawer’, but others deserve to get an airing. That’s a longer term project at the moment.
The big success this year has been my garden. We put in raised beds last year to grow more fresh vegetables, and to freeze portions for over winter. The exercise has done me good, both physically and mentally.
(I did lose a few plants over that 30-40 degree heatwave, but the rest survived.)
Now, I’m working through my annual update of my websites and checking for broken links. And the same with my social media accounts.
My August leisure activity, has been reading my way through a set of romance novels by Julie Garwood. I have a week to finish my current read, Shadow Dance.
Meanwhile
Writers love books; be they hardback, paperback, audio, or ebooks, we have lots of them. So, I thought I’d share pictures of some of the books in my IKEA Billy bookcases. These may be books for research, general interest, or my fiction preferences. If there’s a story attached, I may share it with you.
Look out for my next post in September…
Carol Bevitt - Writer 