A new year that changed me Writers look back to the end of year celebrations that turned their lives around
A new year that changed me: a sexual awakening, and a lesson in loss Alice O'Keeffe Will and I peeped over the wall into adulthood – little knowing the sadness that lay in wait there, writes the freelance literary critic and journalist Alice O’Keeffe
The fiercely fought board game that nearly cost me a friend Jack Bernhardt
A new year that changed me: when Seamus Heaney came round for tea Conor O'Callaghan
A new year that changed me: I gave up weed – and became a book addict instead Kit de Waal Spurred on by a stranger, I took my last drag of a spliff before the clock struck 12. And I found the perfect way to fill it
The day violent thugs were driven out by hippies with glowsticks Craig Stone When my girlfriend was groped on the dancefloor I had to do something. But how could I take on five aggressive men?
I spent new year by myself in Sharm el-Sheikh. I’ve never felt happier Katy Brand In 2007, after my cul-de-sac of a relationship came to an end, I decided to take my first holiday alone. I discovered that I was excellent company
A new year that changed me: my partner said I would publish a book – so I had to Annie Freud After the new year announcement to friends, I panicked and suffered writer’s block. It was broken by an absurd dream about rare cheese
A new year that changed me: realising I wanted to live, and giving up heroin Anonymous The New Year’s Eve I spent with my family when I was a junkie was horrific. But their contempt for the state I was in helped me to finally change
A new year that changed me: when my mum was star of the dancefloor Coco Khan
What’s your New Year resolution? This can be the cruellest question Linda Tirado
The New Year’s Eve party when a bad fairy turned into a good friend Deborah Levy Amid root canal agonies and a spontaneously combusting phone, the party also brought an inspiring – if unlikely – new friend
