On the Last But One Day of the Year

2024

My aim, for the Diary, for Year Three, was to write it every day, on that day.

Unless I lost track of a midweek, somewhere in July, I think I’ve done that.

On January 1, I was not certain this was possible.

The plan was no plan.

Writing as improv.

What needs saying?

It’s been, at points, a rush.

One amalgamated memory of this year will be — setting the alarm for 6 or 5am, because I’m teaching at 9am; arriving at the keyboard with the sense of the ghost of a subject; starting to write without the possibility of hesitation, and limited chances for revision; getting halfway through and realising that this is something I have been trying to express for a decade or two; finishing feeling charged and changed rather than exhausted (that tended to come later); setting the release time for 11:11; continuing the day with the feeling that, if nothing else, I’d done something already.

On January 1, I was also aiming to write something new for each entry.

That hasn’t been possible — but where I’ve revisited something from earlier, I have always looked it over, and have frequently added.

(I’m estimating an average of 300 words a day for 365 days, which is somewhere north of 100,000.)

What it adds up to is a book-length thing that I have no plans to make into a book. Not like Year One.

However, I am thinking of turning the Complete Guide to Point of View into something separate. Good idea?

What I have not been great at is making money from Substack. Sometimes I insert a paywall into a post, at a cliffhanger, then feel — no, I want as many people as possible to read this. Then remove it. (I’m sure others do this, too.)

I am always amazed when I get an email about a new paid subscriber. Thank you to all.

And thanks especially to regular supporters, Substackers and commenters

Johnathan Reid

,

Mariella Hunt 🍂

,

Rob True Stories

,

Justine Solomons

, Speculativism and to

Camilla Grudova

,

Anna Wharton

,

Junot Díaz

,

So Here’s a Thing

,

Tim Lott

,

In Writing with Hattie Crisell

,

Eleanor Anstruther

,

The Family Way

and

George Saunders

.

If I’d been sensible and posted three times a week instead of seven, this year’s entries would keep A Writer’s Diary going and hopefully growing into 2026.

But I’m not sensible.

If you would like to say thank you for anything useful you’ve learned this year, or any support you’ve felt, but don’t feel like subscribing please consider buying one of my books. (My favourite is Patience.)

Next year is going to be the same, but different.

I’ll say something about that tomorrow.