And just like that, it’s December!

~ Annalisa Crawford

Okay, maybe not just like that, but close. I’ve had so many things I wanted to get done before the end of the year and I’m running out of time. At least I’ll have plenty to keep me occupied in January.

Despite all good intentions, I’ve not yet started my next novel. I have submitted several short stories and had a really lovely rejection on a longer piece. I’ve also decided I need a much more structured marketing/social media/blog/newsletter strategy. My current ad hoc method is losing cohesion and when I do sit down to do something, I lose concentration and find myself watching videos of pandas.

It’s not been the easiest couple of months. I’m on the cusp of the first anniversary of my dad’s passing, and my day job is under threat of closure. I guess just one of those things would be enough to throw my writing off kilter, so I’m probably expecting too much of myself to write while dealing with both.

Music makes me feel better, and nothing more so than some sentimental Christmas tunes, so I’m going to leave you with this. Hopefully I’ll get at least one more post in before Christmas.

18 thoughts on “And just like that, it’s December!”

  1. I’m very sorry about your father and also the situation with your job. Anniversaries of passings are very hard. And I know you love your day job. Fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, maybe a new opportunity you hadn’t imagined will come out of it. I think sometimes the universe steps in to slow down our writing because it needs more time to gestate. I also think you need some Kernow chocolate. (If you get this message twice, it’s because WordPress made me sign in and I had to reset my password and when I came back the first message wasn’t visible to me so I assumed it had been lost.) xo

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    1. Thank you Melissa – it’s weird to think it was only a year ago we lost him, because this year seems such a long one. I’ve planned a day trip with my sister and mum to somewhere he would have enjoyed – a local prison museum!

      I think chocolate is a great idea. It will go with the chocolate vodka I bought from a Christmas market last week 😋

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  5. Hi Annalisa – these first anniversaries aren’t easy – rest up and have a peaceful visit with your mother and sister to the prison museum – which obviously means lots to you all. As for the job – that’s just a nuisance … at some stage things will spring back – the main thing is to keep quietly going and keep the contacts.

    Writing – as it brings solace – perhaps a series of short stories, gathered into an anthology … but in the meantime take things slowly and so I wish you all the best as we ease towards 2022. Cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you Hilary. I tend to see my life as a series of boxes, so while one thing is going wrong, the rest ought to be okay. It’s only when I stop to think that I realise they all interweave.

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  6. Hi Annalisa!
    The panda is the coolest creature around (well, maybe second in line after the dolphin which is my favourite creature ever…)
    The first-year anniversary of my mom’s passing was in October, so that was a hectic month for me. *sigh*
    I’m now officially on holiday from the day job. Yay!
    I plan to do some… reading… editing short pieces (I can’t waste all this valuable time doing sweet nothing)… but with no pressure on myself. I’ll do what I can. I’ll try. We’ll see.
    Sorry to hear about the possible closure of your day job. That’s scary.
    If you have to write over the holiday season (which I know you do) then move along at your own leisurely pace.

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    1. Pandas are second to giraffes, in my opinion, but they don’t tumble nearly so well!

      Hugs for your October anniversary. I’m finding it comforting I’m coming to the end of the ‘firsts’. I feel strong enough to survive whatever comes next.

      Enjoy your holiday. Reading is another thing I’ve neglected, so that’s on my list too.

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  8. Sorry to hear about your father. No wonder you’ve found it difficult to write. All the best and give yourself time. I hope you get to enjoy the Christmas season.

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  9. I’m very sorry for such a dark time, Annalisa.
    Needless to say, I support your chocolate vodka idea. Just don’t eat-drink and drive, okay?
    Warm hugs to you.

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