Where has the year gone?

Read my post from January 23. I hang my head in shame. What have I done this year? Nothing of note. I diverted back into education and relied on that for my income. Read and marked 500 hopeful essays from GCSE students --all of whom appeared to write with more verve than I was doing at the time. Made money but nearly lost my eyesight by the end.

Finished my maths coursework which hovered over my head like a paraplegic dinosaur until late September. Now in October I feel at last full of energy. Only two and a half months to go into which to fit 12 months writing...hmm...

To improve my self-discipline, I started two new projects.The Writing as a Home Business column is meant to focus my mind on practising what I preach --four new articles written and marketed per week while Visit Bulgaria is my happy language learning blog which I'm hoping will provide ideas for future travel articles.

This sudden spurt of autumnal energy has been sparked by interviewing author Margaret Gaskin about her wonderful book "Blitz." When I transcribe the interview, recorded on minidisc for broadcast on Angel Radio IOW next week, I shall rewrite it as an article for use here and elsewhere. It will be well worth checking back to read it.

The other spur is, of course, the Nano challenge beloved of procrastinating writers all over the world. Join in the fun here and write a 50,000 word novel on any topic you like between November 1 and November 30.

Great fun, a real incentive and I made a really great cyberwriting buddy through it last year. Hi Alexis --waves madly.

She has finished her book, edited it and has it ready to go. I of course have not quite finished, nowhere near edited. To be honest, I have not even reread it.

But will do better next time.