In a previous post, I said that I’m going to slow down in 2022. I really need to. I ended up taking an unintentional vacation over Christmas week. The words just would not come and I didn’t have the motivation to force them. The last couple years have taken their toll emotionally, physically, and mentally. I’m feeling better now and getting back on the wagon, so to speak.
Here’s what I have planned for 2022, broken up by type of work. Some dates are subject to change due to the vagaries of the publishing industry.
Writing Projects:
- FiveFold Universe project (Jan, actually quite excited about this project)
- 3 contracted short stories (2 in Feb, 1 in ?)
- Shadowrun YA novella #3: Unrepairable (3rd quarter 2022)
- Shadowrun YA novella #4: The Kilimanjaro Run (Bonus points if I do it at all in 2022)
Editing (This is where I’m going to be resting):
- Shadowrun: Elfin Black (final polish/proof, Jan/Feb?)
- The Reinvented Detective anthology (Jan-Jun)
- Freelance editing (recurring gig, Mar-Aug?)
PR (Social media bits):
- Shadowrun: Elfin Black release (Mar)
- The Reinvented Heart anthology release (Mar)
- Any audiobooks released (??)
Conventions/Events (*Planned for, not yet official):
- Rainforest Writing Retreat (Feb)
- Norwescon (Apr)
- Origins Game Fair* (Jun)
- Gen Con (Aug)
From one point of view, this is still a lot and it doesn’t cover any pop-up requests or the classes I will teach. What is important is that after January, I have no long fiction writing projects planned until the third quarter of the year. The recurring freelance editing gig actually is rest. I’m working, yes, and it is detailed work, but it isn’t hard.
I need these months to not be under contract. I need to rest and refresh the creative well. I need to let my mind wander and gambol and drift. I’ve been telling all my mentees for years to remember to rest. Mentor, listen to thyself. Besides, there’s an unwritten story I’ve been flirting with for years that has become more insistent and I want to think about it. It might be fun to just play for a while.
Of course, if my fabulous agent sells one of my books currently in circulation…all bets are off.