7 Writing Achievements from 2018

Morning all. It’s that time again, the brink of a new year.
Last year, I posted a similar post, highlighting my writing achievements from 2017.
It may a bit out of my usual blogs, which aim to share tips and inspiration, however I’ve said before that I also want this blog to be a record that I can look back on over the years.

However, there’s still inspiration to be had. Please comment below with your own successes, experiences, triumphs and struggles. I love talking to you all about your writing journeys, and am inspired everyday by your determination, resilience and kindness.

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1. I experienced beta reading
This is an achievement for two reasons. One is that I never imagined I’d have the confidence to let somebody else read my work. And two is because I didn’t know if I had the knack of giving honest feedback, without being hugely anxious at offending that other person. This year though, I received wonderful, helpful, constructive feedback from some brilliant writers, and had the absolute pleasure of reading and offering feedback on their fantastic work too.
Huge thanks to K.M. Allan, Lorraine Ambers, Aarika Copeland, L.K. Middlebrook and Jade.

2. I attended a writing event
I’d never been to a writing event before, but this year I went to my first one ever. I am extremely shy and anxious, but I wanted to push myself. This was an opportunity to meet writers, agents and authors and learn so much about the publishing industry. It’s amazing what you can do when you break your boundaries!

3. I finished my novel
Last year, I finished the first draft of The City Breathes With Us. This year I finished the edits, and reached a stage where I felt as though it was done. For now. Time will tell if it needs more re-working going forward, but reaching this point was a huge accomplishment and a very exciting moment.

4. I made my first submissions
As with the above, a completed novel meant it was time to make submissions. This year I worked on my synopsis, researched my agents and went for it. It’s such a huge feeling, hitting ‘send’ on those emails, and it’s a long wait full of rejections for responses. But it’s so worth it for the little glimmers of potential, and the feeling that I’m really driving my novel forward.

5. I completed NaNoWriMo for the first time
I thought I was going to be too busy for NaNoWriMo. And yet, for the first time ever, I completed it. I got 50,000 words into my second novel thanks to this wonderful, motivational challenge.

6. I connected with more writers
Last year I was predominantly on Instagram. I still adore that platform! But this year I branched out to Twitter and Facebook too, which has helped me to connect with even more amazing writers, and follow their journeys. I’m hoping 2019 will bring even more wonderful people into my life.

7. I finished the first draft of novel two
With the help of NaNoWriMo, amazing encouragement from the writing community, and many large cups of tea novel two draft one is finished. My second novel, Vanishing Act, is now in revise, rewrite and edit stages, and this gives me something really exciting to take into the New Year.

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I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of you. Your support is a huge reason why I’m able to keep going in this journey, and I couldn’t do it without you.

Please do drop a comment to share your accomplishments. I’d love to chat about them.

Until then,
Keep writing,
And Happy New Year,
M
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