Summary:

Some ups and downs this week – but overall all a lot more of the former than the latter, due to finishing the first draft of my current novel and a lot of support / encouragement / collaboration / connection / love from various amazing groups of writing / editing friends.

 

Monday:

I spent a happy morning working on my two current paid editing projects – fantasy online RPG text, and a lovely queer historical romance novel. I love my job!

In the afternoon, I hosted my regular weekly online focus session for five amazing writer friends, and completed the next scene in my current novel, A Wizard Calls My Name.

 

Tuesday:

Another happy morning working on my client editing projects, and I finished the RPG text one, receiving sound praise from the client and a promise of more work coming my way soon – hurrah!

In the afternoon, I attended my other weekly online focus session with two other amazing writer friends and finished another scene of my novel – only two more to go in the first draft!

I also wrote two reviews – one of the first good book I’ve read so far this year (Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty) and one of a computer game I’ve been playing with Dave for a while, which we finished the night before.

Later, I had a lengthy exchange with a potential new client, who might have a great deal of work to offer me – but we ran into difficulties in pinning down exactly what he was after and how much he was willing to pay, so I went to bed uncertain of whether or not anything would come of it (and he eventually decided to go another way).

 

Wednesday:

I was so keen to find out what happened in the historical romance that I worked on my usual day off to finish the editing project and send the feedback to the author (who was extremely happy with it).

I also finally had an idea for the next story in my collection based on Dixit cards and wrote a first draft.

Later, I had a call with my editor friend, Leslie, who is going to work with me on the Dixit short story anthology in a developmental capacity. It was a great discussion and I’m very excited to get her on board.

 

Thursday:

I finished reading The Future by Naomi Alderman and wrote my review.

 

Friday:

Off to Cromer for my second retreat of the year!

Lots of fun with friends on the train and an amazing schedule lined up by another of the group and her partner.

I started the next Family Book Club book on the train (which is also going to be the subject of a podcast episode) and made some notes.

There was some writing time before dinner and I wasn’t feeling very motivated. But everyone else immediately started work… So I did another couple of entries in the Book of Good Times, then brainstormed my next Dixit short story.

Still some time before food, so I went back to the book club book – How To Stop Time by Matt Haig (my pick).

 

Saturday:

After starting the first full retreat day with a yoga class and a leisurely breakfast, everyone repaired to the dining room to work on their various projects – and I finished the first draft of my novel!!

I think it’s gone pretty well overall – and, regardless, it’s now a thing that exists in the world!!

Then, after lunch, I ran my first ever writing workshop! I introduced all the other writers on the retreat to the idea of using tarot cards and/or oracle decks to prompt idea generation and creative inspiration. And it went really well! Everyone seemed to enjoy it and get something useful out of it, the structure and timing worked as I’d hoped, and it was pretty fun. So, here’s hoping I get the opportunity to do more of this – and maybe even get paid for it!

Later, we all shared some extracts from our current works in progress – and it was amazing to hear words written by all these wonderful people and to hear their lovely reactions to mine.

 

Sunday:

I wrote some notes for the creative expansion talk I’m doing with Sean from A Write and A Pint next week, based on our discussions earlier in the weekend about what kind of questions he’s going to ask.

I also went through some feedback from Sean on one of the stories I wrote earlier in the year.

Later, as a group, we talked more about developing workshop opportunities and I added to my notes on putting together a series to deliver later in the year.