Just Another New Year's Post

Looking back over my previous post, I can't really help but laugh. In the months since, that particular roller coaster has completely flown off the tracks, crashed and burned into a fiery demise. And that pretty much sums up my 2011! I'm sure there were high points, every year has to have high points, right? At this particular reflective moment I'm hard-pressed to come up with any. It was a year of self-doubt, stagnation and feeling rather lost most of the time. That's really no way to live.

So, like many other people, I'm sure, I am looking forward to 2012 saying it's going to be better. Whether it really will be or not, I haven't a clue. What I do know is that it's going to be the year of ME.

This year I'm going to focus on getting myself together, so to speak. I'm going to try very hard not to get lost in other people, where I've spent most of the last two years. It's time to focus on moving myself forward and making my way to a life fulfilled.

For those who know me, they will know that I have some sort of plan to make this happen. I'm all about the making of plans! Sticking to them, not my strong suit, so that's definitely one of the things I'm going to be working on in the coming months.

I take heart in knowing I'm not going this journey of self-discovery and self-correcting alone, as my dear friend, who my recent reconnection with has given uncountable good things, is coming along for the ride whilst on her own journey of self sorting! Hopefully together we can help each other get things in order.

Also, no matter what else happens, I know that I'll accomplish at least one thing this year that I've been wanting to do for a while and that is actually meet that dear friend in person - so 2012 is already looking loads better than 2011 just for that alone! Roll on April!

So, here we go, another year. Let's get this one right, shall we?

The Happiness of Completion

All is apparently not lost in my brain and while I still have not returned to my only just begun novel, I did in fact complete my very first short short story! I can't describe how it felt to have actually finished the little story, although exhilarated probably comes close. It was a rather fantastic high that left me wanting more.

The short short part makes it sound a lot easier than it was, at least to me it did. I suppose if you already know about writing short stories then you knew that it was a tricky task. (As Marisa pointed out to me)

I didn't start out to write a short short story, mind you, it was supposed to be a short story. As odd as it may sound, the little story sort of took on a life of its own and try as I did, it really just wanted to be a short short. It amazes me that everything I wanted to get across was actually fully realized in so small a space. I'm not sure if that means I just don't have the ability to stretch out a convincing tale or if that was just all that was needed to do so.

I see the story in the story, but that may only be because I created it. However, it being a short short much of it is open to interpretation and imagination, I suppose, for it's really only a snippet into the characters lives. A very short snippet, at that. A fact which really gives the reader some control over what they imagine occurred to propel the characters to that particular point and even where they will go after.

It's an interesting medium - the short short story. One that I found I really enjoyed. There's something a bit magical in a tiny story that conveys so much. Not that my story or any story I will write in the near future will probably have such magical qualities, but the fact that it's possible makes me want to try.

For those of you wondering if you're going to get to read the story you've now heard so much about...I've not really decided. My anxiety-riddled brain is having issues with the sharing part at the moment.