So, another year has started. No matter how cliched it is, the end of one year/start of another is a great time to 'take stock' and all that grown up kind of stuff. This year, it's been particularly odd looking back; on New Year's Eve 2003, I was still with the ex and was just making inroads into freelance life. Now, he's living with his new bird and I've got a load of regular writing gigs.
There's been a massive progression in my work in the last year, which is a bit mind-blowing (to me) when I think that it's only been 12 months. I now have weekly slots on LBC and London Live. I've done TV stuff for Sky, BBC2, ITV and various cable channels. Some of it even made it past the cutting room floor. OK, not much, but at least I've learned how to use autocue and handle wearing an earpiece.
Highlights of the last year include:
- Being asked to apply for a sexpert TV gig in the states (was gutted that I couldn't get them a showreel in time, so never got a chance to see whether they'd like me or not).
- Editing my first national news-stand magazine
- Landing my first Guardian commission (not sure when it's coming out yet, but will be telling the world once I know).
- Getting a piece syndicated to US Woman magazine.
- Learning about Tantra (strongly recommend it - it's not just seven hours of tedium, promise!)
I've got a fair bit of stuff coming up too. On Wednesday, I've got a four-part series on Sex in the UK starting in the Daily Star. In February, the new Lovers' Guide vid I wrote comes out (along with a documentary on Sky One, which I have to admit, I'm nervous about. Fly-on-the-wall: don't do it, kids.) I've got a set of 'sexual position' cards coming out at about the same time (52 positions on 52 cards, detailing how to get into them, pros and cons and all that kind of thing) And then there are various meetings coming up with mags I haven't written for yet, who are interested in my stuff. It's incredibly exciting for me, that, having wanted to be a writer since I was four years old, I finally seem to be actually doing it. The biggest thing I've learned is that if you want something, go for it. It may take a lot longer that you first hoped (in my case, I had eight years of working on other things to pay my way, whilst trying to build up writing contacts/get stuff published) but persistence really does pay off.
I'm not a big one for resolutions, but one thing that I'm determined to do is write a book this year. Rather than adding to my 'failed novel attempts', I've decided to do a sex advice book. I'm not giving away too many details in case someone nabs the idea but it should be different from other stuff on the market (so if you are an agent or publisher then please feel free to get in contact...)
In other news, I've just got back from having an ace time staying at my mum's. She's got more and more into geek stuff in the last year, and is now running two sites; one selling the dresses she designs and another selling holidays in Devon. It's strange, given that she used to describe herself as a Luddite, seeing her get all excited about the internet. We're hatching big plans for working together, which should be fun...
I can tell that my 30th birthday (in May) is clearly nagging at me,. I haven't got the 'Oh, God, I'm getting old' thing going on, although my grey hairs are becoming increasingly insistent; I just appear to be getting all nostalgic. Had a great time going through old family pics (that I didn't even realise my mum had) and remembering all the stuff that was happening when they were taken. Then, my mum asked me to go through her jewellery box and pick something I liked. Most of the stuff that she's got is stuff she bought at auction, or whatever, as a pseudo-pension. But the one piece that attracted me was an opal and diamond ring. I tried it on and it fitted my engagement finger perfectly. Turns out that it was my Great Gran's engagement ring. Mum gave it to me. Now, I can't help but imagining what my great gran was like, which is strange for me as I'm not really a big family person. I found it particularly weird that we have the same size fingers! Still, it's nice to have a sense of history.
Had a heartbreaking time going to see my Gran who is going slowly 'distracted'. She spent a while telling me all about what my Grandfather was up to; how he was 'tired' but 'still as funny as ever'. Which would be cool, except he died 18 years ago on New Year's Day (requires free registration to read.)
So, another year, more articles to write about shagging and who knows what around the corner. Here's hoping it's more fun than character-building.
Posted by emilyd at January 05, 2004 04:38 PM