Clamouring to become visible...

This is adapted from an article that appeared on the Write Stuff website on December 30, 2007. The original text can be found here. If you've been paying attention, you'll have noticed that I skipped an entry - the Write Stuff article I wrote closest to Christmas has not been reproduced, because it is May and I can't bring myself to do something Christmasy here! I'll save it for this Christmas... This was written for the new year, and I can just about bring myself to repost new year articles over five months on!

A cup o' kindness
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

This time last year, I was struggling to come up with a dissertation proposal for a research project of little interest to anyone but myself (the effects of indoctrination and narcotics on the mens rea requirement of war crimes in the modern laws of armed conflict, if you’re interested…).

One year on, I’m putting the finishing touches to my final writing column of the year. I’m half way through my first novel. In the coming year I’ve got a script project I’m working on with a US author. I’m hoping, maybe, to try to find an agent by the end of the year. And of course, I’ve made a lot of new friends, people I didn’t even know existed this time last year.

Karen, Janie, Dale, Tammi and Andrea, the weekly writers on the Write Stuff. The [Fiction] Friday participants, like Square1, Jodi, paisley and pjd to name just a very few. The crazy and dedicated authors who kept me going through NaNoWriMo (including many of those already named above, but others including Renate and wanderlust8). My good friend Ian, a poet of remarkable talent, but who rarely shows his work. Jay and Grace who convinced me to concentrate on The Long Watch first, as it had the most potential.

At this time of year, we sing Auld Lang Syne, and recall our past friendships. These are the friendships that I made this year, people who have given me confidence in my voice, in my words, in my own imagination. I look forward to these new acquaintances becoming auld acquaintances in the future, ones who will never be forgot.

Happy new year everyone. I wish you all a prosperous, happy and successful 2008 in all your endeavours, domestic, business or creative.