These last few days of the year always leave me feeling as if I’m seated at the tip of a precipice. Or perhaps even dangling off the edge. No matter how man-made and arbitrary the dates on our calendars, it’s difficult to escape the sense of endings and beginnings. Some years, I embrace the line in the sand and come up with a set of goals to tackle starting January 1st. Other years, I feel more contrary about the entire process and sail into the new year as if it were merely an extension of the previous one. This year, I’m feeling more on the low-key side. I have ongoing projects that will carry into 2023, and a few things I wish I’d finished already, but I choose not to beat myself up about it.
What I am taking the time to do is reflect on what I achieved in 2022. I kept a bullet journal as my planner this past year, as I did in 2021, and it makes it wonderfully easy to skim back over the past 12 months. Yes, I can see what didn’t get checked off, but I can also see those things are in the minority.
In my day-to-day, I sold some fabulous books, including a debut author to a new-to-me editor. I made a few deals I can’t talk about quite yet, but which have me so excited. 2022 saw me traveling for work again for the first time since the pandemic started: first to Utah in August for the Futurescapes Workshop, and then to Surrey, B.C., Canada in October for the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. It felt fantastic to meet writers in person once again, not to mention having a chance to catch up with friends I’d not seen in years. Plus that second trip means I’ve renewed my passport, which travel lovers will understand brings its own special sense of freedom and possibility.
On a broader scale, I spent a few months with the Duolingo owl, brushing up my rusty French. I returned to my English-major roots and read some classics I’d not read before, and also fell in love with a couple of more recent releases. (More on my reading year in the next newsletter; still a couple of reading days left!) And perhaps best of all, I started this newsletter and have maintained it throughout 2022. While it hasn’t been quite as frequent as I’d like, I’ve appreciated having this space to write about things on the fringes of publishing as well as farther afield, and I thank you all so much for reading and commenting and chatting here with me.
How has your year gone? Never mind what didn’t get done—what did you accomplish? Big or small, personal or work, what did you do with your year? I’d love to hear what has you pleased or proud or even relieved as we close out 2022. And are you making plans for the new year? Or are you playing it by ear?
In my last newsletter, I discussed quite a few nostalgic children’s reads that make me think of the holidays, including Noel Streatfeild’s BALLET SHOES. So imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that the Backlisted Podcast focused on said title for their Christmas episode. They often do a nostalgic look at children’s literature over the holidays, and this particular one pushed all my buttons. Do go give it a listen. They even reference the 1975 BBC film version of the book, which is the one I remember watching as a child when it aired in the U.S. on PBS. I was excited to find it available to view on YouTube. I hadn’t seen it for decades, but I still think it holds up. A little slow for our modern expectations but worth the viewing.
A few more links to share:
Please excuse the Christmas links that might feel a little after-the-fact. I was laid out with a stomach bug mid-December and so missed sending what was intended to be my pre-Christmas greeting. Couldn’t quite bring myself not to include the accompanying links here. ~N.
The 10 Biggest Literary Stories of the Year – A pretty decent rundown, and an interesting recap regardless.
Opinion: The joy of reading Dickens proves that God blessed us, every one – Benjamin Dryer expounds on the delights of reading Dickens’ most Christmas-seeped work, regardless what you celebrate.
Neil Gaiman Reads “A Christmas Carol” – Pretty much what it says on the tin. A wonderful reading from a few years back, still available online for your listening pleasure.
Finding the Secret Door Into Your Novel – A look at the process of building something magical from nothing at all.
There Is No Mary Problem in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ – A look at the classic holiday film and what might seem like a rather obvious objection to one of the scenarios Clarence reveals to George Bailey.
Celeste Ng on Writing With a Plan – A look at how the author approaches what she considers the scaffolding of her books.
The Visions of Octavia Butler – A fabulous, visual-filled look at the life and work of science fiction author Octavia Butler.
Currently in my tea cup:
Harney & Sons’ Victorian London Fog
Currently on my nightstand:
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
LEASE ON LOVE by Falon Ballard
That’s all for now. Thank you so much for reading. As always, please do comment or drop a note. Wishing you all a most excellent start to 2023, and a year filled with love, health, and happiness. Until next time.🥰
It’s been a year in transition - aging fur-babies, plus we no longer have feral cats living in our garage. (The possum has been evicted) The youngest feral went into rescue (and was adopted) and the oldest spent her final moments in my lap. We did add another youngster to our feline population indoors. She’s settling in nicely. She’s obviously ours as she has weird allergies. The catio needed to be redesigned to avoid her encountering bees. Of course the temps were near 100 degrees the days I spent taking apart the old one and reconfiguring it into its new shape.
I’m sure we’ve rearranged the furniture in the house and which room was for what at least once. We’ve rearranged the studio in the garage at least twice. Now it has a day bed as well as exercise equipment and room to attach stuff to the wall for exercise purposes.
We’ve done a lot of pre-retirement house hunting looking for what style, size, location may suit us. And we may be coming full circle with remaining in Southern CA. There are a few years to go before we embark on this journey.
As for writing, I’m taking a break. Too much going on, not enough sleep, shifting priorities and dreams that haven’t yet settled into this new landscape. I may hare off in a different direction, or not. Time will tell, as it always does. Something is calling me, but the task seems rather daunting.
Reading has been off and on throughout the year. I’ve read old favorites and a few new ones. The new ones are mostly mystery and romance.
The end of each year includes a long time off of the day job. Which translates to getting tasks done on the perpetual to-do list. Ending the year accomplishing things is good.
Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours! I appreciate your blog very much and am glad you’ve kept it going.