2018 In Review #1: Written This Year

Also from this year in writing.

So with a week left to Christmas....

As the year draws to its close, it's a time to look back over the past twelve months and take stock of what's been achieved.

Not too bad, all told. The complete (albeit very rough) first draft of one novel, about half of another (on hold while I rewrite another MS), one short play and five new short stories. In addition, I redrafted two novelette-length stories roughed out last year and found homes for them too.

There were also three other attempted novels that ground to a halt for one reason and another - so in terms of word count, that's probably another whole novel's worth there. Plus two other abandoned attempts to write a stage play. So, despite a fitful start, there's a reasonable amount to show for 2018 writing-wise. (And even the abandoned stuff isn't wasted - it'll go back into the pot to bubble away, and sooner or later it'll come up in another form.)

At the moment, as stated, I'm doing rewrites on an older MS of mine - a 250,000 word monster of a book I first started work on nearly a decade ago. I thought it was destined for my bottom drawer... but my agent disagrees. I'm very glad I sent it to him and asked his opinion; it gave me a much-needed shot in the arm in terms of reminding me why I do this.

I'm also halfway through the first draft of what's shaping up to be a chunky novella. Hopefully I'll have more to say about that at some point.

Anyway, onwards and upwards! Enjoy the last days of 2018.