I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but after the horror of cancer and the trauma of redundancy, writing has given me a reason to get up in the morning and to feel as though I have achieved something with my day.
Blog central.
It has allowed me to clear my brain of all my many stories, to create an archive - my legacy just in case the cancer comes back, and to show that with the extra time I've been given, I've got out there and done something. I've repaid all the time and effort people invested and repaid their faith in me. Writing 'My Wonderful Life' has definitely made me get off my bum and I've had bags of fun in the process.
I also started writing my blog because I wanted to find my 'voice'. I wanted to find a style and to see if anyone found what I had to say remotely interesting.
It seems that my voice was there all the time.
I can remember posting my first blog and being ecstatic that 10 people had read it. I finished it optimistically with:
"So, this is the deal - I'll write, I'll try and do it as regularly as I can and we'll see what comes out and where this quest for a 'wonderful life' takes me! I wonder how many people will join me on my adventure?"
172 blog posts later - I'm approaching 5,000 page views per month with people 75 different countries peeking in on my exploits. And the feed back has been great - thank you!
However, I can't stand still - and I can't fanny around for ever. Writing 'My Wonderful Life' is never going to make me a millionaire - or even a keep me in biscuits for that matter.
Getting cancer is such a monumental life changing event - it has to mean something. I have to make it mean something and turn it into something good.
September 2010. 5 months post chemo / stem cell transplant - Bolton Abbey, Wharf Dale.
June 2011 - just over a year post treatment. Our wedding at Chester Zoo.
January 2012 - getting on for 2 years post treatment. Crossing the Ourika Valley in Morocco.
Going forward, I know I want to write and I know I want to be my own boss. Continuing to have a wonderful life is of course a given. So over the last few months I've been considering my options and I think I've come up with something rather good.
I don't want to give too much away at the moment, but its going to be a new daily magazine style blog for women, which is local to a specific area. It will carry relevant advertising and give the opportunity for franchising and spin off events.
I'm developing the branding at the moment, I've bought domain names, set up a business bank account, registered as self employed and am learning very quickly about setting up a web site.
I've been wearing my Wonder Woman t-shirt - alot!
I'm also currently running some research. I'm working on the plan that if I can find out what people want and then give it to them - I should have the best chance of success.
So while I will keep on writing 'My Wonderful Life' as my personal blog, but if it becomes a little less frequent, then this is the reason. I'll also use it to keep you all up to date with how the new project is developing, until it is launched.
In the mean time, if you are a woman (it doesn't matter where you live - just pretend it's your home town or city) and you can spare about 10 minutes, I'd really appreciate your help with my survey. The more respondents, the better the data.
It will also give you a bit more information about the new project.
Click here for the survey (hosted by Survey Monkey).
If the link doesn't work then copy and past the address below into your browser.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QHY87PJ
Thank you - I know I don't have to say it - but you are all monumentally brilliant!
Ax
