Words Written: ALNM 575; untitled erotica story: 543

Ah, the best-laid plans. We were looking forward to going down to Santa Ana for a swish formal New Year’s party at Giles’ and Giuseppe’s, but about half an hour before we were to leave, Ken got reaaaalllly tired. And so we decided that driving close to two hours each way for a party, even a swish formal party that lots of people we hadn’t seen in ages would be at, maybe wasn’t the best of plans. (What we should have done is planned to go down early, spend some time with his mom, and crash at her place afterwards—but we’re planning on going for a bike ride with some folks tomorrow, so we’d need to get the bike somehow, and it wasn’t gelling in any logical way….) It’s also too bad because we turned down an invitation from Christine because of the other party… :-(

Instead, we’re going to toddle over to Morgana and Brian’s in an hour or so (after Ken takes a nap), and have cheesecake and champagne, and maybe watch a movie or something. It’ll be fun and pleasant and mellow, if not the sparkling shiny evening we had planned.

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Meanwhile, I spent some time today figuring out what my writing priorities are for the next couple months. I’ve been beating my head against the wall with DFL, and not getting much written on anything as a result. I don’t know if it’s a problem with the book, or with a mental block, or what. But I need to step back from it. I’ve got ALNM to work on with Sarah, and an upcoming Cheek to write with Teresa, and I’m strongly considering doing the January Novel-in-a-Week Challenge and trying my hand at a solo Black Lace. I’ve got an idea, characters, setting. I’m still working on some of the details, and if I’m going to do the NIAWOC, I’d like to get the proposal to the editor first for any feedback/suggestions. Plus there are a bunch of stories I’d like to write for various anthologies.

I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by everything, and writing it all out helped. Triaging what’s important. Allowing myself to set aside DFL for a couple of months. As a result, I was able to sit down with a clear head and get Chapters 1 and 2 of ALNM worked on and out to Sarah (which I should have done yesterday). I’m going to work on a short story while Ken’s napping, I think.

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I’ve been going through my journal and making notes for our holiday newsletter (which I always send after worst of the postal mayhem—after all, the Twelve Days of Christmas don’t end until January 6!), but I haven’t gotten all the way through yet, so I’m not yet prepared to do a big end-of-year thoughtful entry. It’s been an up-and-down year. I went back to full-time work—and sold my first novel, and more stories than ever in a calendar year. We did less traveling—but spent some quality time in, and effort on, our very special house.

I don’t make resolutions per se; they’re too easy to forget and ignore a month later. I’ll probably spend some time thinking about my overall goals for the year, and then break them down into manageable segments. The only way to write a novel is one page at a time; sometimes that’s a good way to live life, too—have that bigger goal, but achieve it on day at a time.

If anything, I just want to keep trying to live life to its fullest. To spend less time wasted, and more time working hard and playing hard. Some exciting things will be happening in 2006 (first published novel! 40th birthday!) and I’d like to feel enthusiastic not just about the big things, but about every day.

Happy New Year, and fervent wishes to you all for an incredible 2006.