Beth Reekles

[bethreekles]

Writing Wednesdays: Why I've decided to start vlogging

Alright, hear me out. Yes, I have had a YouTube channel for about three years. Yes, I have uploaded some vlogs before. Yes, I even tried 'daily vlogging' once. No, I have never been consistent with any of it. But this summer (I say, in my best dramatic movie trailer-guy voice) that's all about to change...

Why do I even have a YouTube account, if I don't vlog?

Fair question, to be honest. I had one because... of course I would? It's a social media, and one that made sense for me, I thought. Mostly, I've used it to share videos whenever I've had any kind of significant news to share. I posted a few different vlogs about The Kissing Booth movie when that came out, and last year, tried something different with a bit of a 'travel vlog', of my trip to Rio in Brazil for the Bienal do Livro. It was another way for me, as a writer, to be able to reach my audience. And, personally, I like when you get to see from people behind something, like a book or a blog.  I don't have great equipment or anything, but I do have better equipment over that I bought over the last year or so. By which I mean - I now own a tripod to put my phone in, and a remote microphone to plug into it, all of which were pretty cheap on Amazon, and are only one step up from just using the webcam on my laptop, but it does mean I'm now happier with the setup I can get, using the basics. Yes, fine, I'm blaming the equipment, but I did always hate the effect it had, and how bad it looked. I didn't like the angles, was limited as to where I could position my laptop to film, and not liking the end product of my videos just left me really unmotivated to make more.

Real quick: what happened to the daily vlogs?

Once I moved to Durham and got my own flat in 2017, I thought I'd have a go at daily vlogging. I thought it'd help me get into vlogging more, came up with a bunch of ideas, and managed it for about five days before giving up. Again - I didn't like the quality of the videos so was unmotivated to make them, and back then, was still getting used to being on camera.

What am I even going to vlog about?

Another very fair question. Well, on this, I've taken your guidance. I've asked a few times on Instagram and collected a lot of suggestions, and I'm also basing it off questions and messages I get asked the most often, or that I find the most interesting, or that generally get a fair amount of interest. So, currently scheduled for upload on my YouTube channel, are vlogs like:

Behind the Scenes: Being on set of The Kissing Booth

Should you post your book on Wattpad?

The worst reviews I ever got for The Kissing Booth

How to start writing a book

If you have suggestions for things you'd like to see from me, please let me know in the comments or over on Twitter (where you can find me @Reekles).  I'm hoping they're at least a little bit entertaining (we all know I don't take myself too seriously) and that the ones offering writing advice will be helpful for some people. 

So what's changed now? 

For one thing: I've spent a lot of time, now, talking to the camera. Instagram Stories and Lives, a handful more vlogs, promotional videos for my publishers...  The tripod helps too, to be honest. It just gives me a little more freedom of where I can sit in my little one-bedroom flat to film a vlog. My editing skills probably still leave a lot to be desired (I use iMovie, which came free on my computer) and while I'd love to add sound effects and animation and things, I'm more focused on producing A Video than learning how to do all of that just yet. Maybe at some point, though! Vlogging more was one of my goals for 2020. It's taken me a while to get around to it, but I'm there now. It's less to do with 'building an audience' or anything (I mean, I kind of have that on Twitter and Instagram already, and with this blog?) but more something I think will be fun and want to do for myself. 

Because here's the thing: I love a project. 

I love trying new things and the learning curve, and picking up new skills, and working on something. It probably sounds really nerdy, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of turning something into a 'project', and analysing it, and seeing how I can do it better.  For example - my newest book, Lockdown on London Lane, which I decided to post on Wattpad. I've loved checking the stats for that, and applying some of my 'theory' around consistent posting, including images, and so on. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep up the weekly (or even twice-weekly) vlogging, but I do want to do it for a while just to get used to it - and I'd like to keep it up at least twice a month, in the long term.  I guess we'll see how it goes... and see what you guys think of it! Make sure you subscribe here - I'm planning to post videos once or twice a week (on Thursdays and Sundays) with the first one going up tomorrow and there will be lots of exciting TKB2 content coming up later this summer once the movie's out! from Blogger https://ift.tt/2M3HKUY via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

Writing Wednesdays: 2 years on from #TKBmovie

Can you actually believe it's been two years since The Kissing Booth hit Netflix? I can't. I mean I really, really can't. In some ways, it feels just like yesterday. I can remember visiting my family to watch it just ahead of release, and whooping at the top of my lungs on the drive home, feeling totally ecstatic. Running around the supermarket to fill the trolley up with party foods and prosecco and writing 'THE KISSING BOOTH' on chalkboard bunting to hang in my flat, ready for a viewing party that weekend with all of my uni friends. Being attached to my phone for days, weeks, after the trailer dropped, in awe of the influx of messages from excited fans... Last year, I uploaded this post about how I'd changed in the year since The Kissing Booth dropped on Netflix, and I still stand by all of that. Looking back, it was when I truly realised exactly how I needed to organise my days to not get burnt out and to be my most productive, and it has continued to be a huge confidence boost. I will never get over the rush of: "Oh you're a writer? What kind of books do you write? Anything I might have heard of?" "Yeah! You know The Kissing Booth, on Netflix?" And that instant recognition - even if they've not watched it, they know exactly what I'm talking about. They know The Kissing Booth. I just love that so much - especially when it's a conversation with the kind of person you know would say 'oh it's JUST a book for teenagers, then,' - as though this is some meagre feat.

In the two years since the TKB movie was released, so much more has changed.

Last year, I said that the movie had meant I was able to travel more - and this still rings true. I got to return to Brazil in 2019 and go to Rio for the Bienal (which was fantastic!), something I was really excited to do after the São Paulo Bienal in 2018. (I'd hoped to maybe go back again this year, but sadly, don't think that's going to happen given, well, you know. I was also invited to Poland earlier this year, but had to turn that down due to coronavirus, too.)

Oh, and, of course, I got to go back to Cape Town - but more on that later...

The Kissing Booth has now also become a four book series!

FOUR!

And in case you're wondering, that's:

The Kissing Booth

The Beach House (a spin-off novella that takes place during TKB, the summer before Noah leaves for college)

The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance (the sequel!!!!!)

The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! (a spin-off short story for World Book Day, currently only available in the UK)

And there is a SECOND movie on the way!

Yes! Everyone was asking about it for so long but last year, we announced that there would indeed be a second movie to The Kissing Booth coming to Netflix! There's still no news (at the time of posting this, at least) on exactly when you can expect that, but it will be happening...

And, before you ask, it is based on my sequel, so in the meantime, you can read that to tide you over!

The fact that we had a second movie on the way meant that I got to go back to Cape Town last year to visit set for a week and watch some of it being filmed. I had the most magical time with this - especially because I got to hang out with the cast a little more this time around! 

You can read more about my set visit for The Kissing Booth 2 in this post, or take a read of my must-see must-do parts of Cape Town if you're planning your dream next holiday, once the world starts turning again! 

I've also started branching out into new books...

You might remember that last year, I was working on eight different books - and until May last year when The Beach House was published, I hadn't had anything new published in about five years. Which is all utterly mental to think about now.

I'm mainly known for my Young Adult/teen books (thank you, Kissing Booth) but last year published my debut adult book - and my first Christmas book!

(Although, those of you who've followed me on Wattpad for a while will know I love a good Christmas story.)

It Won't Be Christmas Without You was published in 2019 by Harper Collins, and followed twenty-something twins Cara and Eloise - and not only was it my first adult book, and first Christmas book, but it was pretty different from my others in that it switched perspectives between the twins each chapter, something I'd only ever done before when writing fanfiction!

(PS. You can grab your copy of It Won't Be Christmas Without You from Book Depository here!)

AND, I've been working on another new adult book (or, at least, adults-in-training, given that they're all twenty-somethings) which I hope to publish. 

Oh, AND, because yes, there's MORE, I've recently started uploading a new book onto Wattpad called Lockdown on London Lane, which is a collection of five short stories following twenty-somethings on lockdown in the same building. The first parts are up now if you want to take a look, with new chapters coming every Tuesday!

Aside from this being the shameless self-promo section of this blog post, this is also to emphasise the point I made last year around the release of the movie giving me a big confidence boost and reaffirming my belief in myself. The massive support I got for The Kissing Booth helped give me a boost to try out new things - something I'd sort of forgotten how to do, during my uni years.

It's also helped me realise that I'm good at just being me... because f**k it, why not?

When I went to uni, succumbed to the pressure of this idea that I was now 'A Writer' and should take myself seriously... And in the last couple of years, since moving out, getting a new job, and the movie taking off, I kind of rediscovered that original spark, and my ability to be unashamedly, unabashedly, me.

When I wrote The Kissing Booth and posted it online, my attitude was fairly 'Fuck it, why not?' - and it paid off. I was totally myself online, and it helped me be more myself in real life, too.

That's an attitude I lost a little during uni, but got back again. I cracked jokes when interviewing for the place I work now - because really, why the heck not? I said 'Why not?' and wrote a Christmas book. I say 'Why not?' when I'm asked to do something at work I have no idea how to do yet, but am willing to learn and figure it out. And you know what? I see that attitude as one of my biggest strengths - and I can trace it right back to The Kissing Booth.

I put a lot of work in over the last two years into understanding how I work best, keeping an eye out for burnout, understanding myself better. And last year, I created a vision board and set goals for myself, which I absolutely bloody loved and have done again this year. 

I've put a lot of time into knowing myself better since the movie came out, and it's paid off - whether in the form of new books, or in interviews, by working in IT even though people are always surprised to hear that, or in coping pretty darn well in lockdown for the last eight weeks completely on my own, if I do say so myself. It's quite honestly one of the best things I ever did (aside from maybe, you know, writing The Kissing Booth).

And hey - being me is working out pretty okay so far.

With any luck, by this time next year, the second film will be out on Netflix, and I'll get to see how much that changes things for me, too.

And, of course, how else to end this post than by saying thank you?

Thank you to everyone who's watched the movie. Thank you to everyone who shared the trailer with their friends when it came out. Thank you to everyone who read those first chapters of The Kissing Booth when I was originally posting it on Wattpad. Thank you to everyone who's read any of the published books. Thank you to you, for your support. This really wouldn't have been possible without you guys - so thank you.

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[bethreekles]

Writing Wednesdays: 2 years on from #TKBmovie

Can you actually believe it's been two years since The Kissing Booth hit Netflix? I can't. I mean I really, really can't. In some ways, it feels just like yesterday. I can remember visiting my family to watch it just ahead of release, and whooping at the top of my lungs on the drive home, feeling totally ecstatic. Running around the supermarket to fill the trolley up with party foods and prosecco and writing 'THE KISSING BOOTH' on chalkboard bunting to hang in my flat, ready for a viewing party that weekend with all of my uni friends. Being attached to my phone for days, weeks, after the trailer dropped, in awe of the influx of messages from excited fans... Last year, I uploaded this post about how I'd changed in the year since The Kissing Booth dropped on Netflix, and I still stand by all of that. Looking back, it was when I truly realised exactly how I needed to organise my days to not get burnt out and to be my most productive, and it has continued to be a huge confidence boost. I will never get over the rush of: "Oh you're a writer? What kind of books do you write? Anything I might have heard of?" "Yeah! You know The Kissing Booth, on Netflix?" And that instant recognition - even if they've not watched it, they know exactly what I'm talking about. They know The Kissing Booth. I just love that so much - especially when it's a conversation with the kind of person you know would say 'oh it's JUST a book for teenagers, then,' - as though this is some meagre feat.

In the two years since the TKB movie was released, so much more has changed.

Last year, I said that the movie had meant I was able to travel more - and this still rings true. I got to return to Brazil in 2019 and go to Rio for the Bienal (which was fantastic!), something I was really excited to do after the São Paulo Bienal in 2018. (I'd hoped to maybe go back again this year, but sadly, don't think that's going to happen given, well, you know. I was also invited to Poland earlier this year, but had to turn that down due to coronavirus, too.)

Oh, and, of course, I got to go back to Cape Town - but more on that later...

The Kissing Booth has now also become a four book series!

FOUR!

And in case you're wondering, that's:

The Kissing Booth

The Beach House (a spin-off novella that takes place during TKB, the summer before Noah leaves for college)

The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance (the sequel!!!!!)

The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! (a spin-off short story for World Book Day, currently only available in the UK)

And there is a SECOND movie on the way!

Yes! Everyone was asking about it for so long but last year, we announced that there would indeed be a second movie to The Kissing Booth coming to Netflix! There's still no news (at the time of posting this, at least) on exactly when you can expect that, but it will be happening...

And, before you ask, it is based on my sequel, so in the meantime, you can read that to tide you over!

The fact that we had a second movie on the way meant that I got to go back to Cape Town last year to visit set for a week and watch some of it being filmed. I had the most magical time with this - especially because I got to hang out with the cast a little more this time around! 

You can read more about my set visit for The Kissing Booth 2 in this post, or take a read of my must-see must-do parts of Cape Town if you're planning your dream next holiday, once the world starts turning again! 

I've also started branching out into new books...

You might remember that last year, I was working on eight different books - and until May last year when The Beach House was published, I hadn't had anything new published in about five years. Which is all utterly mental to think about now.

I'm mainly known for my Young Adult/teen books (thank you, Kissing Booth) but last year published my debut adult book - and my first Christmas book!

(Although, those of you who've followed me on Wattpad for a while will know I love a good Christmas story.)

It Won't Be Christmas Without You was published in 2019 by Harper Collins, and followed twenty-something twins Cara and Eloise - and not only was it my first adult book, and first Christmas book, but it was pretty different from my others in that it switched perspectives between the twins each chapter, something I'd only ever done before when writing fanfiction!

(PS. You can grab your copy of It Won't Be Christmas Without You from Book Depository here!)

AND, I've been working on another new adult book (or, at least, adults-in-training, given that they're all twenty-somethings) which I hope to publish. 

Oh, AND, because yes, there's MORE, I've recently started uploading a new book onto Wattpad called Lockdown on London Lane, which is a collection of five short stories following twenty-somethings on lockdown in the same building. The first parts are up now if you want to take a look, with new chapters coming every Tuesday!

Aside from this being the shameless self-promo section of this blog post, this is also to emphasise the point I made last year around the release of the movie giving me a big confidence boost and reaffirming my belief in myself. The massive support I got for The Kissing Booth helped give me a boost to try out new things - something I'd sort of forgotten how to do, during my uni years.

It's also helped me realise that I'm good at just being me... because f**k it, why not?

When I went to uni, succumbed to the pressure of this idea that I was now 'A Writer' and should take myself seriously... And in the last couple of years, since moving out, getting a new job, and the movie taking off, I kind of rediscovered that original spark, and my ability to be unashamedly, unabashedly, me.

When I wrote The Kissing Booth and posted it online, my attitude was fairly 'Fuck it, why not?' - and it paid off. I was totally myself online, and it helped me be more myself in real life, too.

That's an attitude I lost a little during uni, but got back again. I cracked jokes when interviewing for the place I work now - because really, why the heck not? I said 'Why not?' and wrote a Christmas book. I say 'Why not?' when I'm asked to do something at work I have no idea how to do yet, but am willing to learn and figure it out. And you know what? I see that attitude as one of my biggest strengths - and I can trace it right back to The Kissing Booth.

I put a lot of work in over the last two years into understanding how I work best, keeping an eye out for burnout, understanding myself better. And last year, I created a vision board and set goals for myself, which I absolutely bloody loved and have done again this year. 

I've put a lot of time into knowing myself better since the movie came out, and it's paid off - whether in the form of new books, or in interviews, by working in IT even though people are always surprised to hear that, or in coping pretty darn well in lockdown for the last eight weeks completely on my own, if I do say so myself. It's quite honestly one of the best things I ever did (aside from maybe, you know, writing The Kissing Booth).

And hey - being me is working out pretty okay so far.

With any luck, by this time next year, the second film will be out on Netflix, and I'll get to see how much that changes things for me, too.

And, of course, how else to end this post than by saying thank you?

Thank you to everyone who's watched the movie. Thank you to everyone who shared the trailer with their friends when it came out. Thank you to everyone who read those first chapters of The Kissing Booth when I was originally posting it on Wattpad. Thank you to everyone who's read any of the published books. Thank you to you, for your support. This really wouldn't have been possible without you guys - so thank you.

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[bethreekles]

NEW BOOK! - Read Lockdown on London Lane on Wattpad

I've seen a lot of people being creative during lockdown, and for a while, I was frustrated at how unmotivated I was to do anything. One deadline and another round of edits on a book later, I felt like I was back in my groove. I felt inspired. And after sending the edits off to my agent, I started writing something new.

So, without further ado... 

Introducing a brand-new collection of short stories, which I'll be posting on Wattpad every week: Lockdown on London Lane! 

Lockdown on London Lane is a collection of five short stories, each one following a different character who’s quarantined in the building for a week. There will be friendships, romance, and (hopefully) a sprinkling of comedic banter, too.

Each story will be a couple of chapters long - and keep an eye out for crossovers between characters in each one! 

I'll post one story a week, starting next Tuesday (28th April).

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an original work on Wattpad, I know, but when I started writing this one, I decided that was exactly where I should share it. (And heck, I thought, why not share it?)

It’s also worth saying this is an adult book, rather than Young Adult; all the characters are twenty-somethings. Just to set expectations!

As a little teaser, here's what to expect from each story...

PART 1: Getting to Know You

Imogen likes to believe she’s the kind of girl who doesn’t give a damn what anybody thinks. After she’s quarantined with her one-night stand, Nate, who’s not altogether impressed by her attitude, maybe it’s time for Imogen to re-think how she sees herself. And, just maybe, spark a little romance in the process.

PART 2: The Honeymooners

Isla is totally loved-up with her new-boyfriend, Danny – but after only a month of dating, being forced to live together for a week is… well, it's a little more than she was expecting. And it turns out that in close quarters, Danny’s not exactly what she was expecting, either. It’s time to see if their honeymoon period can survive the ultimate test.

PART 3: The Pineapple Problem

Serena and Zach’s relationship has been on the rocks for a while. She was ready to throw him out after a screaming row, but now they’re stuck on lockdown for the rest of the week. While Zach’s keen to sort out their differences, Serena’s not so sure things can work out. Who knew finding out your boyfriend likes pineapple on pizza could ruin everything?

PART 4: Maid of Horror

Olivia is more than happy to host a weekend of wedding-planning. It’s in the job description, as maid of honour! What she’s less happy about, is having to host the bride and two relative strangers in her flat for an entire week, especially once the champagne stops flowing and the claws come out.

PART 5: Dear Charlotte

With the building on lockdown, Ethan’s girlfriend is stuck at her parents’, leaving him by himself for a week. And you know what this whole thing has made him realise? He wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Now he just has to figure out how to actually tell Charlotte that. With a week to plan the perfect proposal, what can possibly go wrong?

One of the things I've loved seeing since lockdown started is all the different stories people are sharing of their situation. Back home with parents, staying with a sibling unexpectedly, suddenly moving in with their significant other or else choosing to spend months apart from them... 

And you guys know me. I write the kind of thing I like to read - so I guess it was only a matter of time before I started writing some kind of quarantine book. 

(Which is obviously not to make light of the situation or sound like An Arsehole, but everyone's doing what they can to get through this, and I hope this book will provide some light relief.)

Anyway - I've been having a lot of fun writing this book, and really hope you guys enjoy reading it on Wattpad. 

You can read a little introduction right here - add it to your library and make sure you're following me on Wattpad (where you can find me simply @Reekles) so you don't miss any new updates!

Oh - and let me know which story you're looking forward to most!

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[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: 3 routines I'm sticking to during lockdown

Not that it needs to be said again, but it's a weird frickin' time. I talked recently on here about my tips for working from home (especially when it's not something you're used to), and I've been seeing a lot of posts like that recently.  The whole act of being in lockdown and trying to self-isolate as much as I possibly can hasn't actually hit me too hard. (I say, hoping I've not jinxed it.) I talk to my family every day, but that's not a new habit. I won't see my friends for months - but again, that's nothing new. Do you know how hard it is to coordinate a group of people who live in different cities and have different work schedules and most of them have significant others to factor in to their plans? Similarly, working from home is nothing too new to me. (I haven't been to the office in literally a month now. My company have actually said you have to get permission to go into the office now so they can keep the staff as safe as possible, which is so awesome.)  Working from home every day is something new to me, though, and not being able to mooch around town or break up a few days at home by popping to my favourite café for a couple of hours is something different, though. (And without fail, I have thought every Tuesday in the last month was a Wednesday. What even is time anymore?) Something I learned when I first started living on my own in 2017 was how badly I needed structure in my day - both to help me get things done, and for the sake of my mental health.  So without further ado: here are three routines I'm sticking to during lockdown.

My morning routine

When I get up, I have a drink of water, I wash my face with my Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Wash, slap on my Lancome Hydra-Zen day cream, straighten my fringe, and make my bed.  Without. Fail. Some days, I'll put makeup on, do something a little more with my hair, get dressed up in something 'nice' (even, yes, JEANS). I might, on a very rare occasion, cook myself a nice breakfast instead of my usual toast. But every day, no matter what, I follow my 'basic' morning routine. I've always suffered from acne, so skincare is basically a part of my soul by now. Sorting out my fringe just helps me feel a little nicer about myself. Making my bed is a big stress relief (honestly, it's weird how much I hate seeing my bed un-made, and I can't understand people who don't make their bed). There have been days where (even pre-lockdown), I've overslept or have an early meeting and log on to do some work before so much as washing my face, and I can't stand it. I get agitated within the space of two minutes and can't focus properly. So my morning routine is going nowhere.

My after-work routine

As someone who values productivity way too much, I've worked out over the last few years what helps me to feel my most productive, or at least, what habits help me to be able to be productive. For instance, if I get sucked in to a writing sesh, I can not move from my sofa for hours, not even to use the bathroom. The only world that exists is the one on my Word Doc and nothing else matters. Not chores, not dinner, not a shower, not bed time, nothing.  I'm also terrible at switching off, which is even more important now I'm working from home for the day job five days a week, so my after-work routine is crucial. I worked out a while ago that I need to do any chores or whatever as soon as I get in from work - because otherwise, I won't stop writing (or binging Netflix) until the timer on my lamp goes off, indicating that I should be in bed by now - and, oops. So I got into the habit of grocery shopping on my way home from work, doing any housework as soon as I get in and then taking a shower, cooking dinner after that, and then - the rest of the evening is mine. (At least, until that lamp turns off.) Grocery shopping is the obvious exception here, since I'm trying to go only once a week right now. But otherwise - I pack up my laptop at the end of the day, I do any chores, I jump in the shower, and I cook dinner. (Also, as I mentioned in this post, changing my outfit after work is a big thing. Even if that's just a different pair of leggings and hoodie right now.) I let this routine slip maybe twice in the last month, and it was horrible. I felt completely lost and everything got thrown off. I had a weird hangover the next day because of it, where I just felt off-kilter. So again: this routine is here to stay. And if you don't have an after-work routine, I really encourage you to create one right now. It makes a huge difference.

My self-care routine

Admittedly, this isn't quite so much a 'routine', and comes in a lot of forms, but it is something that I'm making sure I make time for right now. Especially given the whole 'productivity paralysis' thing I've been experiencing, where the motivation to do any writing work has completely evaded me. (Also - I wrote here about how to make time for self-care when you're busy, if that's a thing you're struggling with right now.) So what does my self-care routine look like, on a day-to-day basis? Skincare, obviously. First thing in the morning, and after work when I take a shower (more Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Wash, Neutrogena Blackhead Scrub, and my Lancome Hydra-Zen night cream). Taking a shower every day (because apparently this is a thing people aren't doing so much now they're staying at home?) and spending the time cooking myself nice meals a couple of nights a week, while catching up on podcasts. Having my nails painted always helps me feel like I've got my shit together a bit, but I've always been too cheap to go to a salon to get them done, so doing them myself is always a nice chunk of my week. (Check out this post for my advice on giving yourself a great at-home manicure.) Housework makes the list, too: having an empty laundry basket, fresh sheets on the bed, filing the pile of letters I've let build up for a couple of weeks, straightening up my stack of Cosmo magazines, scrubbing the bathroom tiles clean... I look at housework as a pre-weekend treat. I do it after work (usually on a Thursday) so that I can enjoy my Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a lovely clean flat where I don't have to worry about any chores. Plus: it's always a great hour or so to sing along to whatever musical I'm feeling like that day. (Housework might be an easy one to let slip right now, but seriously: do it. Pencil it into your calendar if you have to. You don't have to look forward to it, but you know you'll feel better once it's done, especially when you're staying inside all week long.) So there are three of my routines that I'm sticking to during lockdown! What about you? Are there things you've let slide now you're staying home, or have you built new routines to help you get through it? Let me know over on Twitter @Reekles, or in the comments below! PS. If there are things around working from home, living alone, or social distancing you want me to talk about here on the blog, let me know!  from Blogger https://ift.tt/2yDPxFp via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: 3 routines I'm sticking to during lockdown

Not that it needs to be said again, but it's a weird frickin' time. I talked recently on here about my tips for working from home (especially when it's not something you're used to), and I've been seeing a lot of posts like that recently.  The whole act of being in lockdown and trying to self-isolate as much as I possibly can hasn't actually hit me too hard. (I say, hoping I've not jinxed it.) I talk to my family every day, but that's not a new habit. I won't see my friends for months - but again, that's nothing new. Do you know how hard it is to coordinate a group of people who live in different cities and have different work schedules and most of them have significant others to factor in to their plans? Similarly, working from home is nothing too new to me. (I haven't been to the office in literally a month now. My company have actually said you have to get permission to go into the office now so they can keep the staff as safe as possible, which is so awesome.)  Working from home every day is something new to me, though, and not being able to mooch around town or break up a few days at home by popping to my favourite café for a couple of hours is something different, though. (And without fail, I have thought every Tuesday in the last month was a Wednesday. What even is time anymore?) Something I learned when I first started living on my own in 2017 was how badly I needed structure in my day - both to help me get things done, and for the sake of my mental health.  So without further ado: here are three routines I'm sticking to during lockdown.

My morning routine

When I get up, I have a drink of water, I wash my face with my Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Wash, slap on my Lancome Hydra-Zen day cream, straighten my fringe, and make my bed.  Without. Fail. Some days, I'll put makeup on, do something a little more with my hair, get dressed up in something 'nice' (even, yes, JEANS). I might, on a very rare occasion, cook myself a nice breakfast instead of my usual toast. But every day, no matter what, I follow my 'basic' morning routine. I've always suffered from acne, so skincare is basically a part of my soul by now. Sorting out my fringe just helps me feel a little nicer about myself. Making my bed is a big stress relief (honestly, it's weird how much I hate seeing my bed un-made, and I can't understand people who don't make their bed). There have been days where (even pre-lockdown), I've overslept or have an early meeting and log on to do some work before so much as washing my face, and I can't stand it. I get agitated within the space of two minutes and can't focus properly. So my morning routine is going nowhere.

My after-work routine

As someone who values productivity way too much, I've worked out over the last few years what helps me to feel my most productive, or at least, what habits help me to be able to be productive. For instance, if I get sucked in to a writing sesh, I can not move from my sofa for hours, not even to use the bathroom. The only world that exists is the one on my Word Doc and nothing else matters. Not chores, not dinner, not a shower, not bed time, nothing.  I'm also terrible at switching off, which is even more important now I'm working from home for the day job five days a week, so my after-work routine is crucial. I worked out a while ago that I need to do any chores or whatever as soon as I get in from work - because otherwise, I won't stop writing (or binging Netflix) until the timer on my lamp goes off, indicating that I should be in bed by now - and, oops. So I got into the habit of grocery shopping on my way home from work, doing any housework as soon as I get in and then taking a shower, cooking dinner after that, and then - the rest of the evening is mine. (At least, until that lamp turns off.) Grocery shopping is the obvious exception here, since I'm trying to go only once a week right now. But otherwise - I pack up my laptop at the end of the day, I do any chores, I jump in the shower, and I cook dinner. (Also, as I mentioned in this post, changing my outfit after work is a big thing. Even if that's just a different pair of leggings and hoodie right now.) I let this routine slip maybe twice in the last month, and it was horrible. I felt completely lost and everything got thrown off. I had a weird hangover the next day because of it, where I just felt off-kilter. So again: this routine is here to stay. And if you don't have an after-work routine, I really encourage you to create one right now. It makes a huge difference.

My self-care routine

Admittedly, this isn't quite so much a 'routine', and comes in a lot of forms, but it is something that I'm making sure I make time for right now. Especially given the whole 'productivity paralysis' thing I've been experiencing, where the motivation to do any writing work has completely evaded me. (Also - I wrote here about how to make time for self-care when you're busy, if that's a thing you're struggling with right now.) So what does my self-care routine look like, on a day-to-day basis? Skincare, obviously. First thing in the morning, and after work when I take a shower (more Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Wash, Neutrogena Blackhead Scrub, and my Lancome Hydra-Zen night cream). Taking a shower every day (because apparently this is a thing people aren't doing so much now they're staying at home?) and spending the time cooking myself nice meals a couple of nights a week, while catching up on podcasts. Having my nails painted always helps me feel like I've got my shit together a bit, but I've always been too cheap to go to a salon to get them done, so doing them myself is always a nice chunk of my week. (Check out this post for my advice on giving yourself a great at-home manicure.) Housework makes the list, too: having an empty laundry basket, fresh sheets on the bed, filing the pile of letters I've let build up for a couple of weeks, straightening up my stack of Cosmo magazines, scrubbing the bathroom tiles clean... I look at housework as a pre-weekend treat. I do it after work (usually on a Thursday) so that I can enjoy my Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a lovely clean flat where I don't have to worry about any chores. Plus: it's always a great hour or so to sing along to whatever musical I'm feeling like that day. (Housework might be an easy one to let slip right now, but seriously: do it. Pencil it into your calendar if you have to. You don't have to look forward to it, but you know you'll feel better once it's done, especially when you're staying inside all week long.) So there are three of my routines that I'm sticking to during lockdown! What about you? Are there things you've let slide now you're staying home, or have you built new routines to help you get through it? Let me know over on Twitter @Reekles, or in the comments below! PS. If there are things around working from home, living alone, or social distancing you want me to talk about here on the blog, let me know!  from Blogger https://ift.tt/2yDPxFp via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: How to work from home (when you don't usually)

Not to harp on like everyone else on social media, but it's hard to avoid the current topic of the moment: coronavirus. (Hopefully, though, this will be some more long-lasting advice, and not just specific to the current situation!) As of last week, I've been instructed to work from home - for the foreseeable future. Usually, I work from home two or three days a week, so right now, this isn't something that seems too difficult for me, or too concerning. But if working from home isn't your normal, or is maybe more of a 'Friday treat', it can be a little intimidating, and confusing. Those first few days might feel like a walk in the park (one where you stay 2 metres away from anybody else, obviously) but that might wear off pretty quickly. So in this post, I'm going to share my best - and most practical - advice on how to work from home, when you don't usually.

1. Have a lie-in - but not too long

Working from home offers the luxury of being able to stay in bed a little while longer. You don't need to get ready and do your hair to leave the house, don't need to worry about the commute... And believe me, I take full advantage of the extra time to sleep. (I am not a morning person.) What's important is that you work out how long you actually need to get up, wash your face, throw on some clothes, and have breakfast before turning on your laptop and getting to work. That might be five minutes, it might be twenty-five... but consider it your new 'commute', and get used to it.

2. Wear loungewear to work by all means, but make it ~different~

I'm all for putting on a full face of makeup, wearing jeans and a cute jumper to work from home on days when I need to really get through a lot of work, to help me feel more 'in work mode', and more productive. But let's face it: that's not gonna happen most days. You'll end up wearing leggings and some soft, cosy t-shirts and a hoodie, and you will have no regrets. My advice? Have some different loungewear for after work. It's not just getting in to work mode that's important, it's getting out of it at the end of the day, too. 

3. Set yourself up a spot to work from

For me, it's the dining table. Sitting on the sofa with my feet up feels like too much of a relaxed, evening thing, for me, so sitting all of three feet away at my dining table just helps me feel a little more like I'm 'at work'. Although admittedly, when I get that mid-afternoon slump, I move to the sofa for an hour or so just to shake things up. (Honestly, it's an exciting life, working from home, when you have a one-bedroom flat.) The other important thing here?

4. Keep it tidy

Listen, I like clutter. I am far from a minimalist. But when I'm working at my dining table, it is clear of everything except my laptop, diary and phone. And a cup of tea, obviously. I see a lot of advice on keeping distractions out of the way, and honestly, mess is one of them. The biggest one, for me - if only because it feels like a physical reminder of other things I need to do. For me, this might just mean moving a pile of letters to the bedroom for a few hours, and then moving them back to the dining table at the end of the day, but hey, I never said I was perfect.

5. Keep to your normal workday schedule

This covers a few things. Start at your normal work time, yes, obviously, but take your lunch at your usual time, too. Maybe go out for a walk, if you can. (I've started doing this more this year, and it's actually really helpful.) When you're done with work, follow your normal after-work routine - so for me, that's going to take a shower, change my clothes, and then start cooking dinner. Like I said - it's getting out of work mode that's important, too.

6. Start the day right - what are you going to do today?

I am a zero-inbox kind of person, so the first thing I do every morning is clear out my inbox and check through my to-do list. That might be something that works for you, too. And there's nothing wrong with incorporating your usual day-to-day habits: maybe message a co-worker and say good morning and have a little chat to catch up, or make yourself a coffee before you sit down and crack on. Figuring out what your priorities are for the day is a must when you're working from home (check your calendar, your inbox, anything you have to follow up on or action), especially when there might not be someone else around to remind you about it. (PS. 'Starting your day right' can totally also include slapping on a face mask before you start work. That always helps me feel like I've got my shit together.)

7. You know, you can make that email a phone call...

We all talk about those meetings that could have been an email, but if you're working from home for a while... you know, there are some emails that could be a phone call. Two minutes to get your question answered, five minutes to have a natter. Speaking as an extrovert (and someone working in a company where we don't really do video calls) a little social contact can go a long way, so don't knock it.

8. Pack up!

If, like me, you struggle to switch off, physically removing your work stuff from the equation is a big help. Normally, I'll pack my work things back into my bag after a day at home because I'm likely to go to the office the next day, but if I work from home a few days in a row, I still do it even then. It's not like I have that much space in my current flat to get away from my little work station, after all. Everything goes into a tote bag and gets tucked out of sight between my sofa and dining table ready for the next day. And, my email notifications for work emails are turned off. What are your tips for working from home? What's the thing you struggle with most? I'd love to know, so tell me over on Twitter @Reekles or let me know in the comments! from Blogger https://ift.tt/2J4YTfx via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: How to work from home (when you don't usually)

Not to harp on like everyone else on social media, but it's hard to avoid the current topic of the moment: coronavirus. (Hopefully, though, this will be some more long-lasting advice, and not just specific to the current situation!) As of last week, I've been instructed to work from home - for the foreseeable future. Usually, I work from home two or three days a week, so right now, this isn't something that seems too difficult for me, or too concerning. But if working from home isn't your normal, or is maybe more of a 'Friday treat', it can be a little intimidating, and confusing. Those first few days might feel like a walk in the park (one where you stay 2 metres away from anybody else, obviously) but that might wear off pretty quickly. So in this post, I'm going to share my best - and most practical - advice on how to work from home, when you don't usually.

1. Have a lie-in - but not too long

Working from home offers the luxury of being able to stay in bed a little while longer. You don't need to get ready and do your hair to leave the house, don't need to worry about the commute... And believe me, I take full advantage of the extra time to sleep. (I am not a morning person.) What's important is that you work out how long you actually need to get up, wash your face, throw on some clothes, and have breakfast before turning on your laptop and getting to work. That might be five minutes, it might be twenty-five... but consider it your new 'commute', and get used to it.

2. Wear loungewear to work by all means, but make it ~different~

I'm all for putting on a full face of makeup, wearing jeans and a cute jumper to work from home on days when I need to really get through a lot of work, to help me feel more 'in work mode', and more productive. But let's face it: that's not gonna happen most days. You'll end up wearing leggings and some soft, cosy t-shirts and a hoodie, and you will have no regrets. My advice? Have some different loungewear for after work. It's not just getting in to work mode that's important, it's getting out of it at the end of the day, too. 

3. Set yourself up a spot to work from

For me, it's the dining table. Sitting on the sofa with my feet up feels like too much of a relaxed, evening thing, for me, so sitting all of three feet away at my dining table just helps me feel a little more like I'm 'at work'. Although admittedly, when I get that mid-afternoon slump, I move to the sofa for an hour or so just to shake things up. (Honestly, it's an exciting life, working from home, when you have a one-bedroom flat.) The other important thing here?

4. Keep it tidy

Listen, I like clutter. I am far from a minimalist. But when I'm working at my dining table, it is clear of everything except my laptop, diary and phone. And a cup of tea, obviously. I see a lot of advice on keeping distractions out of the way, and honestly, mess is one of them. The biggest one, for me - if only because it feels like a physical reminder of other things I need to do. For me, this might just mean moving a pile of letters to the bedroom for a few hours, and then moving them back to the dining table at the end of the day, but hey, I never said I was perfect.

5. Keep to your normal workday schedule

This covers a few things. Start at your normal work time, yes, obviously, but take your lunch at your usual time, too. Maybe go out for a walk, if you can. (I've started doing this more this year, and it's actually really helpful.) When you're done with work, follow your normal after-work routine - so for me, that's going to take a shower, change my clothes, and then start cooking dinner. Like I said - it's getting out of work mode that's important, too.

6. Start the day right - what are you going to do today?

I am a zero-inbox kind of person, so the first thing I do every morning is clear out my inbox and check through my to-do list. That might be something that works for you, too. And there's nothing wrong with incorporating your usual day-to-day habits: maybe message a co-worker and say good morning and have a little chat to catch up, or make yourself a coffee before you sit down and crack on. Figuring out what your priorities are for the day is a must when you're working from home (check your calendar, your inbox, anything you have to follow up on or action), especially when there might not be someone else around to remind you about it. (PS. 'Starting your day right' can totally also include slapping on a face mask before you start work. That always helps me feel like I've got my shit together.)

7. You know, you can make that email a phone call...

We all talk about those meetings that could have been an email, but if you're working from home for a while... you know, there are some emails that could be a phone call. Two minutes to get your question answered, five minutes to have a natter. Speaking as an extrovert (and someone working in a company where we don't really do video calls) a little social contact can go a long way, so don't knock it.

8. Pack up!

If, like me, you struggle to switch off, physically removing your work stuff from the equation is a big help. Normally, I'll pack my work things back into my bag after a day at home because I'm likely to go to the office the next day, but if I work from home a few days in a row, I still do it even then. It's not like I have that much space in my current flat to get away from my little work station, after all. Everything goes into a tote bag and gets tucked out of sight between my sofa and dining table ready for the next day. And, my email notifications for work emails are turned off. What are your tips for working from home? What's the thing you struggle with most? I'd love to know, so tell me over on Twitter @Reekles or let me know in the comments! from Blogger https://ift.tt/2J4YTfx via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

It's World Book Day! Plus - win a copy of The Kissing Booth: Road Trip!

World Book Day has come around fast, and with it, the release of The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! In case you missed it: I was picked as one of the authors for this year's World Book Day, alongside authors such as Matt Haig, Anthony Horowitz, and Robin Stevens - which is such an honour! My book for World Book Day, The Kissing Booth: Road Trip, is a short story that follows Elle and Lee on a cross-country road trip for spring break to visit Noah in Harvard.

I loved World Book Day as a kid: it was the one day a year that everyone in school embraced books, even if they weren't much of a reader. And being someone who devoured every book I could get my hands on, it was nice to see everyone getting involved. (Although I was always stuck with an easy costume, like Hermione or Lucy Pevensie, because neither of my parents were especially creative when it came to dressing up as your favourite character.) And honestly, I completely freaked out when I saw that Anthony Horowitz was another author on the line-up for World Book Day this year. I LOVED the Alex Rider series when I was younger, so it's crazy to think that I'm actually publishing something alongside the author behind it now. You can find out more about World Book Day here, or about the other books for 2020 here.

I'm especially excited to be sharing this story with you. TKB: Road Trip is my eighth published book (eighth!) and the fourth book in The Kissing Booth series. Which is completely crazy, because I never expected to publish TKB in the first place, let alone turn it into a series! (For those of you wondering, Road Trip takes place 'during' the sequel, Going the Distance - a bit like The Beach House and The Kissing Booth. I know, I make it real easy for you guys. I'm great at writing a chronological series.) The book is currently only available in the UK, but hopefully will be coming to more countries later on this year. (I'll keep you posted of any news over on my Instagram and Twitter!) Plus, it's only £1! A bargain! AND, you can get a sneak peek at the first chapter of it right here.

To celebrate World Book Day, I'll be giving away some signed copies of The Kissing Booth: Road Trip - both on Twitter and on Instagram. Make sure you don't miss out! Both giveaways will be open internationally, too! I'm also taking part in a readalong at 7.30pm tonight (Thursday 5th March) over on Twitter - so grab your copy of TKB: Road Trip and come join us to talk about it with the hashtag #WBDreadalong! Find out more here.  Oh, AND (because yes, there's more!) I recorded this podcast for World Book Day, with some brilliant booktubers. It was an incredibly fun afternoon, and I hope you enjoy listening!

I'd love to hear what World Book Day meant to you growing up, and what you'll be reading for it now! Share in the comments or over on Twitter, where I'm @Reekles.

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[bethreekles]

Writing Wednesdays: How I juggled 8 writing projects last year

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A few months ago, I posted about how I was working on seven different books in 2019. (That’s recently turned into eight books… Oops.) And that’s just the ones I plan to publish, not the bits of fanfic I write for fun.

Anyway. Eight different writing projects. That’s a lot, especially when I’ve got a day job to balance, too. But I’ve done it, and in this post, I’m going to share a few ‘hacks’ (for want of a better word) as to how I juggled all of this.

1. Managing my time and knowing how I work

This is probably the most important part of it. I know that I work better when I have a deadline and I work well in the evenings. I know that if I’m a bit stuck, I need to get out of the house and have a change of scenery, so go to write in a café. I know that if I get home from work and sit down, I will not move until it’s time for bed, so that’s a recipe for disaster.

So – I manage my time, even the down time. 

I use ToDoist to plan out my week, so I don’t forget to reply to an email and know when I’m going to do the housework. If I have chores to do, I’ll do them as soon as I get in from work, freeing up the evening to write, when I’m more productive. I’m better with structure in my day, so actually having a job to go to five days a week (even if I work from home for some of those days) is a huge help.

2. Having deadlines

I am much more efficient when I have a deadline – when someone is expecting something from me, and I have less space to procrastinate. If I’m sent edits and told ‘just get them back when you can’, those edits are likely to sit in my inbox until I’m chased up to see how I’m getting on. I’m not saying this is a great quality, but it’s one I doubt will ever change, so I know I’m far better when I’m given a deadline. I actively ask for them, or else impose them myself – even if it’s just ‘get to 35,000 words on that book by the end of the month’.

3. Trello

I use Trello to keep track of my writing projects. I create a board for each book, and each one will have notes around the characters, the timeline, and so on – so when I’m bouncing between different projects, that’s an easy way for me to check in on where I was, what’s going on, and where I’m going next.

4. Focusing on one thing at a time

...to some extent.

Here’s an example. The proof reading of TKB2 was due, but I was also supposed to be writing the TKB spin-off for World Book Day (TKB: Road Trip), at the same time. I set aside TKB: Road Trip and just worked through the proof reads, getting those out of the way before going back to it, since that deadline was more urgent. In September, I was supposed to have been editing my next adult book. I was then told that my editor would like the first draft of my next YA book early October (and I’d barely even started it yet). I pushed the October deadline to mid-November, and focused only on the edits for the adult book before switching over to the first draft.

I like the practise of grouping similar activities. Admin tasks like sending emails – I’d rather do them all together than one or two at a time. Housework and laundry – all at once, or not at all. That attitude extends to my books, too. Edits? Do it all now, or not at all. I think I’d be pretty useless if I constantly instead tried to edit half a book, write a few chapters of a new one, then edit some more, then write again…

5. Tracking goals and having a to-do list

I mentioned my beloved to do list app, ToDoist, and how it helps me organise my time and everything that needs doing – but I also like to use it to set myself some goals. ‘Tuesday – edit to page 100. Wednesday – edit to page 120. Thursday – edit to page 180.’ It’s a really handy way to keep myself on track and motivated (and I guess goes back to the whole ‘setting myself deadlines’.

I also have a monthly list of goals, which are a bit broader (more like, ‘Work on first draft of this book’) which I find really helpful, and I mark any deadlines in my diary so I can’t miss them. When I’m working on so many different projects and with so many different deadlines, I’d probably forget most of them if I didn’t keep track somewhere.

6. Rereading and leaving myself notes for Future Me

As soon as I open a book I’m working on, I will reread the last chapter – or at least, the last part of it – just to remind myself where I am, what the tone is. Trello is great, but rereading at least a few paragraphs helps me get back into the feel of the book. And I’ve also started leaving myself notes when I close a project – for instance, if I’m writing (as opposed to editing) and plan to stop at the end of the chapter, I leave myself a line or two to remind Future Me what I wanted to happen next. ‘Characters A and B talk about that thing, B meets C for breakfast, A is freaking out about a situation.’ It’s proven to be a huge help, and makes it a lot quicker for me to get back into a project when I pick it back up.

And, of course, it helps a lot that the books are ones I’m passionate about and enjoy working on! (I kind of loathe editing, but after having to do it on and off all year for so many different books, I’m getting used to it now – if not always ‘enjoying’ it!)

Looking forward through 2020, I think there are only (‘only’) five books I plan to work on. It was four, until I added that extra book recently, which I'll finish writing early this year, too. I have to admit, I felt a bit lost when I counted them up. Five seemed so few, compared to this year.

But that comes back to knowing how I work – and I know I work best when I’ve got a lot going on and I’m keeping myself busy. So who knows – maybe by the time next December rolls around, I’ll be talking about the nine or ten or eleven books I’ve ended up working on in 2020!

What are your top tips for juggling different writing projects? Share in the comments, or let me know on Twitter @Reekles.

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[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: Finance habits I'm changing for 2020

In 2019, I finally found a way to track my spending that works for me, and set budgets for each month. I was actually pretty pleased with how well it worked for me, and how easy it was to keep up the habit for nine months. (You can read more about how it went here.) Previously, I'd had an idea of what I was spending each month and didn't generally spend over my salary. (With the occasional exception of forking out for car insurance once a year or buying Christmas presents, for instance.) But, I didn't actually know where my money was going.  Tracking my spending - and in particular, setting budgets for different 'categories' - really helped me to find out where my money was going. I could see how much I spent on groceries each month, how much I spent in the 'Personal' budget (aka, general crap, new clothes, the occasional coffee at lunchtime), how much I was spending on going out with friends...  At the end of 2019, I took a look back on eight months' worth of my budget/spending spreadsheet. I looked at what my average spend was for each category each month, if I stayed within budget - and if not, why not. (Was that the month I had to shell out on car insurance? Did I have lots of friends' birthdays to spend on?) I had a fun hour or so analysing my spreadsheets (nerd alert) and then casting a critical eye over it, ready to think about what my budgets should be for 2020. Thing was, when I started this whole budgeting exercise, I didn't have that much of an idea what my budgets should be. Did I spend £100 on food a month, or was it closer to £200? How much did I spend on a night out, and how often did I go out with friends? Well, now I know the answers to those questions. In the rest of this post, I'm going to share a few finance habits I plan to change for 2020.

Making a more conscious effort to save

Obviously, I was trying to put away money every month and save up. I could see how much I was spending each month and know what my pay check from the day job looks like, so I could see roughly how much I hadn't spent and could therefore consider a saving. This year, however, I'm going to actively set savings goals, and have set up my budget spreadsheet to track that properly, too. I'm kicking things off with a goal of £500 to save per month - and guess we'll see how that goes! Plus, after looking at eight months of spending, I realised how nice it would've been to see how much I'd saved in that time, too, by comparison. 

Trying to cut back on spending

Like I said, I don't (generally) spend outside of my salary each month, but having looked back over eight months of spending, I know there are certain times when I've definitely gone a bit overboard, and could cut back. I know I'm always about £15 over budget on my groceries each month, so that's one good starting point for cutting back. And I could definitely not buy clothes so often, so that's something else I want to cut down. Plus, it'll all help with that monthly savings goal!

Tracking my 'business' finances more closely

When I set up my budget categories, I added one for 'business', for any spending related to my career as an author. I already know that's going to be a massive help when it comes to next tax year, and I've got a much clearer idea of what my expenses are. I've always had any income from my writing be paid into a separate account to the one I use for my salary and day-to-day spending (also a big help in tax season), and I've got a system so it's relatively low-stress when it comes to sorting out things for my accountant and tax, but I think it could just be better.  So, I've made another adjustment to my budget spreadsheet to include any writing income, too. (Plus, I've included another line for my salary, so I can actually see in black and white how much I've earned compared to how much I've spent.) It turns out that having it written out on screen, rather than just 'having a good idea' makes me feel much more accountable and think more closely about my finances, so this just feels like a sensible move to tighten things up, rather than a big change. If you want to read more about managing your money when you're self-employed, check out this post I wrote for my Writing Wednesdays series.

One big spreadsheet for the year

At the minute, I track my spend over the month, adjusting any budgets if I know there's any other expenses that month (did I mention car insurance yet?) and at the end of the month, I file a copy on my computer, clear the spreadsheet, and start fresh.  So when it came to looking at everything over the last eight months, it took me a little while to get everything into one central spreadsheet to take a look at averages and totals and compare things properly - and that was the only time I really did any comparison of my budgets or took a more critical look at things. The plan for 2020 is as simple as copying those 'budget/actual spend' total columns over into another spreadsheet at the end of the month when I file a copy. It'll only take maybe two minutes extra, so it's not exactly a cumbersome task, and I'm hoping it'll mean I can be stricter with myself as the year goes on, and understand my spending habits even better. (Look, I like a spreadsheet, okay. And as it turns out, I really like to know where my money's going.) Are you setting any finance goals for 2020, or changing any of your habits when it comes to money? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments or over on Twitter! PS. I've really been enjoying The Financial Diet over on Instagram and Twitter lately - it's keeping me motivated when it comes to being more mindful with money, and they have a lot of interesting tips and content! And, I'm also a fan of Girlboss' Scrimp City series.  from Blogger https://ift.tt/2R9tE6I via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: Finance habits I'm changing for 2020

In 2019, I finally found a way to track my spending that works for me, and set budgets for each month. I was actually pretty pleased with how well it worked for me, and how easy it was to keep up the habit for nine months. (You can read more about how it went here.) Previously, I'd had an idea of what I was spending each month and didn't generally spend over my salary. (With the occasional exception of forking out for car insurance once a year or buying Christmas presents, for instance.) But, I didn't actually know where my money was going.  Tracking my spending - and in particular, setting budgets for different 'categories' - really helped me to find out where my money was going. I could see how much I spent on groceries each month, how much I spent in the 'Personal' budget (aka, general crap, new clothes, the occasional coffee at lunchtime), how much I was spending on going out with friends...  At the end of 2019, I took a look back on eight months' worth of my budget/spending spreadsheet. I looked at what my average spend was for each category each month, if I stayed within budget - and if not, why not. (Was that the month I had to shell out on car insurance? Did I have lots of friends' birthdays to spend on?) I had a fun hour or so analysing my spreadsheets (nerd alert) and then casting a critical eye over it, ready to think about what my budgets should be for 2020. Thing was, when I started this whole budgeting exercise, I didn't have that much of an idea what my budgets should be. Did I spend £100 on food a month, or was it closer to £200? How much did I spend on a night out, and how often did I go out with friends? Well, now I know the answers to those questions. In the rest of this post, I'm going to share a few finance habits I plan to change for 2020.

Making a more conscious effort to save

Obviously, I was trying to put away money every month and save up. I could see how much I was spending each month and know what my pay check from the day job looks like, so I could see roughly how much I hadn't spent and could therefore consider a saving. This year, however, I'm going to actively set savings goals, and have set up my budget spreadsheet to track that properly, too. I'm kicking things off with a goal of £500 to save per month - and guess we'll see how that goes! Plus, after looking at eight months of spending, I realised how nice it would've been to see how much I'd saved in that time, too, by comparison. 

Trying to cut back on spending

Like I said, I don't (generally) spend outside of my salary each month, but having looked back over eight months of spending, I know there are certain times when I've definitely gone a bit overboard, and could cut back. I know I'm always about £15 over budget on my groceries each month, so that's one good starting point for cutting back. And I could definitely not buy clothes so often, so that's something else I want to cut down. Plus, it'll all help with that monthly savings goal!

Tracking my 'business' finances more closely

When I set up my budget categories, I added one for 'business', for any spending related to my career as an author. I already know that's going to be a massive help when it comes to next tax year, and I've got a much clearer idea of what my expenses are. I've always had any income from my writing be paid into a separate account to the one I use for my salary and day-to-day spending (also a big help in tax season), and I've got a system so it's relatively low-stress when it comes to sorting out things for my accountant and tax, but I think it could just be better.  So, I've made another adjustment to my budget spreadsheet to include any writing income, too. (Plus, I've included another line for my salary, so I can actually see in black and white how much I've earned compared to how much I've spent.) It turns out that having it written out on screen, rather than just 'having a good idea' makes me feel much more accountable and think more closely about my finances, so this just feels like a sensible move to tighten things up, rather than a big change. If you want to read more about managing your money when you're self-employed, check out this post I wrote for my Writing Wednesdays series.

One big spreadsheet for the year

At the minute, I track my spend over the month, adjusting any budgets if I know there's any other expenses that month (did I mention car insurance yet?) and at the end of the month, I file a copy on my computer, clear the spreadsheet, and start fresh.  So when it came to looking at everything over the last eight months, it took me a little while to get everything into one central spreadsheet to take a look at averages and totals and compare things properly - and that was the only time I really did any comparison of my budgets or took a more critical look at things. The plan for 2020 is as simple as copying those 'budget/actual spend' total columns over into another spreadsheet at the end of the month when I file a copy. It'll only take maybe two minutes extra, so it's not exactly a cumbersome task, and I'm hoping it'll mean I can be stricter with myself as the year goes on, and understand my spending habits even better. (Look, I like a spreadsheet, okay. And as it turns out, I really like to know where my money's going.) Are you setting any finance goals for 2020, or changing any of your habits when it comes to money? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments or over on Twitter! PS. I've really been enjoying The Financial Diet over on Instagram and Twitter lately - it's keeping me motivated when it comes to being more mindful with money, and they have a lot of interesting tips and content! And, I'm also a fan of Girlboss' Scrimp City series.  from Blogger https://ift.tt/2R9tE6I via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

Writing Wednesdays: My writing goals for 2020

Happy New Year, everyone! And with the New Year (and a new decade) comes everyone's resolutions and goals - so in this post, I'm going to share my writing goals for the year. Last year was a pretty crazy one for me. I ended up working on eight different books (you can read a bit about them here, back when it was only seven books...) and I'll be talking more soon about how I juggled all of that. This time last year, I didn't even know for sure that I'd have anything published in 2019. I didn't know we'd be publishing The Beach House, and we didn't have a contract for my Christmas book either. With that in mind, I'm sure there will be things that crop up unexpectedly this year (I sure hope so!) - but for now, let's just focus on what I do know about...

1. More of The Kissing Booth madness!

With The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance out NOW (after seven years of working on it... yikes!), another spin-off called The Kissing Booth: Road Trip coming in March for World Book Day, and the second movie set to come out later this year... Well, while there might not be much 'writing' going on there, it's still plenty of book-related work for me! And I'm really looking forward to it all.

2. Editing (and hopefully publishing) my new YA book

Remember that book I wrote in five weeks, in October/November? Well, last I heard, we had vague plans to publish this year, so I'm banking on doing a fair bit of editing on that book!

3. Publishing more adult books?!

I finished a new adult book (I say adult... it feels more like adult-in-training, since the main characters are twenty-somethings!) last February, and finished a bunch of edits in September. I'm hoping my agent will secure a publishing deal for it this year. And, I'm planning on two more books in the same genre - one of which I started writing last year, and the other I've got plenty of ideas for. I'm determined to finish the first drafts of both of those throughout 2020!

4. YET ANOTHER NEW BOOK???

Literally five days after I finished writing that YA book in five weeks, after thinking 'I'll take the rest of the year off', I got an idea for ANOTHER new adult book. And it - would - not - go - away. So... I started writing it. I'm planning to finish the first draft of that one by Valentine's Day (worked out last year as a reasonable marker to use as a deadline!)

5. More. consistent. blogging.

Inevitably, my blogging seems to come in cycles. It flags around spring, and again in autumn. I have no real idea why. It's not for lack of ideas or planning. I just... never seem to get around to it? It always falls to the bottom of my priorities, and I, also inevitably, end up feeling disappointed in myself. This year, I'd like to put more effort into being more consistent with posting regularly - and posting more in spring and autumn, when I tend to go quiet! (I know this isn't quite so bookish as my other goals, but still a writing goal, as far as I'm concerned!)

6. Keep journalling

Another non-bookish-but-still-writing goal! In 2019, I kept a journal beside the bed. If there was lots going on, or I was feeling particularly low or excited about something, I'd journal. If things were pretty average, I'd made sure to journal and 'check in' every couple of weeks. This really helped my mental health, and it definitely helped me stay on track - and stay sane - with all the book stuff I had going on, so it's something I want to make sure I do again this year. And that takes us up to... actually writing three books, and (hopefully!) doing edits on two. Five books for 2020. Seven, if you count the two TKB ones being published. And a partridge in a pear tree. Compared to eight last year, I feel like I'm getting off way too lightly. I love feeling busy and productive, and love writing, so part of me feels like I should be pushing myself to write more, but... I'm also trying to be sensible, and focus on finishing these books as a priority.  Who knows, maybe I'll end up finding even more books to work on as the year goes on, depending on how well these ones go! Do you have any writing goals for this year? Share them in the comments, or tell me over on Twitter, @Reekles. from Blogger https://ift.tt/301Mjp5 via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: My 2020 resolutions and goals

What is it about the phrase 'New Year's resolutions' that always sounds so tedious? For me, it always conjures up a half-hearted feeling of 'I say I'll do it but by the second week of January it's a distant memory'.

(And, yes, here I am, writing a whole post about them. Bear with me.)

First - let's talk about goals!

Last year, I spent time setting goals for 2019. The year before, I'd kept a monthly list of goals and to-dos, which ended up being a bit more structured in 2019 because of that year-long list of goals. I also ended up creating a vision board, which was a way more useful exercise than I expected it to be.

I like feeling productive and busy. Setting goals helps me do that, and stops me procrastinating so much.

So obviously when it came to the new year this time around, there I was with my journal and felt-tips and ready to start my goals for the new year. And, this time, a few resolutions. 

My goals are broken down into different categories: personal, learning, creative, and career. Admittedly, there's some crossover in the creative and career ones where it's mainly to do with my work as an author, but it feels nice to remember there's a distinction between the two. And it's nice to remember what I count as work, and what I count as a hobby. 

As for resolutions...

I wrote this post recently about some habits I'd changed over the last year - things I'd started or stopped doing, and some habits I wanted to work on this year. 

While my goals are things I want to achieve throughout the year, things I want to do, I see resolutions more like habits I want to change somehow. 

Three of my resolutions for 2020:

1. Cook something new from Antoni Porowski's 'Antoni in the Kitchen' once a month - I got this for Christmas and to make sure I don't put off trying out new recipes, I plan to cook from it once a month. I'm going to try to set meal plans (which I'm also hoping will save me a little money on my grocery bills each week...) and hope that choosing recipes like this will help with that.

2. Save my 'leftover' salary each month. I've been tracking all my spending for several months now, but want to be more conscious with savings this year. I've set a savings goal, but what I'm going to do first and foremost is save whatever is leftover from my salary, compared to what I've spent that month, into a new account, so I can see how much I've really saved over the year.

3. Not to binge watch entire series over a weekend! I've noticed that if I spend a whole day or a weekend on the sofa or in bed watching a new series, I just feel like crap at the end of it. (Partly because it feels so unproductive and, as mentioned, I like to feel productive.) So something to work on this year - not doing that. Wish me luck...

And as for some of my goals for 2020:

1. Book a holiday with my friends! We've been talking about a girls' weekend away for ages, but whenever I've looked at flights it's always crazy expensive. This year, I'm determined to get it done. Pick a date, look for some reasonably-priced flights, pick a destination and go.

2. Complete the next level of my German Duolingo course. I'd really like to keep working on my languages, and setting this as a goal last year helped me to actually do it. My German skills feel fairly basic and my grammar definitely leaves something to be desired, so back to Duolingo to level-up it is.

3. Finish the first drafts of three new books. This one's definitely a push, but I feel it's doable if I really try. I've started one, and am about a third of the way through another, so it's not impossible!

4. Guest on a podcast - because hell, why not? I'd love to. I listen to so many podcasts that have guests and are either just a chat, or interview-style, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be on some of them. This is one of my 'out there' goals for the year, admittedly, but no harm in hoping for it!

The eagle-eyed readers amongst you will have noticed that that's a goal from each of my categories there... And obviously they're not my only goals, but just a few I wanted to share!

I'll post soon about how I set goals and why they're so useful (because tbh it's never the wrong time to be setting goals) but one thing I found really helpful this year was Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020 by Project Love - a journal that guides you through reflecting on the last year and prompts you to think about your dream life and break down ways to make that happen. It was so much fun to work through and such a cute journal - I really can't recommend it enough! PLUS, it has 'quarterly check-ins' where you set goals for the next three months, which I'm really looking forward to doing. (Not an ad, I promise, I just really liked it.)

Have you set any resolutions or goals for 2020? I'd love to hear so let me know over on Twitter where you can find me @Reekles or in the comments below!

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2N2NQG6 via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: My 2020 resolutions and goals

What is it about the phrase 'New Year's resolutions' that always sounds so tedious? For me, it always conjures up a half-hearted feeling of 'I say I'll do it but by the second week of January it's a distant memory'.

(And, yes, here I am, writing a whole post about them. Bear with me.)

First - let's talk about goals!

Last year, I spent time setting goals for 2019. The year before, I'd kept a monthly list of goals and to-dos, which ended up being a bit more structured in 2019 because of that year-long list of goals. I also ended up creating a vision board, which was a way more useful exercise than I expected it to be.

I like feeling productive and busy. Setting goals helps me do that, and stops me procrastinating so much.

So obviously when it came to the new year this time around, there I was with my journal and felt-tips and ready to start my goals for the new year. And, this time, a few resolutions. 

My goals are broken down into different categories: personal, learning, creative, and career. Admittedly, there's some crossover in the creative and career ones where it's mainly to do with my work as an author, but it feels nice to remember there's a distinction between the two. And it's nice to remember what I count as work, and what I count as a hobby. 

As for resolutions...

I wrote this post recently about some habits I'd changed over the last year - things I'd started or stopped doing, and some habits I wanted to work on this year. 

While my goals are things I want to achieve throughout the year, things I want to do, I see resolutions more like habits I want to change somehow. 

Three of my resolutions for 2020:

1. Cook something new from Antoni Porowski's 'Antoni in the Kitchen' once a month - I got this for Christmas and to make sure I don't put off trying out new recipes, I plan to cook from it once a month. I'm going to try to set meal plans (which I'm also hoping will save me a little money on my grocery bills each week...) and hope that choosing recipes like this will help with that.

2. Save my 'leftover' salary each month. I've been tracking all my spending for several months now, but want to be more conscious with savings this year. I've set a savings goal, but what I'm going to do first and foremost is save whatever is leftover from my salary, compared to what I've spent that month, into a new account, so I can see how much I've really saved over the year.

3. Not to binge watch entire series over a weekend! I've noticed that if I spend a whole day or a weekend on the sofa or in bed watching a new series, I just feel like crap at the end of it. (Partly because it feels so unproductive and, as mentioned, I like to feel productive.) So something to work on this year - not doing that. Wish me luck...

And as for some of my goals for 2020:

1. Book a holiday with my friends! We've been talking about a girls' weekend away for ages, but whenever I've looked at flights it's always crazy expensive. This year, I'm determined to get it done. Pick a date, look for some reasonably-priced flights, pick a destination and go.

2. Complete the next level of my German Duolingo course. I'd really like to keep working on my languages, and setting this as a goal last year helped me to actually do it. My German skills feel fairly basic and my grammar definitely leaves something to be desired, so back to Duolingo to level-up it is.

3. Finish the first drafts of three new books. This one's definitely a push, but I feel it's doable if I really try. I've started one, and am about a third of the way through another, so it's not impossible!

4. Guest on a podcast - because hell, why not? I'd love to. I listen to so many podcasts that have guests and are either just a chat, or interview-style, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be on some of them. This is one of my 'out there' goals for the year, admittedly, but no harm in hoping for it!

The eagle-eyed readers amongst you will have noticed that that's a goal from each of my categories there... And obviously they're not my only goals, but just a few I wanted to share!

I'll post soon about how I set goals and why they're so useful (because tbh it's never the wrong time to be setting goals) but one thing I found really helpful this year was Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020 by Project Love - a journal that guides you through reflecting on the last year and prompts you to think about your dream life and break down ways to make that happen. It was so much fun to work through and such a cute journal - I really can't recommend it enough! PLUS, it has 'quarterly check-ins' where you set goals for the next three months, which I'm really looking forward to doing. (Not an ad, I promise, I just really liked it.)

Have you set any resolutions or goals for 2020? I'd love to hear so let me know over on Twitter where you can find me @Reekles or in the comments below!

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[bethreekles]

It's publication day! - The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance

In case you missed it over on my Twitter countdown or on my Instagram stories... it's finally publication day for the sequel to The Kissing Booth!

Elle Evans seems to have finally tamed hotter-than-hot bad boy Noah Flynn, but now they're facing a new challenge. Noah's 3,000 miles away at Harvard, which means they're officially a long-distance couple - and it's tough.After all, there's only so much texts and calls can satisfy - and when Elle sees a post which suggests Noah's getting friendly with another girl, she's devastated.On top of that, it's hard to ignore the new boy at school. He's gentle, sweet, cute - and definitely interested in Elle.With her heart on the line, what's a girl to do?Join Elle, Noah, Lee and all your favourite Kissing Booth characters for another amazing romantic story that's sure to have you swooning.

FIRST THINGS FIRST...

I started writing this book back in 2013. The Kissing Booth had been around for about two years at that point, from its first days on Wattpad in April 2011, and people had been messaging me pretty constantly asking for a sequel. I was aware my publisher was interested in one, but I didn't want to write it because anybody told me to.  There was one scene stuck in my head that I couldn't let go of. I ended up writing the entire sequel just for that scene... and because it was hard to let go of the characters! The writing itself was a bit stop-start, where I was struggling with my mental health, studying for my degree, working on other things, or just feeling uninspired. There was a lot of editing and going back and forth before it was in good enough shape to be sent to my editor back in 2018 when the first movie came out... and then with the second movie on the cards (more on that later), timelines ended up being moved to be more in line with that. And, of course, there was more editing. But here we are. Seven years later. A lot of hard work, a lot of late nights, a lot of tea and toast, and a lot of tears later. We're here. 

It's finally publication day! And I'm kind of terrified!

Of course I'm terrified! A hit movie and several translation rights and nine years of people asking about a sequel all feels like a lot of pressure. I feel like people will be expecting a lot from this book. Maybe too much. I don't know. This is the scary part of being a writer, because now it's all done and it's out there and I can't change any of it now. I really, really hope you all enjoy the book. I've had quite a few messages already from people who smashed through the whole thing in a few hours, or got it a few days early somehow, and all of whom said they've enjoyed it.  (Obviously, I'm not going over to Goodreads to see what's been said. I don't hate myself that much.)  Anyway - I'm thrilled to hear people are enjoying it so much, and if you read it, please let me know what you think! I'd love to hear! I don't generally reply to DMs on Instagram but I do read them, and I'm more likely to reply if you Tweet me (@Reekles) or comment on one of my Instagram posts.

NOW: Where can you buy the book?

It's been published TODAY (2nd January 2020) by my UK publisher so should be available in the UK/Commonwealth now in ebook and paperback. You can find it on Amazon here, or check out your favourite (e)bookstore. I'm told it should also be available as an audiobook in the next few days. It is going to be published in the US as of next week - I believe it's out on the 7th of Jan there!  There are also a few translations coming later this year. So far, in: Spain, Brazil, France, Germany and Italy. (I think. I may have missed one or two.) Hopefully more will follow, and I have no idea when these translations will be available. Sorry! If you're not sure where to find the book or if it's out in your country, I recommend checking your usual (e)bookstores - or else heading to Book Depository, where you can order the paperback here.

AND SOME SPECIAL INSTAGRAM CONTENT... COMING SOON!

To celebrate the release (at long last) of The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance, I will be doing some exciting things over on my Instagram, where you can find me @authorbethreekles. Very soon, I'll be uploading a post to giveaway a signed copy of the book - it'll be open internationally and it'll be a 'like this photo, tag a friend, follow my account to enter' kind of giveaway. Nice and easy! I don't currently have all my copies of the book from my publisher but should get them very soon, so will be doing this in the next couple of days and keep it open for about a week. Keep an eye out for it! I will also be doing a bit of a Q&A on my Instagram stories - sort of an 'Ask Me Anything' about the sequel (book, not movie) and answering a few FAQs. I'm planning to do that on Sunday 5th, so watch out for it! AND, in a couple of weeks, I'll also do an Instagram Live to talk to you all about the sequel! (Again - the book, not the movie.) I want to wait a while to do this to give people a chance to get the book and read it, and avoid too many spoilers too soon. This is most likely going to be at the end of January, so stay tuned for that - I'll announce dates for sure on my Twitter.

What about the movie?

YES, there will be a second movie. YES, it will be based on my sequel. YES, all your faves from the first movie will be in it. NO, I can't say when it's out - except that it'll be later on this year! Hopefully we'll be able to share the release dates and a trailer soon! But honestly, I've not even seen a trailer or anything for it yet, so... I'm having to wait just like you guys! If you want, you can read about my visit to set for filming of the sequel here, to tide you over in the meantime!

And lastly... how will I be celebrating?

I'm not actually doing anything to really mark the occasion for this one! I got back from a New Year's trip to Disneyland Paris pretty late last night and am back at the day job after Christmas break today, so aside from maybe tucking into some of my nice Christmas choccies, today is pretty low-key!  I'm going to try to celebrate things like this a bit more throughout the year (it's one of my goals/resolutions for 2020) but since I had nothing planned in advance, it's likely to be a quiet one. No glamorous launch parties or champagne brunches here today... maybe next time! I can't wait to hear what you all think of this book - I really can't believe that after all these years of working on it, it's officially done, and out in the world! from Blogger https://ift.tt/39y0PZW via IFTTT

[bethreekles]

The Twenty-Something Series: 2019 all wrapped up

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Well, folks, it has been A Year. And with 2020 looming, it’s that time again, for a wrap up post of everything that’s gone on this year.

And boy, has it been a lot. So let's dive on in!

So. Many. New. Books!

Not only did I have my first books published in five years (FIVE! YEARS!) with The Beach House coming out in May and my debut adult book, It Won’t Be Christmas Without You, coming out in autumn, but I worked on six further books – most of which I talked about here, and a few of which I’ve been able to announce! 

Notably, the long-awaited sequel to The Kissing Booth (Going the Distance) and a spin-off for World Book Day, The Kissing Booth: Road Trip. And with new books out or on the horizon, my agency has also been busy selling foreign rights, which is so exciting to see.

TL;DR: I’ve been working on all of the books and branching out into adult fiction focusing on twenty-somethings has been so much fun.

I really struggled with writing new stuff during uni and just after. Last year I got more settled and got back into writing again – and this year, I finally feel like I’ve got my groove back! (Boom, baby!) (Oh, right. The reference. The reference to Kuzco... That reference?)

New languages!

Ich kanne sprechen ein bissen Deutsche & Eu fala algunas palavras en Portugues. I’d already learnt some German in 2017, but finished my Duolingo course this year and would like to keep working at it next year. And, since I got so many Instagram comments and messages in Portuguese and was going back to Brazil this year, I decided it was about time I put my Spanish skills to use and learnt some Portuguese – which I’d also like to work on more next year.

Travelling – Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro

I didn’t get to do an awful lot of sightseeing on either of these trips (especially in Rio) but – how exciting those trips were! I loved every second of being on set with everyone for The Kissing Booth 2 in Cape Town, and being back in Brazil to sign books for hours on end was just such a special experience. (Plus, I even used my new-found Portuguese skills to order room service, and understand the gist of what people said to me. Go me!)

Doing more of what I love

Aside from all the writing and jetting off to fancy places for bookish events, this year I decided to do more of what I enjoy – like going to the theatre. After my agent closed some deals for the TKB2 novel, I treated myself to seeing The Lion King in London. I rallied some friends to see Six and took myself to Book of Mormon, and found a mate who also wanted to see The Nutcracker ballet. I’ve been to the cinema by myself a few times before, but went quite a bit at the start of the year (and even used a day off work recently to go see Last Christmas!).

I got a permanent role at work!

In 2017, I joined the company I’m at now on a graduate scheme, with a fixed-term two-year contract, which was due to end in September. I was keen to stay at the company and back in May, a permanent job opportunity came up – in the right sort of department and with a good team. And I got it! I even negotiated my salary, so go me!

  Beginning the house hunt

I feel like I really levelled up in adulthood this year: I went and got myself a mortgage promise and went to look at houses. Houses! To buy! To finally stop renting! Once I got the permanent job contract, the house hunting started in earnest… 

And while it was unsuccessful and I put it on hold while I was on that ‘write a whole first draft in five weeks’ deadline in October/November and due to some uncertainty at work, this felt like a pretty big milestone for me – and one that hopefully will be more successful in the next year or so. (You have no idea how excited I am to buy some lovely big bookshelves, and frame my posters. Imagine! Hanging things on the walls, wherever I want, with no worries about a landlord!) (I promise I'm cool. No, that's a lie. I promise I'm every bit the nerd you believe me to be.)

Working with brands more

Now this was something I put on my vision board, and my list of goals for 2019. I didn’t have much of a plan (okay, I had no plan at all) but it ended up working out! I did a panel with Birchbox for International Women’s Day, was invited to a pop-up skating rink at Bar Elba in London, attended the His Dark Materials and Christmas Carol premieres with BBC, and did a promo for Joanie Clothing (whose Bronte jumper I’m completely in love with). 

PLUS, more recently I announced a partnership with NCS and their short story competition - more on that here.

I know maybe it sounds silly, or that some of you might roll your eyes at this one – but since it was something I wanted to do, I’m really proud that it makes the list.

Cooking new things!

I wanted to cook something new this year. That was it, that was the goal. Simple as that. Cook something new. I also wanted to bake more – I like baking, but since I live by myself and not too near many friends, I’m at a loss of what to do once I’ve baked. But I did both of these! I even started keeping a recipe book for the recipes I came across that worked and that I liked, and made fudge for the first time. (It... did not work out. But at least I tried!)

Becoming more self-aware

Creating a vision board was a hugely useful exercise for me. In the last couple of years, I’ve learnt a lot about myself, how I work best, been able to recognise when I’m burning out… 

This year, I made a more conscious effort to think about some of this stuff and reflect on it. Like burning out: it wasn’t some symbol of success, and I hated when it happened. This year, I kept a close eye on myself, knew what to look for, and successfully avoided it – and am so much better off for it. 

And realising how high a value I put on productivity was a big one for me: but it’s also meant that I’ve focused on my goals, thought about what I want to do and need to do, and actively thinking about how I’m being ‘productive’ has ended up reducing my stress so much… and helped me work on eight books, too, which is something I had to repeat because I’m just not over that. (EIGHT!)

And that’s 2019 all wrapped up! I really can't wait for 2020, and to see what else I can achieve then.

Did you have any goals you achieved this year, or do something you’re especially proud of? (Honestly, that apple crumble I baked – well done me, even three months later!) Share in the comments or let me know over on Twitter, where I’m @Reekles!

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