2014 in Review
Publication
I had four short stories published in 2014 - all between September and December! So I guess the fourth quarter is my quarter?
I had two poems come out, and sold one to Asimov's (a big deal for me) which just came out now.
I also made myself an author website where you can go to see my grand tally of publications and my "author blog" which I try to keep more professional than this one.
Reading
According to Goodreads, I read 59 books this year. A lot of four- and five-star ratings, particularly at the end of the year.
Favorite non-fiction of the year: The Lexicographer's Dilema. Language history fangirling. I never before noticed how much of my childhood I spent reading the dictionary.
Favorite fiction: At the Mouth of the River of Bees by Kij Johnson - a short story collection. Captivating.
Knitting/ Other
I started assembling the Freestyle Floral Afghan that had been more fantasy than project. Then it got too big and unweildy and I stopped. Oops.
I made a cable-knit sweater while I was in the hospital (and shortly after) which everyone universally adored. I got many many requests from people to make one for them. YEAH NO. I don't knit because I enjoy it, people. I knit because I want this stuff.
Grace gave me some lace-weight yarn for our 40th birthday and so I made a lacey shawl with it. It was FRUSTRATING awful work and came out not that big or fancy, either. Doubt I'll ever do that again. Though I do keep looking for a shawl pattern I would LIKE and they all seem to be lace-weight... gah.
Resolutions
Last year's resolutions were:
1. Stop freaking out about things.
Well, of course I didn't /stop/, but I did make a concerted effort when I felt myself freaking out to calm the heck down. Baby steps.
2. Create Poetry Tracking Spreadsheet and use it.
Done! I got this done in January, even. So I am now tracking poetry submissions the same as I am fiction. Didn't stop me from accidentally simultaneous-subbing this year. Twice. *blush*
3. Be able to do three chin-ups
Oops. Nope. Not even close. I'm weaker now than I have been in a long time, due to illness and not exercising.
This Year's Resolutions
1. Tidy up and organize the sewing room.
That should take all year, eh? Also - nicely quantifiable.
2. Install shelves for my shoes and hats in my bedroom. Possibly reorganize stuffed animal storage.
Kinda scary, actually. 68% of the volume of our room is stuffed animals, and the rest is my hat collection.
3. Get "spend one hour writing" to turn green in Habit RPG.
Habit RPG is a habit manager / electronic to-do list. You have 'dailies' and one of mine is "one hour writing" it's currently red because I keep not doing it. If you do something regularly, it turns orange, then yellow, then finally "good girl" green.
I had four short stories published in 2014 - all between September and December! So I guess the fourth quarter is my quarter?
I had two poems come out, and sold one to Asimov's (a big deal for me) which just came out now.
I also made myself an author website where you can go to see my grand tally of publications and my "author blog" which I try to keep more professional than this one.
Reading
According to Goodreads, I read 59 books this year. A lot of four- and five-star ratings, particularly at the end of the year.
Favorite non-fiction of the year: The Lexicographer's Dilema. Language history fangirling. I never before noticed how much of my childhood I spent reading the dictionary.
Favorite fiction: At the Mouth of the River of Bees by Kij Johnson - a short story collection. Captivating.
Knitting/ Other
I started assembling the Freestyle Floral Afghan that had been more fantasy than project. Then it got too big and unweildy and I stopped. Oops.
I made a cable-knit sweater while I was in the hospital (and shortly after) which everyone universally adored. I got many many requests from people to make one for them. YEAH NO. I don't knit because I enjoy it, people. I knit because I want this stuff.
Grace gave me some lace-weight yarn for our 40th birthday and so I made a lacey shawl with it. It was FRUSTRATING awful work and came out not that big or fancy, either. Doubt I'll ever do that again. Though I do keep looking for a shawl pattern I would LIKE and they all seem to be lace-weight... gah.
Resolutions
Last year's resolutions were:
1. Stop freaking out about things.
Well, of course I didn't /stop/, but I did make a concerted effort when I felt myself freaking out to calm the heck down. Baby steps.
2. Create Poetry Tracking Spreadsheet and use it.
Done! I got this done in January, even. So I am now tracking poetry submissions the same as I am fiction. Didn't stop me from accidentally simultaneous-subbing this year. Twice. *blush*
3. Be able to do three chin-ups
Oops. Nope. Not even close. I'm weaker now than I have been in a long time, due to illness and not exercising.
This Year's Resolutions
1. Tidy up and organize the sewing room.
That should take all year, eh? Also - nicely quantifiable.
2. Install shelves for my shoes and hats in my bedroom. Possibly reorganize stuffed animal storage.
Kinda scary, actually. 68% of the volume of our room is stuffed animals, and the rest is my hat collection.
3. Get "spend one hour writing" to turn green in Habit RPG.
Habit RPG is a habit manager / electronic to-do list. You have 'dailies' and one of mine is "one hour writing" it's currently red because I keep not doing it. If you do something regularly, it turns orange, then yellow, then finally "good girl" green.