Words Written: 560, Chapter 3–4 read-through; another story submitted

So, Dean has started something wonderful: The Beautiful Trophy Challenge. In a nutshell, if you finish writing and start marketing a novel in any given quarter of the year, you not only get the satisfaction of a job well done, you get a trophy—a glass fishing globe on a special base.

I’ve signed up for the first quarter, with AETW. It’s 2/3 done, but the added incentive is really wonderful. My plan is to sign up and succeed every quarter. Goodness knows I have enough novel ideas, and several even reasonably plotted (e.g., I’ve got a synopsis that hits the major plot points and defines the characters).

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Apparently, Best Women’s Erotica 2005 is out—this one contains “Dyeing for Her” by Sophie Mouette, written by Teresa and myself, as well as a solo story be Teresa (‘though I don’t know which one). I haven’t seen comp copies or payment yet. Still, very nifty to (soon) see another story in print!

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I’m not feeling any great need to come up with “resolutions”. Perhaps partly out of a recent perverse desire not to be lemming-like (I’m rather contented by the fact that we are probably the only people we know who didn’t watch the extended Return of the King during the holiday season). Perhaps because it seems somewhat forced and unnatural. Most of my resolutions, in terms of ways to better myself or my life, are ongoing; they don’t spring up on 1 January like Venus on the half shell. The year is fluid; so then must I and my life be, rather than standing on a box and saying “I must do these things.”

My writing goals are in some ways hard to quantify on a yearly scale, other than the general “write more” and “continue to grow as a writer”. Otherwise, they’re project goals.

Finally, although it wasn’t entirely conscious, I feel as though I took spiritual stock of my life at the Celtic New Year, so it seems redundant now.

Although there were the inevitable ups and downs, overall I had a damn good year. I keep wanting to say “especially the past few months”, but I was paging through my journal earlier and realised no, it’s been throughout the year. In general, though, I found that I didn’t want to relive it—I want to look forward. So it becomes “continue in the same vein, and improve where improvement is possible and useful”.

The quote that keeps popping to mind is “May you live all the days of your life.” So perhaps that’s it, then. I resolve to make every day the best it can be, and myself the best I can be in every day.

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Currently Reading: Alphabet of Thorn, Patricia A. McKillip; Realms of Fantasy, February 2005

Lately Listened To: Gentle rain…

Recently Watched: Ride a Wild Pony (finally, after 30 years, I know how it ends!), “Inside the Actor’s Studio: Tom Cruise”, season three “Angel”