Blog: Review of 2022

It’s the time of year when everyone looks back and tries to figure out what might have gone better in the past year. It’s no different for me. So this is a bit of a separate post as I highlight what’s gone well with my writing during 2022, and set out some plans for next year

The Substack and the Socials

Perhaps the biggest change for me toward the end of the year was to switch my blogging to Substack. My newsletter now pings out from there automatically, and it’s straightforward to add new readers and new features.

If you’re not already a subscriber, please click here:

The Story BoxFiction and poetry that's occasionally funny, routinely dark and always that little bit odd.By Phil Hurst

and subscribe. You’ll get any news I have, as well as regular short stories, poems and other such goodies.

I’ve also reworked my Facebook this year, as well as a few more tweets and pretty pictures on Instagram. I still can’t face TikTok, but who knows what 2023 will bring. If you’re not already following me on your social of choice, here are the links:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

I’m not the fastest at responding as I refuse to have social media on my phone, but I’ll always get back to you if you leave me a message.

Poetry

I’m not a poet.

But I write poems.

And people seem to like them.

Poetry is a quick and easy way for me to get in my creative fix, and it would appear that I’ve got a talent for making people smile. I’ve really enjoyed pulling together some pretty strange poems over the last few months, and I’m definitely going to continue them into 2023.

Big stuff

You know, novels, that kind of thing. This year I managed another rewrite/edit of my crime novel (now renamed All Good Things) and have sent it off to some more publishers. Still no bites, but the advantage of the rewrite was that I realised that I still have faith in it as a project. So I’ll keep sending it out and around and I know that eventually, I’ll get some interest.

I’ve also finished a draft of a bit of an epic sci-fi novel called All Empires Fall. As well as a new title it’ll need a good rewrite in the new year to get it up to scratch (I think the main character’s job changes about three times in the draft). However, it’s a cracking story with a great premise and a messy, uncomfortable ending, so I’m sticking to it.

Plans for 2023

Writing continues to be a huge part of my life, but it’s balanced with a lot of other things. Therefore, I’m keeping my aspirations achievable (but hopefully still stretching) this year.

1. Do something with All Good Things. Whether that means it getting me an agent, getting accepted or published somewhere, I’m not sure. If it’s not moved forward by the end of 2023, I may have to consider leaving it to lie. It’s good, but I wouldn’t want it to stop the next thing from being better.
2. Continue with my poems, and try and get them and some short stories published in a journal or two. This is the most achievable, I think, even though I’m in a bit of a rut with getting things online, it’s probably because I need to get them out there more. Time to believe in myself a little more!
3. Keep expanding and writing the Substack. Being able to write and connect with people is incredibly important to me, and I really want to try out their podcasting feature (although I need to figure out exactly what to use it for).

The end

Of one year…

Always a bit exciting about what the next one will bring.