Somehow we’ve reached July, more than halfway through the strange and hellish year of 2020. At this time of year, I usually take a look back at my goals for the year and see how I’m doing.
This year, it’s a more a case of checking that the house hasn’t burned down.
My plans for this year were focused on transition. I went down to four days a week at my day job to make more space for writing and to work towards a portfolio career that might mean – at some point – I could actually make a living as a writer, without keeping on an office job. It’s strange to think now that I only had about two and a half months of this before everything fell apart and I had to find a way to put it back together.
Things aren’t how I’d hoped they might be, but they aren’t awful either. I’ve made some progress, but probably not enough. I’m working hard but I worry I’m doing the wrong things. But I keep telling myself to listen to my heart and not do things for the sake of it or because it’s what other people are doing.
In January, I set myself five goals:
- To make 100 submissions: I’m actually solidly on target with this one, having sent off 55 submissions of one kind or another so far in 2020. I’ve had four short stories accepted for publication, been longlisted in a few places, had some interviews for stuff and been a finalist at an agent open day. Not bad.
- Read more adventurously: I’ve been reading a bit more and working through some of the books that have been on my shelf (both real and Kindle) for ages, but I’m not sure I’ve stretched myself too far yet. Need to make more effort with this one.
- Spend more time with my husband (and dog): done this, and then some. We’ve basically been stuck in the house together since mid-March so there’s no other choice! I’ve been lucky during lockdown and this has been one of the best things, having more time together, going for daily walks with the dog, cooking, watching telly and generally just hanging out.
- Feeling grateful: this year has been tumultuous and I vary between feeling extremely lucky that our lockdown has been safe and our loved ones are okay, to worrying about jobs and freelance work and my career ambitions (not to mention the absolute shit show that we’re living in right now). Like most people, I’ve lost out on some creative things due to Coronavirus and my timing in switching to part-time work could have been better, especially since I found myself on furlough in mid-June and am now on 80% of 80% of my original salary, which is a little nerve-wracking. I’m glad to have some extra time now for writing, but my head hasn’t quite caught up and my book is stuck in the doldrums.
- Get an office set up: laughing… Even working from home didn’t help with this one.
I don’t know what the next six months will look like, or where I’ll be at the end of the year. I don’t think any of us do. For the next few months, while I’m on furlough, I’m going to pretend that I’m a full-time writer and this is my life and see what happens. I’d like to have a new book at the end of this, so I’d better crack on…
In the meantime, I hope you’re as okay as the current climate allows and you’re looking after yourself. Let’s hope the second half of 2020 has more good things to offer than the first.