Looking Back to Look Forward

Last year I set some fairly high goals for myself. And now I’ll go over what they were and how I did.

  • Write Dragon Story – This I managed to do early on in the year. I plan on making this a series, however this was a neverending story, so I need to reassess this story and find a cut off point and decide what I want to keep and what can go into the next book.
  • Write Faith’s Story – This I achieved as well, in early October.
  • Write another story – in November I wrote and completed Hope’s story in the Racing Harts series, so really pleased with this.
  • Edit Second-Hand Daughter – not only did I edit this, but I published it as well in May 2024
  • Edit Compromising Positions – edits were completed and was published November 2024
  • First draft edit of Finding Sam Healey – These I started, but I haven’t completed them yet. I have a date with the editor for March 2025, so it will be published next year.
  • First draft edits of Carol’s Christmas – this hasn’t happened, but I’m not too upset about that.

    Overall, that isn’t a bad year considering I was working fulltime for most of it. The results are pretty epic. At this stage, I have yet to find another job, so I now have to have a real think about what I want to achieve heading forward. I would love to be able to quit work and write fulltime, however I have some limitations as far as that is concerned (will talk about in a future blog post), and to start making money from my writing, I might have to write to market, which isn’t where my heart is. I want to write what I want to write, and that means that I need to find readers who want to read my work, and that proved elusive this year. I guess I could focus on writing in the first quarter of next year and really push my publishing timetable, but I also don’t want to burn out.

    It’s a fine line between doing something you love for money and doing something you love for the enjoyment of writing. I guess it is something I really need to work out over the next couple of weeks as we start the full on countdown to Christmas.

    A New Season

    Yay, spring is here! Well, not technically, but today is the first of September, which is the first day of Spring, but we’ve had daffodils flowering since April, so perhaps it’s actually autumn???

    Well, it has been a busy week for me, not at work, but writing-wise. Had two days off work last week because of rain, which sounds nice, but it isn’t. Not normally, but these two days I used to format up Compromising Positions ebook for Advanced readers, and I put something out in my newsletter about that. If you didn’t get my newsletter, why not? You should be able to sign up if you are on my website.

    So, I have a pre-order up for Compromising Positions as well, it will be launched on 1 November 2024. Two books in one year! I know!

    Not only that, but after to-ing and fro-ing over my plot in Racing Harts, Faith’s story, I have finally decided on the course of action, and I’m near the finish line, only like 5 or 6 chapters away. Considering I knock out about half to a chapter each time I write, that could be done by next week. And I actually did write every day last week, except for the weekends, because, well, I like to have a break too.

    And I am working through the Sam Healey edits. Slowly, very s l o w l y… I’m dragging my feet on that, and I can’t really explain why. I guess I felt that formatting Compromising Positions was more where I needed to spend my time. (I wasn’t procrastinating at all, I promise…)

    Anyway, how is your week going? Anything exciting happening in your world?

    Take care

    Catherine

    Post Conference Thoughts

    Some of you probably didn’t realise that I hadn’t posted a blog, or any of my usual posts on Social Media last week, it’s because I was at the Romance Writers Conference, creating havoc and merry hell with these two…

    Janet Elizabeth Henderson, myself and Carole Brungar

    Well, actually, Carole and I behaved ourselves, it was Janet that seemed to be behind all the mischief, she is so much fun, and it was the first time I’d met her, even though we’ve been friends for a few years now. And it was fabulous to hang out with Carole, we’re writing buddies, we check in with each other regularly to make sure we’re on task.

    The conference was amazing, full of interesting people, great presenters and amazing talks. I managed to ace it with all of the workshops I attended last weekend, none of them were duds. I got to meet Cathy Yardley, Becca Symes, Sacha Black and Fiona McArthur. They are amazing authors themselves, and Cathy, Sacha and Becca also run Author businesses supporting other writers in their creative endeavours.

    On Monday, Mr H and I were chased from Christchurch to Wineborough by a front that caught us at Kaikoura where it rained, blew like billy-o and hailed. Apparently a similar squall went through Christchurch, probably about the same time.

    We spent the night in Wineborough before heading home on Tuesday, and then I had to return to work on Wednesday, but I had post conference blues by that stage. I’d felt so inspired and on fire when surrounded by like minded people, but when you are away from them, you feel less like doing things.

    This week I’ve also came to the strange realisation that I don’t like writing the last 25% of the story, because I don’t want to put my characters through the dark moment. It’s not a normal thing, but it is for me, I guess it’s some kind of trauma response, but I also recognise that they are going to get back together again, but my characters become quite real within my head, and they are the one’s arguing against it. Now that I know that, I can assure them that it’s okay (even when they do argue against me), and that they will have their happily ever after.

    I got Compromising Positions back from my editor, and I have finished those edits. I have it up on pre-order, which I will announce in my newsletter (make sure you’re signed up for that…)

    I’ve also started the editing process on Finding Sam Healey, I’m loving this story, and can’t wait to dive back into it.

    And so, back to your regularly scheduled program… lol

    What have you been up to this week?

    Getting into the Swing of Things

    I got my edits back from my editor for Compromising Positions, and she really liked it. It’s always a good thing when you editor likes your work. So I am slowly working through these edits as well as my Finding Sam Healey edits.

    And I’m still writing Faith’s story. I know, I know, I should have finished by now, and I honestly wished I had, but I haven’t really been knuckling down in the mornings and writing. But that will change this week. I will knuckle down and write, except for Thursday, because I’m heading down to Christchurch for the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference.

    I went to the last one in Wellington two years ago, and I’ve been looking forward to this one, in Christchurch. I’m looking forward to catching up with Carole Brungar and Janet Elizabeth Henderson, two of my writing friends to be able to sit and chat with them in person, rather than through Messenger.

    Because the conference is over a weekend, I will try and blog next Monday, but I’m taking the long way home, via Kaikoura and staying in Wineborough for a night with my Mum before heading back to Motropolis.

    I always come away from the conference feeling inspired and excited and fired up, so I’ll either finish Faith there, or I won’t be far away from finishing it when I get back.

    The light at the end of the tunnel

    After four weeks of illness, I think (touch wood) that I might finally be starting to feel better. I’m running on 80% at the moment, but that is way better than I was.

    I have to say that I managed a walk yesterday, and while the wind was cold, and it made me cough, it was nice to get out and about. The previous week, I couldn’t wait to get home, so that’s a win for me.

    I have also finished editing Compromising Positions. It just needs a final grammar / spelling check and then it is off to my editor. I’m excited about this story, but also a little nervous. I hope that I managed to get a decent romance coming through. I love the story and the dance of the three main characters and how they interact.

    I’m hoping that I will get back into writing next week and I can knock out the last bit of Faith’s story in Racing Harts. I’ll also get to start on my first edit of Finding Sam Healey, which is in my Finding Yourself series.

    So how was your week?

    Winter Woes

    Man, I hate being sick. And I don’t do sick well, that’s to say, I’m a lousy patient. I can’t just sit and rest, I need to be doing something, like vacuuming the floor, or dusting, or cleaning, or SOMETHING!

    But that something isn’t writing at the moment, which is an indicator that my mental health is declining. The fortunate thing is that I recognise this, and I am being constructive. While I’m not writing, I am editing – Compromising Positions – and it will be ready to send the editor by the middle of next month (I’m pretty sure that’s what we agreed to…I hope…)

    I’m trying to be active, however this cold / flu / post covid whatever-it-is has me feeling good some days, and really crappy others. I can wake up in the morning feeling good, then go downhill, or wake up feeling really ill, and within a couple of hours, I’m feeling okay. But it is in my chest now, and it has started rattling whenever I lie down. And on a quiet stroll on Saturday, I ended up with asthma, even though I wasn’t rushing or pushing myself, and it was a comparatively short walk to what I normally do.

    I’m finding funny videos to watch, and spending time with my partner, as my son is holidaying in California. I’m crafting when I feel like it, so I am doing the right things to help improve my mood. It’s just my physical health that is really bringing me down, and I can’t do anything about that.

    But I’ve bitten the bullet. I’ve made a Drs appointment, even though I know she is going to say that it’s viral and there isn’t anything they can do, at least I can go in and see her and tell her how sick I am of being sick!

    So how has your week been? Better than mine, I hope.

    Peace and Quiet

    It was all go until 31 May, now it is quiet. And tomorrow is King’s Birthday weekend, so a long weekend to relax.

    I’ve finished my assignments and handed them all in.

    Second-Hand Daughter has launched.

    And I have so many things I could be doing, and I really don’t feel like doing much. I’ve spent time in the garden weeding, planting and trimming, and napping.

    I haven’t written much or edited. I’m just enjoying having some quiet time after a busy few months. It doesn’t mean I’ve given up on writing, or crafting, it just means that I’m having a week holiday. I will back into editing this week, with Compromised Positions being the next up, and that will be released later this year! So excited about that.

    But in the meantime, I’m relaxing and taking some me-time.

    Deadlines

    This year, I’ve been trying to adhere to deadlines. I’m the kind of person who likes to get things done and not have to get extensions to get assignments / manuscripts done in time. And up until now, I’ve done alright.

    I decided to do my last Organic Gardening course through Open Polytechnic in February to give myself a break over the holidays, but then I wasn’t counting into that Apple packing, which last year I did every alternate night. This year, I’ve done it Monday to Wednesday night, and as a result I’ve been exhausted Thursday and Friday, so I’ve only really had to the weekends to get anything done on my course.

    The assignments are due in May – I’m not sure when, but they are due. I’ve completed the course, I just need to fill in the gaps on the assignment and do some practical courses. Like making compost. Testing Soil samples from different sites, and determining what the make up is of each site. These things are proving difficult to do, and my compost pile is being stubborn. I had to remake my compost so that they knew what I knew what I doing. The problem is, we’re going into winter, and the compost heap isn’t heating up like it should. Which means that it isn’t breaking down.

    I can use my existing compost for some of the tests (seeing how many radishes come up compared to weeds) but I need to show them that my compost is working and breaking down things.

    I also asked my editor to edit Compromising Positions at the end of June. And I don’t think I’m going to get it edited by then.

    I don’t like breaking my deadlines, but I’m not sure that I’m going to get my assignments or book edited in time.

    I will push on, and hope to get the assignments (three of them) finished by mid May, and I will try and get my story edited, but I might have to push that deadline out, if my editor is okay with that.

    How has your week been? You have any deadlines that are pressing on you at the moment?

    Take care out there.

    Catherine

    And Onto Something New

    I’ve finished writing Carol’s Christmas, well, almost, there isn’t a lot more to write. So, what am I up to next?

    I have editing to do on a project, a super-secret project that will be revealed in December, and I have three books that need editing, and a third that needs writing. Decisions, decisions.

    As I have already started editing, I will finish that, it’s a short Historical romance based in 1920s United States. It is a present for my newsletter subscribers, and I’m excited to get it finished, because its been rattling around in my laptop for about ten years.

    I also have a super-secret project; I’m getting together with some other authors to do a Christmas giveaway. I’ll give you more details nearer the time but suffice to say that I have a small bit of writing to do for this. It wasn’t hard to choose which book to promote, but its proving to be a little harder to come up with the secret project. It will come together though, I hope.

    Two books that need editing – Secondhand Daughter, Compromising Positions and Finding Sam Healey (aka Finding Sams Family) all need a round of edits. But, I hear you say, you’ve already editing Secondhand Daughter and Compromising Positions. Yes, I have, but I often self-edit a few times before I pass it onto an actual editor, because I want to send the most polished version I can. And I like to take a break from each book before editing / drafting, because I can look at it with fresh eyes.

    And I also have Dragon’s Lore, which is shaping up to be rather…Epic. I have at least five stories for the series all rolling around inside my head, and on my laptop and notebooks in various places, so I am happy to start with writing that. But I think I’ll do some editing first.

    So, I’ll dive into Secondhand Daughter again, and I have my editor booked for the end of January, so I have a deadline to work to, although I hope to have it finished well before then.

    What plans do you have for this week?

    Kia kaha everyone.

    Catherine.