What have I done this year?

The big day is almost upon us and around this time in December each year, when my children have finished school and I've mostly prepared for Christmas Day, I like to look back over the past twelve months. Have I made progress? Did I get everything done that I had planned? What changes and surprises were there along the way?

January is my birthday month and this year was a special one. This year I turned fifty, that's half a century of 'me'. My husband treated me to a wonderful, romantic weekend in Venice while our children stayed at home with their uncle. 

I posted my reading list for the year, shared my thoughts on organising my online presence, told you about my Top 10 Books and shared my hoarding vice. I continued to send out my novel to literary agents and took up the reins on my next novel. 

In April, I took on Camp NanoWrimo for the second year running, talked about doubt as a writer, and told you how Shakespeare made a writer of me. That month also saw the arrival of our puppy, Bailey. 

After the NanoWrimo rush of April, I took on the challenge to write a page a day in May, a challenge which I passed. I also joined an amateur dramatics group with my daughter. 

Summer came and went in a hectic haze. There was a holiday break by the seaside, family birthdays and that amateur dramatics group I mentioned above? They put on a musical revue which my daughter and I performed in. Who knew I could sing (croak)? 

With my children's return to school, I had the peace and time to return to my novel. Still receiving rejections from literary agents and continuing to send Shadowbinder out to yet more agents, I pressed on with not only novel number two but my plan for the entire series.

I began an online writing course and told you about my Hallowe'en dilemma.

One benefit of having a dog is the creative thinking time I have whilst out on walks. I wrote about this in Today I met a poet. 

November whirled by and before I knew it, I was sending my husband up to the attic in search of Christmas decorations. 

Throughout the year, I've contined to provide you with photo inspiration and writing exercises. I haven't done very well with my reading list but I have put an immense number of words down on paper/keyboard. 

Some things appear to have stalled in 2016 (my search for a literary agent) while others have skidded me along on my knees. I can't say it's been an easy year but I know I'm not alone in feeling that. 2016 has been a difficult year for the entire world. I won't go so far as to say that I'm glad to see the back of this year because I still have plenty to look forward to before I sing Auld Lang Syne on the 31st and I've seen great personal progress over the past twelve months too. 

Time to work out how I'm going to spend the next twelve months.