New Year
New Version Of This
Hi everyone,
Welcome to a new month and a new version of my posts. Which only seems right because my focus has shifted. No more am I entirely focused on writing (although it still encompasses a large proportion of my attention), I am also pursuing other interests.
January is an interesting month. A month of new possibilities and new chances to try something different. It’s also been a very long month which has only meant more time to settle into a new pattern.
So, let’s get into it!
DISCOVERINGS
I’m in love with the German language again. It’s been a long time returning, but it’s there now, and I think it’s here to stay. This month has seen a resurgence with the language owing to the grammar book + workbook I have, the German dictionary, the small daily writing practice and the free online lessons.
In some areas, I’ve gone back to the beginning. For example, the grammar book is for levels A1 to C2 and whilst I know those early grammar lessons, I’ve still gone back to them. I want to make sure they’re fully entrenched in my head and that my understanding of them is complete before I move along to the next level. With the online lessons, I’ve begun at an A2 level. Although I haven’t tested myself, I believe I’m more in line with a B1 level, but in going back a little, I’m simply making sure I’m covering everything. Getting myself feeling comfortable in the language again before I push myself into further learning.
I don’t know if this will sound a tad corny, but I brought myself one of those ‘One Line A Day’ Five Year Journals. And you’ve guessed it, it’s where I do my German writing. Just a line or two a day and just to get me into the swing of things. Because I’d say my weakest areas are speaking and writing and that’s more nervousness to get the word order right than anything else. But now I can practise and see myself improve year on year. I mean, I just have to make sure I stick to it for the next 5 years which will be a massive achievement in itself.
Does anyone ever complete those 5 year journals? Is that an actual thing?
READINGS
I went into this year with a plan for my reading. I had an idea in mind in how to get more views on my videos and more followers to my page. And now, well, that idea has gone completely and utterly out of the window.
What I had in mind was to take those big BookTok books, use the hashtags that are associated specifically with them, but find other books that aren’t so popular. Other books that give the same feel and vibe as the BookTok book whilst highlighting lesser known books and authors. And it was going okay, but then my videos with those hashtags received less views than the ones without. And then, my reading went off the rails. Instead of focusing on similar books, I read myself up to date with a series that I wasn’t planning to read.
So yeah…
that kind of failed.
But I’m not sad about that. I’m still trying to figure out this social media thing and I’ve always laughed at myself when I attempt to do something to get views and it does the opposite. Perhaps I should stop trying to do that. And more importantly, I’ve only confirmed in my head that I can’t follow a reading path. I just read what I want, when I want, and I’ll always forget the goal I’m trying to achieve half way through the month, so why should I keep trying?
I’ve still grown over 50 followers this month on both Instagram and TikTok for my reading accounts, so I must have done something almost right, right?
There are a couple of standout books for me.
Where it all began by Lucy Score and the Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun.
Both excellent books for various different reasons. One’s a romance and one’s not. One’s translated from Korean and the other isn’t. They couldn’t be more different and I love them each for that. However, what’s funny, is that they both have similar messages on love and life. Which really goes to show that we’re all just the same, when you boil down to what matters the most.
CRAFTINGS
The one thing that has worked against me this month is work. After spending Christmas doing a heck of a lot of cross-stitching, the progress really stalled once I went back to work.
(cue the dramatic sigh)
And it’s really annoying, to be honest.
But, a little bit of progress has been made and the cross-stitching project I’m working on is starting to take shape. I’ve been doing one of those stamped ones which is really weird, because whilst you don’t have to think about whether or not you started in the right place or if you’re counting your stitches correctly, you do have to check you’re in the correct colour all the time. And that might sound silly, but (at least on mine), the stamps on the fabric are different from the stamps on the guided sheet you’re given, which have slightly different numbers to the thread cards you’re given. So, if you’re not careful, you’ll pick the wrong colour for the wrong stamp and end up in a world of trouble!
Other than that, I’ve done the tiniest bit of water colouring, but most of my crafting time has gone towards the cross-stitching. It’s a large project, and at this rate, I’ll still be talking about it in December!
WRITINGS
The writing, oh the writing, what is there to say about it?
Just a little bit to be honest. I took a break over Christmas, having lost my interest in writing and deciding what I really wanted to do with it. But, since I’ve taken the pressure off, I’ve found my flow once again. Most nights now, I’ve been writing 1000 words. Just a thousand, no more than that unless it’s by happy accident. Does it mean the story is growing quickly? No. Do I care? Also no. I’m simply having fun with what I do have.
Taking this approach, and with other personal stresses, has given me the space to dive deeper into the worlds I’m creating and understand them on a level that I hadn’t before. I’m making connections between storylines and characters that weren’t there before. Creating side plots and story arcs that make real sense to the story and understanding how each part has its own place in the wider sense of my creative world.
I like this approach. It’s helpful and invigorating. And I’ve gotten more out of this month, than I would have done if I’d carried on with the writing routine I had last year.
January has been good. Personal life stuff is about to rapidly change, but what I’m doing here has been a blast. And all I can wish for, is more of this in the months ahead!
Hope everyone has a wonderful February and may the spring come quickly.
Bye for now.
Chloe.
P.S., does anyone want to guess how long it’s going to take me to finish that cords-stitching project?