Review of the Year

The start of a new year is often associated with setting goals for the year ahead. I haven't decided what my 2022 writing goals are yet, other than to continue writing and developing my craft. For now, I want to take stock of my writing in 2021.

The year started well with three of my locally set stories being included in Jo Zebedee's 'Everyday Magic'.

During continued lockdowns our writing group met virtually, bringing support and encouragement to each other. I also took part in a number of online writing workshops in locations I otherwise wouldn't have had time to travel to, including a Poetry workshop on the first Northern Ireland Writers Day. March saw my poem 'I've a Date' published on 'Inspiration in Isolation's' site https://www.inspirationinisolation.co.uk/post/i-ve-a-date

March also saw my award winning photograph 'The sun sets on summer' being brought to life at the Waterways Storymaking festival.

This awards ceremony took place remotely during lockdown - it was lovely to see the winning images and listen to the poems and stories which were shortlisted and won.

May saw three of my poems published  - two in Dreich's third book of 'wee poems'

And another I'd written a very long time ago in an anthology, 'To Dads - with love'

Over the summer when restrictions eased our writing group was able to meet in person again. The highlight of our year was definitely our writing retreat in August. Having had to hold our retreat virtually last summer, we made up for it this year, even if we didn'tget the weather we deserved.

September saw my story 'Return to Sorrento' published by Bradt in their gorgeous anthology 'Travel Write'.

For me, my writing highlight occurred in November when a colleague sent me a photograph she'd taken when out for a walk. It features a poem I'd written as part of Northern Ireland's 'Centenary Scripts' and it is on display in a number of locations across  the local council area. 

Since then I've spotted the poem beside writing by WB Yeats and John Hewitt and have been sent photographs of it by family and friends.

The writing year finished on a high with the Christmas anthology 'Underneath the Tree' which features my story 'Secret Santa' raising yet more money for good causes.

Here's to another successful writing year in 2022!