Looking Back before Moving Forward to 2022

Before turning a new page, I look back on 2021 and I am pleased to say I did make progress with my writing life in a positive way.

What did I achieve in 2021 to be thankful for?

A. I published a little book of encouragement Search for the Pearl Inside Yourself for young people struggling through this pandemic. I wrote the bones of it and gathered quotations and photos before I took voluntary redundancy from teaching at Barnfield Further Education College in Luton, Bedfordshire over seven years ago. I dusted it off, updated and improved it, had it edited and proof read and finally organised a print run in June 2021.

Hoping to make a difference:

I am still giving away copies to those who need it. If you know a young person struggling at this time then please get in touch: contact Diana Jackson

The e book is available on Kindle too.

B. My continued support for authors on their journey into writing and publishing seemed to flourish too. It was lovely to focus on others rather than myself.

C. I met a lovely group of new authors on Twitter (I’m @Riduna) who were happy for me to dip in and out of their boundless enthusiastic responses, when I felt able to do so. Thanks to Cheryl Burman and all her friends who worked so hard to set up a Christmas on line bookshop. I have always enjoyed the mutual support of other authors I’ve ‘met’ on Twitter, but this took it to a new level.

D. I also met a group of local Fife authors from East Neuk for some uplifting Zoom events and an early Christmas meal, where we met in person down in Anstruther; just before the warnings of get togethers was highlighted on the news. To be part of this select, welcoming group of authors is heart warming. I had forgotten the joys of being in a writing group and had been longing for this to happen since leaving Bedfordshire, where I was a founder member of Ampthill Writers (then known as the Albion Writers after the pub where we used to meet) I have even joined them on line on a couple of occasions too.

E. I have a couple more personal writing projects I have been working on; those I could pick up and stir that creativity from within in a very gentle way, but more about those in my next blog.

In all honesty

… it was a tough year, as it was for many, but I can be thankful and look forward with hope to 2022!

Book Blogger Hop

What is your favorite social media and why? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews)

I am on Twitter, Facebook and I blog. I have given Instagram a go but I find it a tad clunky with Windows and do not have a iPad. I must admit I’m a bit behind about new social media sites and maybe I’ll learn something from the participants of this Book Blogger Hop.

Why I like Blogging?

I love the way it challenges me to write regularly; learning all the time to be selective of my words, to edit on the hop and to choose themes which I think might resonate. I enjoy posts where I get a response but for me this may be an email, a tweet or even a comment on Facebook. It does not have to be in the comments box because I find it often puts people off who do not have a WordPress site themselves. I sometimes get emails months or years later, if I have used my tags and categories correctly. Now, that’s a real pleasure. I also make links and ‘friends’ with the WordPress community who are mutually supportive.

www.dianamj.wordpress.com

Why I like Twitter?

Twitter is more intransigent; here one minute and gone the next. I love the banter and the real conversations. The photos and wildlife are fab and make me smile; as do the jokes, sometimes! There are real connections to be made; groups of extremely supportive authors who give you encouragement and support in your journey. The spam does annoy me sometimes; the white noise of constant book ads, but then how else do we writers get out books seen by new readers. I try to keep mine to a minimum. When other authors support you, there is nothing like the reassurance that your book has been recommended and endorsed by others and I do try to read books that I RT if I can.

Author Diana Jackson @Riduna on Twitter

Why I like Facebook?

I like keeping in touch with friends, colleagues and family on Facebook most of all. They can be my readers too, but not always. As an author I like the way you can announce an event, both real and on line and that you can invite people to join you. I feel less comfortable when writing posts solely to promote my books on my own page, of which I have three; a private and personal page (where I extremely rarely mention my writing);

a page Diana Jackson Author

https://en-gb.facebook.com/DianaJacksonauthor

and an author page which is more geared to businesses I feel. I’m not sure if I really need both. What do you think?

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDianaJackson/

Which social media platform do I like the best as an author?

Going back to the original question, all in all I probably enjoy blogging most, although I go on Twitter most frequently. It is the best platform to relax and enjoy. I am on Linkedin too, but am not very good at using it all that often.

Thanks to Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews for the question.

If you’d like to know more about Book Blogger Hop you can follow this link.

Which platform do you prefer?

An Armchair Visit to Fife on Social Media

Podcasts and Website

Here are two website which are packed with information and photos:

https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/walks/fife-pilgrim-way/ has much about the newly opened Fife Pilgrim Way from Cuross to St Andrews. There are helpful maps, hints and guides. It is a path I have yet to enjoy.

http://www.walkfife.com/walk-fife-podcast/ This is the most exciting site I’ve found of late. Podcasts brimming with suggestions, guides and advice to enjoy The Kingdom of Fife. Brilliant!

Love Fife on Twitter

I love searching for places I know on the internet. If you are visiting Fife there’s no better way (apart from reading the books on my last post ‘Excellent Books about The Fife Coastal Path’) to get to know a place from the comfort of your own armchair than connecting with bite sized posts on Twitter.

Here’s a flavour of tweeters I’m following. I’m sure there are many more. Please let me know if I’ve missed you.

A must to follow!

@welcometofife ~ Promoting everything there is to love about the Kingdom of Fife (some wonderful photos and ideas for places to visit)

@FFP The Fife Free Press Scottish Weekly Newspaper of the Year 2015 & 2016. Newsdesk :01592 645700 email ffpnews@fifetoday.co.uk or tweet us! (there’s lots on football if that’s your thing)

More news from a different perspective

@FifeFreePressEd Allan Crow, editor Fife Free Press, Scottish Weekly Newspaper of Year 2019/16/15. Web: http://fifetoday.co.uk

@ONFifePress News from Fife Cultural Trust

For enthusiastic walkers

@Walk_Fife Walk  Fife explores the Kingdom on foot. Sharing free walking routes from around Fife. We have a #podcast as well! Supporting the outdoors community in #Fife

@Hotpotwynd (The Fife Coastal Path official twitter site ~ the name Hot Pot Wynd is a road leading down to Dysart Harbour. Great isn’t it!)

@FifeWalking (explores many of the less known beautiful spots in Fife)

For Writers

@WritesFife Fife Writes is a group of writers set up to be a peer support group for writers of all genres.

@WritersInkFife Writers Ink Fife is a teenage lead writing group in Glenrothes, that focuses on creativity through literacy

Not to Miss Photos!

@SteelySeabirder SNH David Steel is the Nature Reserve Manager for the Isle of May home to 46,200 pairs of Puffins and 200,000 seabirds! (wonderful photos ~ Painted Ladies too!)

@CountrysideBen Ben Dolphin Ranger, blogger, nature nut, general evangelist for the great outdoors. President of @ramblersscot . Prone to blethering. (Wonderful photos too, although he is often in the Cairngorms in the summer months.)

@Johnpow1 also posts some fantastic photos and videos of Fife and other parts of Scotland.

For the record I’m @Riduna on Twitter. The name’s nothing to do with Fife by the way, but my fantasy/ memoir The Healing Paths of Fife is still for sale in aid of Kirkcaldy Foodbank until the end of February 2020.

If you love Fife and are not on my radar as yet and think you ought to be, it would be lovely to hear from you. Do get in touch on twitter @Riduna or email diana@dianamaryjackson.co.uk