My July 2021 review against plan is as follows:

  • Finish chapter 11 and draft introduction for book one, and draft chapters 1-5 for book two. After a really helpful conversation with my MA tutor, brilliant nature-writer Stephen Moss, I had a bit of a re-think about how to make sure these two books are distinctly different. As a result of that I’m very close to having finished the first draft of book one, and have drafted the introduction to book two. My plan is to finish the second draft of book one,
  • At least 1000 words of new nature writing, over and above my book chapters.
  • At least 2 pitches for feature articles to magazines. I’ve had one feature commissioned for a guest blog, and four for a magazine. And delighted to see my third Thirty-minute Birder feature in the September issue of Bird Watching Magazine – pictured. They always make the articles looks so nice too.
  • 1000 Twitter followers (up from 945) It’s getting closer, at 972.
  • 80 followers for this blog (up from 76) Yippee, 83 fabulous and discerning people are now following this blog, and also lovely to be featured in Chris Schuler’s great essay about the Great North Wood.
  • Botany learning plan to support creative writing: Was delighted to get a level 4 “good identification skills” for my botany Field Identification Skills exam, but I’m not stopping there.
  • Writing residency – I published the anthology of submissions from June’s The Nature of Light Workshop and launched the tickets for the workshop on Saturday 28th August Feeling It. I redrafted a Facebook page for a nature-writing forum after having some great advice from my mate and forum supremo, Jane Adams
  • Regulars – blog posts and a nature-writing newsletter Yes absolutely.

My Aug 2021 plan is as follows:

  • Finish first redraft of book one.
  • Redo chapter plan for book two.
  • At least 1000 words of new nature writing, over and above my book chapters.
  • At least 2 pitches for feature articles to magazines.
  • 1000 Twitter followers (up from 972)
  • 90 followers for this blog (up from 83)
  • Botany learning plan to support creative writing: This month I’ll be focusing on aquatic plants, willows and docks.
  • Writing residency – Launch the forum and deliver the August workshop.
  • Regulars – blog posts and a nature-writing newsletter