A Look Back at 2013

Well, I like to do this just before the end of the year, this time it was way-laid because of gluten-illness and life. But you know what they say, better late than never.

2013… what can I say about 2013?

For the first time in my life, it feels like things in my life are progressing forward. I feel like in so many ways that I can finally take those steps that I have craved to take.

If there’s one thing that I think that would typify what this year has been for me, it’s stepping out of the box of what is comfortable for me. Since I’m such a shy and introverted person, it’s hard for me to take those first steps. It’s hard for me to approach someone and just talk to them. It’s something that I’ve wanted to be free of.

Thankfully, that’s something that I feel I’ve made strides forward with. I am slowly approaching people I don’t know and talking to them. For me, this is a huge thing.

I’ve learned how to schedule things better. Since I was out of work for 2 years, I got used to writing when the whim took me. I could sit down and write late at night or in the middle of the say. Unemployment gives you that liberty.

When I was finally hired to probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had (the other one being working at the cemetery), I had to learn to work around my schedule. It’s a skill I wish I had to have been forced to learn earlier. I’m still working at better maintaining a schedule. I’m not very disciplined when it comes to schedules. Largely because I like to maintain a degree of spontaneity… because, well, shit happens. But it’s something that I’m working on. I’m glad that I started doing this now. I think that I’m going to need to keep a schedule more often…

As far as moving forward with my writing career… It’s going as well as it can for someone who lives outside of Hollywood. It is possible to start a career from outside the system. It’s also one of the most difficult things I think anyone could ever do. I don’t have the connections. I don’t even really have the connections to get my writing career going… that I’m aware of.

I’m working on getting it going, even if it’s like pushing a boulder up Mt. Everest. It feels like a Sisyphean endeavor. It’s also something that I will not give up on. This is one of those times that I am grateful that I am stubborn. If it wasn’t for my stubbornness, I would have given up. I would give up on being able to ever sell a script. I can’t. For some reason I feel this compulsive drive to push forward despite the odds.

I also am grateful that I’m finally on a road to health that works for me. And like maintaining a schedule it’s something that I need to work on.

So, what do I have going for the next year?

I’m not really sure. I’ve no real plans as of yet. I do plan on covering conventions. I plan on talking about all sorts of geeky things. I plan on continuing my writing both fiction and non-fiction.

More than anything, it feels like there’s going to be some major steps forward. That things might be progressing forward to the career that I’ve always wanted.

I actually feel hopeful for the next year. It feels like things are starting progress forward. That is both thrilling and incredibly scary. It’s something that I don’t want to stop though. So, I promise to venture forward. I promise to make me the best me that I can be. I hope that you continue to enjoy the things that I write.

More importantly, thank you. Thank you to all of you who have followed me for years and to those who have just joined. I will try to keep this as interesting as I possibly can.