Sunday, January 01, 2012

So how was 2011 from a Writing Perspective?

I guess most folks my age or older will agree that the events of a single year kind of run together these days. I remember events but I don’t remember exactly when they occurred. Was it 2011 or 2010, or maybe 2009. I can’t keep ‘em straight. That’s one of the major reasons why I start my new year with a retrospectus on the old one. I’ve always been a guy who likes ‘summing up.” I like making lists. I like seeing lists grow. And these days I need to do that sort of thing regularly to keep up.

Until I sat down this morning to look at my 2011 writing, I had a feeling it had been a slow year for me. Turns out not so much. More good things happened than I recalled. Borgo/Wildside published Midnight in Rosary, my collection of vampire and werewolf stories. Swords of Talera, Wings Over Talera and Witch of Talera were released as ebooks at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. A Rip Through Time came out, to which I was a contributor, and it made a bit of a splash. Strange Worlds also came out, one of the first illustrated anthologies of Sword & Planet fiction ever, and I had the lead story in that, called “God’s Dream.” The Dreams in the Fire Cross Plains charity anthology came out, which contains my story “A Gathering of Ravens,” and what might well have been the best short story I read in 2011: “I Am a Martian Galley Slave,” by David Hardy.
I finished a couple of nonfiction essays that paid pretty well, and had stories published in Rick Moore’s White Cat Magazine (“Ruins and Wraiths”) and in Trembles Magazine (“Lily White and Red.”). Gave a couple of nicely attended speaking engagements and got invited to three cons that I much enjoyed, The LA SF and Costuming Fest, The Undead Con, and CONtraflow. Did a couple of online interviews, most notably over at Elaine Ash’s wonderful blog. That was actually more of a feature than an interview, and one I cherished.

For brand new writing, I didn’t do that much. The school year was pretty rough, especially in the fall, and there were health issues for both Lana and I all year long. I did complete two new novella length projects, “Under the Ember Star,” a space opera piece which should be out next year from Borgo Press, and “Days of Beer,” a humorous memoir of my beer drinking days, which I self-published from Kindle and B&N at the very end of the year.
I also blogged a lot, facebooked a lot, read a lot, and in March I bought a new car, a Hyundai Elantra. All in all, not a bad year.
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32 comments:

  1. Happiest New Year wishes, Charles
    with Warm Aloha from Waikiki
    Comfort Spiral

    > < } } ( ° >

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  2. Cloudia, thanks, and to you, of course.

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  3. Looks like you wrote and accomplished a lot, Charles!
    And yes, the years do start to run together after a certain age. Plus time goes by faster. What's up with that?
    Lana doing all right now?

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  4. Alex, Lana is doing all right. Recovery is a little slower than we'd hoped but as long as it's proceeding.

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  5. First of all: Glad to hear Lana is recovering.

    Second: In 2011 i discovered this blog while i was searching fro Planet & Sword stuff.. You got another reader ;)

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  6. if someone were to ask which people I admire most, you'd be among the first that come to mind. Good to read that you are content with what you accomplished during the past year!

    Happy New Year to you and Lana,
    may it be a year filled with health and happiness,
    Merisi

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  7. That's an impressive year, Charles. I'm glad we were able to work together on Simon Rip.

    And Memoir is a lot of fun.

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  8. Deka, and I thank you. Glad you found me.

    Merisi, thank you. That's very kind. I hope the New year treats you and yours wonderfully.

    David Cranmer, indeed. I much enjoyed it. And thanks.

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  9. Your year looks good--so much better than mine. Congrats on all your accomplishments.

    Just bought Beer Drinking Man. Sounds fun. I used to be a beer drinking woman, not any more, but I figure I might can relate. :) I remember some good times--I think. Except maybe when i threw up in the closet; oh, that was tequila.

    Hope you accomplish twice as much in 2012 and that you and Lana thrive. Happy New Year!

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  10. grats on all the good stuff, boo on the bad... hope 2012 fixes the latter

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  11. Jess, thanks. You know what they say; one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor

    Laughingwolf, me too, man

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  12. Happy New Year, Charles! I hope you have a fantastic 2012 every step of the way! Congratulations on all that you accomplished last year. I read your fine portrait at Ashedit (June 2011) and it's obvious your achievements boil down to a lot of self-discipline, and that's not easy to come.

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  13. Congrats on all you accomplished Charles and here's to the New Year and all you'll get done therein.

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  14. I wish you well this new year, Charles. We know it will be a fast one, gathering up steam here in the January station and rocketing away from us all too soon. :)

    My buddy that had shoulder surgery over a month ago came out on the basketball court yesterday and even played a little. He said the doctor told him anything he did that hurt at first but seemed to loosen the tendons was good. Anything that hurt, didn't loosen the shoulder, and caused worse pain after - bad. He said it's slow going so Lana's recovery is probably proceeding on track. He said he's still having setbacks.

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  15. Charles you are one of the most prolific workers at this craft and holding down a second job to boot that to even think of questioning your out put for the year seems to me...well to be honest, a little nuts.

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  16. Prashant, I've not been too disciplined the last week or so. But I do allow myself some time off once in a while. :)

    David J., I always look forward with pleasant anticipation to a new year of writing.

    Bernardl, Lana was saying yesterday her shoulder was bothering her again, but she tried to sleep without her sling on. I just hope she can maintain it for the time she needs. I think she will.

    Mark, I never said I wasn't nuts, man. :) Others have said about as much too.

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  17. Ha! Isn't it surprising how much you've actually accomplished when you look back. I always feel like I'm pushing through mud as a writer, as if I never get anything accomplished. But looking back, I wrote at least several hundred thousand words of new fiction last year, and I'm hoping to top that this year.

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  18. Ty, it's true. I think because writing is typically not something that you can see rapid progress on most of the time. It's a slow, often painstaking activity.

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  19. Sounds like a damned good year to me ~~ and very productive.

    Of course with health stuff, salud ~~ to a salubrious and prosperous 2012 ~~ !

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  20. Erik, I sure hope both Lana and I have a good year where health is concerned.

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  21. I'd say that's a pretty respectable year in writing achievement. May you have more success in 2012.

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  22. Laughingwolf, thankee, man.

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  23. Happy New Year! You have been busy - it's hard to really realize HOW busy until we look back right? I hope your health issues pass and you and Lana get all you wish for 2012!!

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  24. You accomplished quite a lot. (And all those covers look great...)

    Happy New Year, Charles! May it be an even better one!

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  25. Charles-Your catalog of work is incredible. May 2012 be the best for you and Lana.

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  26. Travis Cody, I feel better after I figured it all out on paper.

    Heather, thank you. I hope the same for you and your family.

    Vesper, yes, some really nice covers in this bunch.

    Jodi, and for you as well. :)

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  27. Your writing year was very productive, Charles. Hope 2012 goes as well for you!

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  28. Oscar, thanks, man. I just ordered your book and it should be here pretty soon.

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  29. Congratulations on your accomplishments! It sounds like you had a productive year.

    Hope you have a great 2012.

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  30. Hmm, let's see, writing-wise... Last year I had 14,000 aftershocks. My city and business were destroyed, my drawing hand broken and a good night's sleep a rare and elusive thing.

    And somewhere in between opening a new shop, tattooing with a busted mitt and comfort-eating my way into an extra 15kg (33lbs for the Yanks), I managed to write one novel and almost finish a MAJOR rewrite on another.

    I'm ticking last year up in the 'win' column...

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  31. Golden Eagle, thanks! I appreciate that.

    Steve Malley, I'd agree, man. You had a helluva shocking year. But you're alive and you got to meet me! :)

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  32. Hopefully 2012 will be as productive. I think you were phenomenally busy and it looks like it paid off. Kudos.

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