Now for the writing goals. As previously mentioned, Chuck Palahniuk was the one who urged us to do this at Clarion West. And he urged us to shoot big. So I am. He also urged us to state our goals definitively. So, here goes.

I will sell six stories.

I will complete 3 novels.*

I will sell (at least) one novel.

I will be SFWA eligible (a cheat, really, since the other goals will probably ensure this).

I will successfully complete a collaboration that sells.

I think that does it for goals for me, at least right now. But I will revisit these from time to time, just to see how I’m doing.

It may seem ambitious, but why not be?

* By “complete” I mean turn out finished drafts. At least one of these is a previously written novel that I am in the process of extensively rewriting.

Before I get to my writing goals, I thought I’d mention one of my others. Last year, I realized that I don’t read enough. Which is a shame. Because I love it, and because I have so many books that I want to get to, too many, possibly, to get through.

Toward the end of 2010, I picked up the pace quite a bit with the help of technology. Ebooks have been a big help in the process, enabling me to read while I’m waiting for the subway or in line at the bank. Audiobooks have also been a big help. I’ve listened to four Dresden Files novels just walking around the city, for the most part. I also started a Goodreads account to keep track of books I’m reading, books I’ve read, and books I want to read. I figured it would help prod me in the right direction and it has.

So this year I’m committing to reading (and finishing) 36 books. That might not seem like a lot to some people. might seem like more than a lot to others. But at roughly 3 a month I’m thinking I can do that. If I can read more, great. But that’s my goal.

I’ll post updates here from time to time, but feel free to friend me on Goodreads for more regular updates.

Wish me luck…

I just realized that I’ve been remiss in mentioning another bit of writing news. However, now that I’ve signed the contract I can reliably state that my story, “Card Sharp”, from The Way of the Wizard anthology, is going to be narrated at Podcastle. I’ve done several narrations for the site before, but this will be the first of my own stories to receive that treatment. I’m looking forward to hearing it.

I’ll update when it goes live (I assume) later this year.

One of the things I regret about last year is not managing to produce a holiday story for 2010. I’ve mentioned it before, but years ago I decided that sending out holiday cards felt too impersonal and instead started writing stories at the end of the year and sending those to my friends instead. They were early drafts, yes, and had problems, but they were something original and unique and personal and I felt better about that. Some of them even went on to become full-fledged submissions (one of which sold, but was never published).

I was hoping to do that again this year, but unfortunately I never found the time or the idea.

In years past when I’ve also missed my own deadlines I’ve tried to make it up. Frankly, with all the other things I’m working on, I might not have the time. The question is, do I let it go? Or maybe send something out for my birthday?

I’m still deciding…

It’s now 2011, and I find myself resistant to do one of those wrap-up posts or to talk about my resolutions for the new year. Yet, there is something to be said for taking stock, for looking back at the road behind you, and looking ahead at the path you have yet to take.

Personally, as with every year, it was a series of ups and downs. I was still dealing a lot at the beginning of the year with my mother’s death and that was something that took a toll. But somewhere in the past twelve months, I found a measure of peace and especially toward the second half of the year, peace and happiness seem to have worked their way into my life in a more regular fashion.

Professionally, at least on the writing front, things improved significantly in the past year. Aside from acquiring an agent, I also had three stories published this past year, and a few more accepted for publication. I also had my first solo reading at World Fantasy. And there were podcast narrations and blog posts for Tor.com.

But I find myself looking ahead rather than looking back, at the things I see glimmering on the horizon. As happy as I am with my successes, I see more of them ahead, I see things that I want dearly, and I see the work I’m going to have to do to get there. The challenge is to put in the work and the effort and hope that it pays off.

When I was at Clarion West in 2008, Chuck Palahniuk suggested to us that we all come up with goals for the successive year, and encouraged us to make them as big as possible.  In his experience it was the people who did this that often went on to great success. I stated my goals and thought it took longer than a year, met them. I think the beginning of 2011 may be the time to do so again. And thought my natural inclination is not to do so in a public forum, that flies against the spirit of the exercise, so if I do so, I’ll do it here.

Happy New Year to everyone reading this. I hope that you accomplish everything you set out to do and that 2011 is a wonderful year for you.