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Second Annual Last Post of the Year

So I just re-read my end of the year post for 2014, in which I laid out four modest goals for the upcoming year:

1. Find a home for Antiartists: COMPLETE
The book will be published by Pen Name Publishing Spring 2016
 
2. Develop a network of writers and readers: COMPLETE (ongoing)
From my publisher, Dionne, my new writer buddies Scott Thompson, Lev Butts, and Mike Hansen, my Twitter pals Tim and Salome' from Ghostwood Books, and all of you that check this thing out on a regular basis, a massive thank you is in order.  My regular readership for this blog has more than doubled in the last year, from a very (VERY) modest number to a slightly higher very modest number.  You can help by sharing this with others if you like it, by liking my stuff on Facebook, by following me on Twitter.  I'm literally counting on you for my success.  Spread the word.
  
3. Finish the new novel, Flagg: COMPLETE
With a ridiculous amount of support (and incredible editing) from my brilliant wife, Sheri, I finished a new novel in a year, a personal best.

4. Stay positive and moving forward: I'm going to call this one good, too, despite a few struggles with apathy and mild depression, coupled with tragedy and familial stress. I have kept it together pretty well, all things considered.

So.  Let's look forward, shall we?

New goals for 2016:

1. Write a new book:  I think the new book will be four novellas, each between 25,000 and 35,000 words, a la Different Seasons, or the Bachman Books.  I've got ideas for four different stories, all of them different but with similar themes of growth and hope and letting go.  It is possible that one of these will develop into a full novel, but for now I'm thinking of them as too long for shorts but too short for novels.  These are all things I have been putting off while I finished my current project, and now they can have my attention.  Regardless of the outcome, I fully intend to have a new publishable book by the end of next year.

2. Find a home for Flagg: The book is good.  I'm confident this will happen.

3. Have a good launch for Antiartists: I'm a bit nervous about this, but I believe in my work.  I believe that good stuff will find an audience.  I believe in being patient and in developing a good, engaged readership.  I believe given my very modest expectations and goals for this strange little novel, this will be a good result at the end of 2016.

4. Remember to be present to love and savor the fleeting life I have been given.  Remember to be thankful for all of my many blessings. Because I'm better off, more comfortable, more happy and at peace than I would ever have expected.  Life is never easy, but it is better now than it has ever been.  I have a lot of growing still to do, professionally and artistically and personally, and I don't know what I ever did to deserve the life I have, but to whomever I stole it from, sorry pal, but I'm keeping it.

So long, 2015.  Welcome to history.

Hello 2016.  Let's hope you look as good up close as you do from a distance; I've been fooled before.

Peace to you and yours.  Happy New Year.

Still Writing,

RP
12-28-15      

Comments

  1. LynneDecember 28, 2015 at 6:09 PM

    Hope it's a great year for you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 28, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    Good list. This new year I want to learn to listen and keep my mouth shut. Can't learn anything new when I'm talking and when someone is talking I want to really listen to what they are saying. This should take me all year to do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bareback New OrleansNovember 17, 2024 at 1:43 PM

    Thannks for this blog post

    ReplyDelete

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