In my post about my 2022 goals, I mentioned that I wanted to do more about writing on the blog again. I haven’t quite figured out a monthly feature yet, but I’ve decided to revive the “Writing Life” category. This will likely be just about random topics/updates on my progress as I work my way through projects this year instead of a really structured post. I hope you enjoy it regardless! Today, I want to talk about what I want to accomplish this year in writing specifically!
IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!?
I haven’t actively written anything (other than my secret fan fics that I will not ever share with you) for months. I’ve started a writing accountability thread on Twitter (check it out here), but knew that I had zero motivation to work on any of my unfinished scripts. I had all these ideas for stories and I want to see them come to live eventually, but couldn’t muster up the creative energy to write a single word. It was disheartening to be completely honest. I’ve always loved creating and writing, but there was just nothing in me. Whenever I opened a document, there was just this blank page and me disliking every word I tried to put on it.
So, instead, I thought I’d switch it up! I finally returned to the one and only project I ever finished – Break Up Buddy! (or BUB, as I’ll call it moving forward) If you’ve followed me for a while, you may remember me talking about it before. However, I should warn you, that I archived a lot of posts from the blog and the BUB content isn’t really available on here anymore.
WHAT IS BUB?
To sum it up, it’s a contemporary flatmate romance, but I’m going to change so much! Reading my words from back then was cringey, there’s no other way to put it. I’m very proud of having written a full story with beginning, middle and end for NaNoWriMo 2014, but the quality was abysmal. I was “only” 21 back then and experienced so much since that just has me shaking my head at what I came up with. Still, there’s a general structure there than I can and want to work with!
I don’t want to go into details about the story, because despite some previous posts I’ve written, I’ve gotten more protective of my story and don’t want to reveal too much. I hope the above aesthetic gives off some vibes you can let your imagination run wild with though.
Here are some of the major changes I’m facing:
- I’ve written the story in first person present tense and … I don’t think it works for me at all. I don’t enjoy writing in present tense in general and I’ve just learned from some friends that a lot of people actually struggle with reading first person POVs. So, the POV isn’t set in stone yet, but the present tense definitely has to go …
- I’m changing the entire setting! BUB used to take place in Portland, Oregon, but is now moving to Vancouver, Canada. This isn’t just because I know my way around Vancouver about a million times better than Portland, but also because my male lead works in film and Vancouver is a prime location for that.
- A lot of the scenarios I imagined were super over the top. Let’s face it, I just didn’t know better. This was how I imagined things to work or pan out based on Hallmark movies I had watched, but I’ve learned to appreciate some subtlety and depth in the past seven or so years and I mostly want to make this story less of a cliché.
As I’ve mentioned above, I have a thread on Twitter that I’m trying to update regularly with some of my progress. For now, it’s mostly outlining and planing the major changes. But for the first time in a long time, I’m excited to write again. I’ve missed this feeling!
CONCLUSION
Having something you actually want to work with and don’t dread doing is great. My plan for this year is simple, I want to get a majorly updated draft of BUB done. It still doesn’t have to be perfect, but it needs a lot of work and I know I can do better, so I want to invest my time and focus in this one thing.

I too have an idea or two for a novel (I wrote a post-apocalyptic novel draft back in 2016 I think) but I don’t think I can write anything so long term as a book. Maybe I’ll start with a little collection of short stories to get the momentum going.
All the best to you! May you achieve your goal! 🌷
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You should do whatever feels right to you 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! ❤
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I like the idea of reviving this tag. I think it’ll help you even more than ever to motivate yourself into writing/editing stories and achieving your goals, even it’s just small steps! Best of luck with your writing this year, Kat! 😀
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Thank you so much, Lashaan! ❤ I appreciate it 🙂
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Good luck!
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Thanks, Rami!
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You’re welcome.
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Good luck with BUB. I find we can always do better when it comes to writing but at some point (I’m not sure when we know we’re there), we have to say, “Done”.
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That is true! I know I will have to stop working on it at some point, but all I have for BUB is just a first draft now, so there’s definitely still room for a couple edits haha
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Best of luck with BUB. I have never revisited a draft before but I think it sounds fun, even if I hate rereading my writing haha! It is an exciting next step and it is GREAT that you feel passionate and excited about it!! I love the aesthetic and the apartment!! 😍 Best of luck, again! 🥰
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Thank you so, so much, Sophie! I’ve never seriously tried to edit or change a previous draft either, so this is new territory for me as well. I do think it will be fun though 🙂
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Ah Kat I’m SO EXCITED (as you probably, already know) for you and for this story! You know I’m rooting for you and I’m here for all the writing sprints and brainstorming sessions and anything you need, always. Best of luck!! ❤
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I love you for being so excited for me!! You’ll definitely be one of the first to get all the updates. You’re one of my designated writing buddies 😉 Thanks for always hyping me up!!
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I want to focus on finding my focus, lol. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a good thing to spread my focus across the blog, my newsletters, and my novels. Maybe I should just focus on my fiction. Haven’t really found a proper flow yet. Anyway, thanks for this post!
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I really, really relate to having ideas right now, but not getting things on the page (the last couple of years have been tough… to say the least!) But 2022 is gonna be better! Your story sounds great- good luck!! ❤
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Here’s to 2022 being better than the previous years for the both of us! And thanks, I hope it will be as fun to read as I imagine it in my head.
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All the best with your writing journey in 2022. I’m trying to focus on where I want to take my writing. But I am writing more so that is a good thing. I had a positive response to some poems and short stories I wrote so I guess the key is to not stop writing!
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