Had a bit of a wobble

Sorry for going quiet. I had a bit of a wobble.

I’ve never been a big fan of Christmas. All my life, I’ve dreamed of a big family do, complete with arguments and disagreements but suffused with love. Each time another Christmas goes by …..

I’m still struggling to work out what I want to do.

I know I enjoy writing short stories, now they’re finally coming out all right again, but what else? I guess I’m looking for a reason for my existence. Is it enough just to write stories that add a bit of interest or sunshine to other people’s lives? I don’t know.

I spent yesterday having a big clear out, mainly of magazines and paperwork as I don’t want to take it all with me when I move.

As I don’t plan to move in to the bungalow immediately, I’ll have time to make sure everything’s where I want it to be. I can also decorate without any furniture in the way. As I really do enjoy hanging wallpaper, that will help pass some of the winter days.

Meanwhile I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone I know a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. There are quite a few people I’ve neglected or lost touch with (S. Bee, Helen Y spring to mind) and all I can say is I’m sorry. I was in a  bad place. I’m not there anymore but it’s going to take time to put all the pieces together.

Back to talking about writing. It’s that time of year when al the papers are full of holiday ideas. What better time to start collecting various snippets and pictures ready as prompts for when you need to start writing holiday stories.

And as it’s Christmas, and we’re surrounded by seasonal films and programmes and adverts and calendars and cards with winter scenes, now is the time to start making notes of possible starting points for stories, or titles that have promise, pictures, cards, Christmas stories from magazines. Keep them all, and put then away in a drawer. Then in June, when you want to start writing about Christmas, you have a stock pile of items and ideas to get you going. It works for me. I have had Christmas stories published every year since I went full time in 2003. This year I have one in Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special and another out next week in The People’s Friend. You can do it too but you have to start NOW.