annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Debut novel and encore
    • Sugar and Snails >
      • Acknowledgements
      • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
        • Birthday blog tour
        • S&S on tour 2022
      • Early endorsements
      • Events >
        • Launch photos
        • Launch party videos
      • in pictures
      • Media
      • If you've read the book
      • Polari
      • Reading group questions
      • Reviews
      • In the media
    • Underneath >
      • Endorsements and reviews
      • Launch party and events
      • Pictures
      • Questions for book groups
      • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • The accidental series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
    • Lyrics for the Loved Ones
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

A year of SMART objectives or a year of letting go?

27/1/2023

9 Comments

 
Picture
When I emailed my newsletters with a foretaste of what to expect from me in 2023, I thought I’d do something similar here on Annecdotal, plus a more detailed list of goals to monitor privately myself. So how come I’ve almost reached the end of January without doing that?
 
I’ve always felt a little uneasy about setting concrete objectives when I don’t possess a crystal ball. But this is the year I’ve got a marketing plan stuffed with SMART objectives for my next novel. Yet I’m more conflicted than ever.
The biggest change since I set out my reading and writing plans and aspirations last January is that I now have chronic health condition. Should I reduce my expectations?
 
Illness often affects what we can do, so I count myself lucky that my energy levels are almost back to normal. Chronic illness also affects what we should do, so I take my tablets, limit my consumption of potassium, avoid the sun and enclosed spaces where I’m extra susceptible to catching a virus and obsess more than ever about my daily walk.
 
Is that enough? I’m still struggling with the fact that my immune system (AKA me) attacked my healthy body. Maybe I’ll never know why. But, having had a serious autoimmune disease in the distant past that was psychosomatic in nature, I wonder.
 
With maturity, I can see how my body might have turned on itself in my teens. But in my sixties? When life was easier than it had ever been?
 
When my husband warns I’m working too hard, I think of the writers who are also raising a family and holding down full-time jobs. But comparisons aren’t always helpful – we all have to work with the reality, not the ideal.
 
So should I cut myself some slack this year? Try a little less? I don’t know. I love his writing life and there’s still so much I want to achieve.

Picture
While I reflect on whether and how to adjust my expectations, here’s what I told my newsletter subscribers to expect from me in 2023:
 
A new novel published
 
My next novel, Lyrics for the Loved Ones, is scheduled for publication in May. It’s a stand-alone sequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home, set thirty years later.

An audiobook released 

Thinking it would be fun to release my next novel as an audiobook as well as in paperback and e-book, I purchased a professional microphone and audiobook for authors course last year. However, several months on, I’m stuck at lesson 1. But I haven’t given up completely. I’ve decided to start small with my collection of prize-winning short stories, Somebody's Daughter, which is free to my newsletter subscribers.

Drafting another novel 

After ten months with no new fiction project, I was delighted to delve into a new novel shortly before Christmas. I had the seed of the story some time ago, but it took a few false starts and dead ends before it could germinate and blossom. I don’t know if I’ll finish The Guest List in 2023, but it’s shaping up well so far into a story of three wounded women intent on revenge.

This week’s 99-word story prompt is optimism. I love the image, if not the topic, although it fits the theme of this post. Anyway, I’ve scrabbled together a story – I’m not sure if it’s about toxic positivity or the hubris of Empire. There’s a significant overlap, whatever.
Picture
Proud to be British?

We were small, but we were mighty. We planted flags of industry across the world. We stole their artefacts, smashed their cultures, raised fine buildings from the sweat of slaves. When times changed, we adapted, but in our history books we stood tall.

We crushed the pessimists back home with promises. When our neighbours wouldn’t recognise our stature, we cut our ties.

Who cares if we’re the laughing stock of Europe? We scorned their health and safety human rights to take back control. Our red tape is stronger and shinier than their red tape. Our tape makes tighter knots.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
9 Comments
CharliMills
2/2/2023 01:06:01 am

Hi Anne! The optimist has come over to chime in. ;-) Do what makes you happy. Not in a hedonistic, go bananas and be a proud Brit sort of way. It's actually in the smaller things, like those daily walks. You know this, and what I think you are asking is how to balance a healthy writing life when the health becomes challenging. For me it becomes less about the concrete objectives and more about the moments that make up my writing life. My creativity has shifted in unexpected ways, but I'm finding my way back to the goals. I examine them and think, who was I that I once set and accomplished goals? I don't have real answers for you but I'm right beside you on this wild wacky unexpected writer's path. Elizabeth Gilbert wrote something in her book, "Big Magic" about not making your creativity work for its keep. We are the keepers, protectors, and containers of our creativity. If you have a chronic health issue, then have a chronic health issue as a writer. Keep in mind that goals are meant to give us something to aim for. Production, sales, marketing -- that's SMART and all, but aim for what fits you now. My goal is to be happy and I measure everything by that now. That's me. You'll find you in all this, too. And we'll continue that walk!

Reply
Anne
2/2/2023 07:47:16 am

Thanks for chiming in. All outlooks are welcome here. And yes, I'll find a way through, I just need to be more patient. And life is full of unknowns and constant adjustments.

Right now, I'm finding it easy enough to keep up the things I can do and still enjoy. What's harder is deciding which of the more tedious things are worth persevering with. I’m enjoying regaining my creativity and writing for its own sake but there’s more conflict around promo.

Thanks for walking with me and sharing your own journey.

Reply
Norah Colvin
2/2/2023 10:32:25 am

Hi Anne,
I think we should all obliterate the shoulds from our lives and, as Charli says, go for what makes us happy. Life's too short for the tedious. Let the young ones deal with that. We did. It's time to let ourselves free to choose. I hope your health doesn't restrict too many of those choices. Do what is best for you. (As long as you get those other stories written and published - I'm looking forward to reading them. 😉💖)

Reply
Norah Colvin
2/2/2023 10:34:57 am

I forgot to comment on your flash. Insightful and incisive as usual.

Reply
Anne
2/2/2023 12:55:03 pm

Thanks, Norah, for both these comments. You've made me realise some shoulds are more crucial than others, as my life would be shorter if I ignore my medical shoulds. They're not too tedious, apart from the social restrictions but I'm working around them as best I can.

Glad you're looking forward to the next stories.

D. Avery link
6/2/2023 02:29:48 am

I can't add much if anything to what those wise women have said. You will find your way and cut yourself some slack and do only what you most want and enjoy doing. And enough will get done and done better for the joy and attention gotten and given.
And wow, that flash! Like a spoiled rotten child who takes up his toys and and sulks all the way home. But it really is all about shiny red tape isn't it? Brilliant closing lines.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
7/2/2023 02:44:16 pm

Thanks for your encouragement and glad you like the flash. I only wish there were nothing to inspire me to write it.

Reply
Geoff
14/2/2023 09:32:05 am

Ah that flash. Like Dede the last line is perfect. And of course as a professional and deluded optimist I’d probably find a silver lining in our history (only, later to realise we stole both the silver and the cloud).
I’ve bought the microphone and tried the course and, like you, hit a buffer. I wonder if I’ll find the motivation to give it a real go.
I’m glad to hear that you’ve found a kind of balance around your health. Such a bummer to be confronted by that particular reality. But here’s hoping 2023 shows you a clearer path.
I’m looking forward to Lyrics and the new project sounds intriguing.
Take lots of care and keep walking…

Reply
Anne Goodwin
15/2/2023 03:02:33 pm

Thanks for dropping by, Geoff. I'm sorry you also struggled with the audiobook course, although nice to know I'm not alone in finding it harder than I expected. I haven't even managed to record a sample without background noise – I couldn't hear it myself but then I didn't have proper monitor headphones but I have now so will have another go. But it looks as if editing out the breaths going to be mega tedious, so I'd much rather go for a walk. Hope all's well with you.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    Available now
    Picture
    The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My third novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom