Well hello, dear fellow Children’s Writers and friends,

This glorious wet and windy day seemed like, the perfect day to pen a very late January or a somewhat early February blog, I’m not sure which and honestly have no desire to decide. That’s the thing with January in the writing world. It’s neither here nor there, it’s either your opportunity to write and edit prolifically while you have some ‘extra’ time or your chance to rest and reflect and plan for the year to come. I chose a bit of both, mainly the latter. That does not mean I have rested on my laurels (seriously, where does that saying come from?) no, on the contrary, I have organised my personal and professional lives (yes, like many other KidLit writers I have more than one of these) and what’s particularly good about this year is that I have already put many of these plans, strategies and good habits into practice.

On a personal level I have begun to budget, my shell-shocked husband at first skeptical, is quietly optimistic this might actually last. On a professional level, I have planned, timetabled and set in motion several programs I will be running amongst the parents, adolescents and children in my parish. With much thanks to the previous Sacramental Coordinator, it hasn’t been too onerous a task.

This being one of three ‘jobs’ I will have this year I have colour coded (pens) my home (and for that matter, work) diary to reflect what each of these require of me, particularly when and where I’m meant to be on any given day.

I have also developed a fun new way to keep myself accountable both in my home and creatively. I’ve colour coded creative and decluttering time and it’s a simple little joy to colour in or otherwise decorate, what I’ve achieved in these areas each day. My aim is to colour in at least one; write, draw or de-clutter colour (sometimes more) for five days of the week (pencils, crayons anything bright!) The other two are my full 9-5 working days and besides we all need a break even from the creative stuff we love and definitely from cleaning!

So why all this detail? Three reasons; one to touch base and fill you in, two, to possibly share an idea/tool you might find useful and three to keep me accountable. It will certainly be interesting at the end of the year to share my 2020 Year in Review in the light of these plans and changes. A very good old Uni friend of mine, once (or twice 😆) called me the most organised, disorganised person she knew. You see I’ve always been brilliant at setting up for something, but as life happens my beautifully organised desk, room, space becomes a creative mess that only I can navigate, making delegation impossible and me often, give up. This year though I have my trusty Shining Year Life Goal’s Workbook by Leonnie Dawson by my side and well as some tried and tested methods of organisation in my arsenal to refine and use and like my husband, I am quietly optimistic of an amazing year of creating not just in the cracks but in all areas of my life!

Wish me luck as I do to you fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl