Angela Verdenius's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-year"
The New Year Begins!
Sorry, I've been kind of AWOL for awhile, but now I'm back. I cheer at the 'yahoos!' and pretend not to hear the 'boos!' LOL.
Anyway, I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
So several things are happening/happened.
Mum's drain is out, she's been given the all-clear by the surgeon, she only has to go back to Perth to have the stent out sometime Feb/March, we're waiting to hear. She's resigned from the school crossing as crossing warden, as she states "I have 12 years until I'm ninety, and every year after is a blessing. I want to do what I want to do in the next 12 years." I completely understand. She is now 78 yrs old, has worked all her life, has been a crossing warden for 18 and 1/2 years in wind, rain, and heat. It is time for her to step back and do all those things she's wanted to do - craft work (masses of it in the cupboards for years untouched), gardening, photos, etc. So 2018 is a new beginning for Mum.
As for me, I've resigned from Discharge Planning at the local hospital, effective from 12th Feb, and will be going back to nursing full-time instead of part DCP and part nursing.
Last year was quite stressful at times (as we all have times like this) with surgeries for both of us, and since Mum was so sick I've also had time to step back and reconsider my life. I love my writing, like my work, but wasn't getting a good work/writing/life balance, so I'm determined that I will get that good level this year. By going back to nursing only for my day job, and writing while making sure I get a good life balance outside of both, the year is already looking rosier.
No, I'm not quitting writing! Could never do that. But I am taking on a few things I've always wanted to do in the writing field. One of them is re-working the sci-fi Heart & Soul series. These books were my very first works. Now they are dated, especially the earlier ones, and I'm working on revising them all. Some of the later ones won't need much work apart from editing, but the earlier books will need rewriting in areas, major overhauls, so that is what I am doing. I have a wonderful cover artist doing new covers and they look AWESOME! This series will be revised and relaunched this year.
So the first part of this year I'm working on this series. I haven't given up writing BBWs or contemporaries in general, but this project is dear to my heart and one I've finally taken up. Possibly in-between it I may put out a novella, but I really need to concentrate on getting this lot revised, finished and launched. Then it's time to take up a new writing project.
Oh yeah, I'm also re-doing my website! I can't help it, I do this every year LOL. Love fiddling with my website ;-)
So 2018 is a fresh beginning for both Mum and I. Do you have anything new for 2018 that you are starting or considering? Sometimes even the smallest changes can make a huge difference in your life.
Happy New Year, all!
Anyway, I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
So several things are happening/happened.
Mum's drain is out, she's been given the all-clear by the surgeon, she only has to go back to Perth to have the stent out sometime Feb/March, we're waiting to hear. She's resigned from the school crossing as crossing warden, as she states "I have 12 years until I'm ninety, and every year after is a blessing. I want to do what I want to do in the next 12 years." I completely understand. She is now 78 yrs old, has worked all her life, has been a crossing warden for 18 and 1/2 years in wind, rain, and heat. It is time for her to step back and do all those things she's wanted to do - craft work (masses of it in the cupboards for years untouched), gardening, photos, etc. So 2018 is a new beginning for Mum.
As for me, I've resigned from Discharge Planning at the local hospital, effective from 12th Feb, and will be going back to nursing full-time instead of part DCP and part nursing.
Last year was quite stressful at times (as we all have times like this) with surgeries for both of us, and since Mum was so sick I've also had time to step back and reconsider my life. I love my writing, like my work, but wasn't getting a good work/writing/life balance, so I'm determined that I will get that good level this year. By going back to nursing only for my day job, and writing while making sure I get a good life balance outside of both, the year is already looking rosier.
No, I'm not quitting writing! Could never do that. But I am taking on a few things I've always wanted to do in the writing field. One of them is re-working the sci-fi Heart & Soul series. These books were my very first works. Now they are dated, especially the earlier ones, and I'm working on revising them all. Some of the later ones won't need much work apart from editing, but the earlier books will need rewriting in areas, major overhauls, so that is what I am doing. I have a wonderful cover artist doing new covers and they look AWESOME! This series will be revised and relaunched this year.
So the first part of this year I'm working on this series. I haven't given up writing BBWs or contemporaries in general, but this project is dear to my heart and one I've finally taken up. Possibly in-between it I may put out a novella, but I really need to concentrate on getting this lot revised, finished and launched. Then it's time to take up a new writing project.
Oh yeah, I'm also re-doing my website! I can't help it, I do this every year LOL. Love fiddling with my website ;-)
So 2018 is a fresh beginning for both Mum and I. Do you have anything new for 2018 that you are starting or considering? Sometimes even the smallest changes can make a huge difference in your life.
Happy New Year, all!
Changes & The Year Ahead
So the year has ended and started slow with the writing. Work has been crazy busy, then I injured myself and...Let’s just not go there! Recovering well, and determined to continue the New writing Year doing, as the Barefoot Investor Scott Pape advises, Treading My Own Path!
The writing world in general has changed a lot since I started as a wee sprite over 20 yrs ago. Some good changes, some not-so-good changes, and some downright ugly changes, let's be honest. Social media now plays a role in a lot of things, as does Political Correctness, eBook piracy, trademarking and the ugly war of words that erupts now and again. I never signed up for the nastiness I sometimes see on the internet. I just wanted to write for my pleasure and others. The marketing is enormous, the drain on time and finances to keep my name out there, even the climbing over other authors to get my marketing bids seen first. It's not just me, many authors are on this cycle. It's the way of it now, the competition is fierce and there's big money to be made from authors trying to keep their names and books visible. The pressure is enormous. I have honestly thought of dropping it all and walking away. I took a break for about 3 months, I was so disheartened by it all. Now I'm writing again, but at my own pace. I'm not pushing to get a certain number of books out a year, and I'm not clawing my way over other authors in the marketing stakes. I'm no longer following the pressure of marketing/advertising guides, I'll do it when and how I like. I've left most of the yahoo groups and blogs I belonged to, I'm going it alone - I did it before the internet became such a huge thing and I'm doing it again. I have some great friends both in the writing world and in my personal life who I talk to. I'm writing from my heart without fear and Treading My Own Path.
It's empowering.
But meanwhile...
So where am I currently with this next book in the Hope Bay series, starring our debonair Steve? I have his heroine all picked, started the first chapter - and now they won't talk to me. I've tried. I've tried to push through it but no-go. I persevered but not happening. So I pushed him aside for awhile (serve you right Steve) and am working on the red-edits of the 4th sci-fi romance I've been doing. Have to say that's coming along a little quicker as by bk 4 my writing was improving a little!
Okay, hoping the New Year has been going well for you all. My heart and prayers are with my fellow Aussies caught up in the fires - the victims, all the firies, ambos, cops, emergency workers, wildlife workers, vets, volunteers and wildlife and animal victims (if I’ve forgotten anyone, you’re on this list too *hugs*).
Also a big thank you to the US and NZ firies for coming to help.
And a special notice - my condolences to those families in the US and Australia who have lost firies in the fires. My prayers are with you all.
The writing world in general has changed a lot since I started as a wee sprite over 20 yrs ago. Some good changes, some not-so-good changes, and some downright ugly changes, let's be honest. Social media now plays a role in a lot of things, as does Political Correctness, eBook piracy, trademarking and the ugly war of words that erupts now and again. I never signed up for the nastiness I sometimes see on the internet. I just wanted to write for my pleasure and others. The marketing is enormous, the drain on time and finances to keep my name out there, even the climbing over other authors to get my marketing bids seen first. It's not just me, many authors are on this cycle. It's the way of it now, the competition is fierce and there's big money to be made from authors trying to keep their names and books visible. The pressure is enormous. I have honestly thought of dropping it all and walking away. I took a break for about 3 months, I was so disheartened by it all. Now I'm writing again, but at my own pace. I'm not pushing to get a certain number of books out a year, and I'm not clawing my way over other authors in the marketing stakes. I'm no longer following the pressure of marketing/advertising guides, I'll do it when and how I like. I've left most of the yahoo groups and blogs I belonged to, I'm going it alone - I did it before the internet became such a huge thing and I'm doing it again. I have some great friends both in the writing world and in my personal life who I talk to. I'm writing from my heart without fear and Treading My Own Path.
It's empowering.
But meanwhile...
So where am I currently with this next book in the Hope Bay series, starring our debonair Steve? I have his heroine all picked, started the first chapter - and now they won't talk to me. I've tried. I've tried to push through it but no-go. I persevered but not happening. So I pushed him aside for awhile (serve you right Steve) and am working on the red-edits of the 4th sci-fi romance I've been doing. Have to say that's coming along a little quicker as by bk 4 my writing was improving a little!
Okay, hoping the New Year has been going well for you all. My heart and prayers are with my fellow Aussies caught up in the fires - the victims, all the firies, ambos, cops, emergency workers, wildlife workers, vets, volunteers and wildlife and animal victims (if I’ve forgotten anyone, you’re on this list too *hugs*).
Also a big thank you to the US and NZ firies for coming to help.
And a special notice - my condolences to those families in the US and Australia who have lost firies in the fires. My prayers are with you all.
