When I looked back to 2024’s New Year’s Day post, I discovered my big goal for last year was to restore order to my day that I’d lost from Wisp becoming an indoor cat. While I didn’t mention that in yesterday’s 2024-review post (I’d forgotten about it), I think I pretty much pulled that off. I’ve adjusted to having Wisp in my lap most mornings and I’ve become good at taking exercise during the week in five-minute bursts.
As I noted yesterday, organization didn’t translate into getting lots of writing finished. I will have to do better this year. I have no particular insights on doing so other than 1)allowing more time than I anticipate to get things done, and 2)budgeting time for the little shit that falls through the cracks. I’ve had my short story Obolus ready to self-publish except I’ve never gotten around to finding a cover. I think it’s time to do that. I’ve also gotten out of the habit of checking for potential markets for my few unpublished stories.
The big project, of course, is completing Jekyll and Hyde. It’s the one with a deadline. Part of “allowing more time,” as noted above, is budgeting much more time each month to watching the movies and writing them up. I’ve done enough not to worry about meeting deadline but I can’t slack up.
Next up, I want to publish Southern Discomfort. It’s finished but I still need cover art (and I’ll probably have to edit the manuscript to account for Draft2Digital’s formatting process). Having failed to publish Savage Adventures last year, I want that done, plus some work on new projects.
I also want to make material contributions to the side of good. I have no idea what kind of mess our new president is going to make but I want to help clean it up. I haven’t figured out how, other than donating money, but I’ll let you know when my ideas become better formed. Last year I did GOTV postcards; I’ll do those again, but I don’t think it’s enough any more. I’ll be contacting our elected officials more frequently though I’m not sure how effective it is — while I give Thom Tillis credit for responding to my missives (not everyone does), I’ve yet to see him depart from the Republican Party line.
On the personal side, I want to enjoy myself (well, duuuuh): reading, movies, more time with TYG and the pets. Keeping myself healthy. Spending more time with friends.
I’d also like to make more money, which is tough in my line of work. I’ll give it a shot, though.
Happy New Year everyone. Looking back, I can see I really was happier by the end of 2024 than I’d been at the start. May it be so again, for all y’all too.
Film still from 1920 Jekyll and Hyde; all rights remain with current holder.
Happy New Year, Fraser!
Thanks Alan. You too.