A fresh beginning

I don't make that many new years resolutions. I rarely keep them.

This year I have made solid progress with my stories. I have improved in many ways. I also know that there so much more to do.

My writing can get better. The broad brush storytelling approach I use is okay but needs more work. I need to use words more cleverly. I need to continuously push the boundaries of what I can achieve.

I am thinking of re-reading books I haven't looked at for decades. In the increasingly competitive marketplace it is important to be the best that 'you can be'. I fancy having a gander through the work of Laurie Lee or John Updike or maybe study my old favourites Arthur C Clarke and Isaac Asimov? There are so many good examples to follow.

I need to work on life away from the keyboard as well. That is another story.

So to you all, I wish you a happy, productive and above all restful new year. I hope things turn out for the best for you. Here is to 2014. Lets 'make it' a good year for us all.

The future is getting brighter.

I am not just meaning the solstice has passed.

If 2012 was dark year for me then 2013 has been the complete opposite.

I was pretty ill last year but 12 months ago I had a life changing visit to a specialist doctor and I have not looked back. This year has been simply amazing. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think how good life is at the moment.

I also finished the first part of my science fiction series ('The Keodu Sequence') and redrafted book one in my sword and sorcery based 'Children of the Storm' These are now awaiting editing. I may promote them up to full novels next year. Lets see?

But the thing that really excites me is that 2014 has all the potential to be even better. I have conquered stress. The amazing inner strength I had need to have to survive all those years gives me reason to hope for the future. I can so much now. I want to write more stories and help more people. I will also need to test software (Day job still needed alas!)

So I hope that your year has had plenty of high points. I also wish you a happy Christmas and a wonderful new year. The future is unwritten. So get writing!