Friday 1 January 2021

Happy New Year!

How are you? Ready to move on from 2020 and make this a really good year?

I expect some of you made New Year's resolutions. Good luck with them if you did. Mine is to drink more water – I know it's good for me and in theory it's very easy to do, but somehow I haven't got into the habit. Do you have any suggestions to help?

Of course I plan to write in 2021, but I've not set myself goals, targets, a schedule, challenge or aspiration. I tried all that last year and the stuff which happened stopped me achieving most of them. This year I'm going to write what I want, when I want, and hope for the best. I'll probably draw inspiration from the little purple book. Oh, OK, I do have one aspiration – to get my murder mystery published. I'll let you know how all that goes.

The photo is of Hev Ock. My childhood friend sent her to me for luck when I was made redundant and considering becoming a full time writer. I think she's a good symbol of fresh starts, and reminder that things can work out well, if we apply time, imagination and effort. She's got her eye on you!

I'll be back soon with womag information, other market news and lots of free entry competitions. In the meantime, thanks to Carol Bevitt for passing on the details of this Christmas love story competition. You have until Valentine's day to come up with the pitch and opening. The winner will have their novel published by Penguin in time for next Christmas.

Best wishes for your writing, health happiness and everything else in 2021!


10 comments:

ados123 said...

Happy New Year, Patsy!
Let's hope it's a better one.
Alyson

Carolb said...

Happy New Year Patsy.
All the best for 2021. x

Marguerite said...

Happy New Year, Patsy! Water - ah, I remember doing that as a resolution a few years back...,. Boring, and I'm not in to bottled water, so it's tap, but a glass with my lunch every day. I recently broke my beloved Calais 0.25 litre one and only have near enough 0.5 litre - every day, lunch. So it's the size of the glass you use and the frequency. Can you tell I'm a scientist? ;) Looking forward to some more competitions :)

Karel Wright said...

Love that Hev Ock is keeping an eye on you ☺
Will definitely enter some competitions and write more this New Year.

Liz said...

Happy New Year, Patsy. Wishing you all good things for 2021.

carrie said...

Happy New Year, Patsy, and to all. I have a list of what I hope to accomplish but refuse to put pressure on myself. There's enough outside pressure without me adding to it! Wishing everyone good luck and success this year x

Charlie said...

Happy New Year Patsy and good luck to everyone with submissions and their own successes 🍾🀞

Eirin Thompson said...

Happy New Year to you, Patsy, and to all your correspondents. Wishing everyone lots of writing success in 2021. I have found that the easiest way to step up the water-drinking is to eat something even a little bit spicy - this hugely increases my desire for water.

Patsy said...

@ Alyson – We shall!

@ Carol – Thank you!

@ Marguerite – Tap for me too, unless I fancy sparkling for a change. Putting it in a nice glass does help a bit.

@ Karel – good luck with both.

@ Liz – Thank you.

@ Carrie – I think you're right about the pressure. What we need is a little gentle encouragement and to feel good about what we do achieve – not to always feel bad about what we've not yet done.

@ Eirin – Good thought, but as I already eat a lot of spicy food I'm not sure it would make a difference. But perhaps now you've mentioned it, I'll be prompted to have water with my spicy meals.

Patsy said...

@ Charlie – sorry, nearly missed you! Thanks and good luck to you too.