The last time I blogged was June 2020. I had just finished my manuscript and was enjoying Gong Yoo’s Kdrama, Goblin.
A month after I finished editing that manuscript, I started a new book.
And I finished it before November.
To be honest, I actually wasn’t expecting to finish another novel in 2020. But given that there were so many things I couldn’t do, I decided to do something I liked doing.
Looking back at everything that I did in 2020, I totally have no regrets. I coped the way I knew how and it worked out fine for me. I’d like to share some of the lessons I learned in 2020.
- You don’t have to be productive all the time. But if you enjoy something and you want to keep doing it to be productive, that’s okay too. For me it was writing, reading and watching KDrama. It kept me sane and safe at home. Oh and gaming. That too.
- Every now and then, we need to reassess the relationships we have in our lives. Although we were okay being stuck at home together for most of 2020, it also highlighted how important communication was between friends and extended families. I must have messaged my sisters a million times last year. Our one Skype session per week would end up as long as four hours. Thank god for Wifi!
- Working from home is good, but I don’t want to do it all the time. When I finally got the chance to go to the office once a week, it was like a big day out. I cherished buying a lollipop from the shop close to work. I enjoyed walking to the train station – being in the train. I watched the city as I crossed the Harbour bridge. It was exciting going to the office again. I felt like a grown up.
- I want to keep doing what I’m doing. Most writers would probably not hesitate to ditch their day jobs once they got the chance to work as an author full time. I realised last year I wouldn’t be able to quit mine. My day job and my writing life is the perfect mix of creativity that I need in my life. It scratches all my itch, so to speak. I want to keep them both for as long as I possibly can.
- I took a chance and applied for a scholarship. At first, it was daunting. Going back to school at my age?! Hah! But the process was free so I gave it a good go. Just in case. And I got it. I am definitely not too old to try something new.
Not sure what 2021 is going to be like, but I’m excited to find out.
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