I should know that February is not a good time to get anything done. It’s summer, there are festivals on, friends have birthdays, I have a birthday, and it also seems like it’s ramping up time for the day job.

So far this month I’ve been to a rave, a couple of birthday parties, the movies, a stand-up comedy gig, two comedy plays/performances, an outdoor performance with drums and fireworks, a few breakfasts and dinners, and knee-boarding on the river. The few days I have had free have mostly been spent cleaning the house, making dinner and sorting out the general fiddly bits of life.

Which means there has been no writing.

I am, however, pleased that I have so far managed to do a blog post a week for the past few weeks, and I hope that will continue for the next while. And all that activity and socialising must be good for recharging the creative batteries. Right?

So I think I will give February up as a bit of a loss when it comes to get a big chunk of writing done. I’ll do what I can, when I can, but I’m not going to stress about it.

When I do find the time, I’m either going to complete the first draft of my latest story, or re-edit The Beckoning Blood. After getting some very helpful feedback from a publisher, a friend has helped me see where changes could be made to the opening sequence. I’m pretty exciting about what it will look like when it’s done.

I’m happy to say the publisher has said they’d look at it again once changes have been made, so there’s an added incentive to get it done.

February by Leandro Bassano