Before this break, I was dreading writing. I think it was just a case of burn out, really, because the muse has been kicking me in the head for the last few days. Now I’m looking forward to getting back into it all.

In my previous year in review post, I neglected to mention several things, mostly in the realm of writing.

2006 was the first year that I worked “full time” (my gimpy version of) as a writer.

In the space of that year, I didn’t achieve a lot in solid publications. But nor did I submit much. I was working instead on novels, and in the latter part of the year, on securing myself an agent. I came close, with an invitation to resubmit. As I type, the submission is presumably sitting on the agent’s desk in a pile of other submissions (assuming the postal service hasn’t eaten it).

I changed a lot in 2006. Rejections don’t phase me any more. I just keep on writing and move onto the next thing. I accept that this trilogy may not sell as is. But I’ve learned from it, and the next one will be even better.

Life has become a learning curve. I analyse story and character in everything, trying to figure out why some things work and others don’t. It’s a habit now, honed from reading, writing and reviewing.

The bones. This year has been about the bones, and honing my craft.

2007 will be about taking the next step, and the next. Reading as much good work as I can get my hands on. I intend to read more short fiction in particular. Novels are easier for me than shorts, both to read and write, so this is a challenge.

I also intend to keep much better records of my progress, so I can give a word tally for the year at the end of 2008, and keep track of how projects moved along. I’d like to get at least a half dozen shorts written, and at least one or two published.

It’s about taking the next step, and the next and the next. I have a good feeling about 2007.

(crossposted from livejournal)