Not Thinking in Years
I've noticed that a lot of other bloggers are posting year-end summaries. Top ten news stories of 2009, favorite books of 2009, New Year's resolutions for 2010, favorite blog posts of 2009, favorite 2009 blog posts by the owner of the blog. This is all fine, except maybe the last, which is kind of like one of those episodes of a sitcom that's nothing but clips from previous episodes strung together by a tenuous plot, showing you what good times you've had in the past, and what a good time you might be having right now if the sitcom writers weren't so completely out of ideas.
Anyway, you won't be seeing any of that here. Not because I'm any less lazy than any other blogger, but because I don't think in years.
I don't think in months or weeks, either. I've pretty much got a handle on days, except for days of the week, which are always a little vague.
It's probably because of my job. If you're at home writing, one day is more or less like the next. And because I write every day, pretty much, there's no distinction between weekends and weekdays. (Except on weekends, Kathy's here a lot more often.) What was Wednesday? It was the day I stayed home and wrote. Tuesday? Stayed home and wrote. Sunday? Same thing.
I've been doing this for thirty years. What was 1990? The year I stayed home and wrote. (And what was I writing in 1990? I dunno. Something. I hope it was good.)
Some years are memorable enough that I'll very likely keep them sorted out in my memory. 2009? The Year I Went to Turkey and France. 2005? The Year I Went into the Hospital, Twice. 2000? The Year I Was Invited to be Guest of Honor at a Convention in a Foreign Country, Then Got Stuck with the Bill.
I am sufficiently firm in my habits that I can indulge in one of those other predictable end-of-the-year rituals: making prognostications for the years to come.
2010? The year I stay home and write.
2020? Stay home and write.
2030? Stay home and write.
2040? Stay home and write.
Unless of course I'm too old and senile to work any longer, in which case it will be the year I stayed home and drooled.
And yourselves? Any other predictions out there?
Anyway, you won't be seeing any of that here. Not because I'm any less lazy than any other blogger, but because I don't think in years.
I don't think in months or weeks, either. I've pretty much got a handle on days, except for days of the week, which are always a little vague.
It's probably because of my job. If you're at home writing, one day is more or less like the next. And because I write every day, pretty much, there's no distinction between weekends and weekdays. (Except on weekends, Kathy's here a lot more often.) What was Wednesday? It was the day I stayed home and wrote. Tuesday? Stayed home and wrote. Sunday? Same thing.
I've been doing this for thirty years. What was 1990? The year I stayed home and wrote. (And what was I writing in 1990? I dunno. Something. I hope it was good.)
Some years are memorable enough that I'll very likely keep them sorted out in my memory. 2009? The Year I Went to Turkey and France. 2005? The Year I Went into the Hospital, Twice. 2000? The Year I Was Invited to be Guest of Honor at a Convention in a Foreign Country, Then Got Stuck with the Bill.
I am sufficiently firm in my habits that I can indulge in one of those other predictable end-of-the-year rituals: making prognostications for the years to come.
2010? The year I stay home and write.
2020? Stay home and write.
2030? Stay home and write.
2040? Stay home and write.
Unless of course I'm too old and senile to work any longer, in which case it will be the year I stayed home and drooled.
And yourselves? Any other predictions out there?
Labels: new year, predictions
posted by dubjay at 5:55 PM
7 Comments:
Things will get worse everywhere in the world.
I know this is a little off-topic for the post, but are your books going to be availiable on any of the newer eBook devices in the new year? I've been reading my old paperback copies of Angel Station, the City on Fire books, and the Praxis series to shreds, and I am thinking about getting a Nook or Kindle (leaning towards Nook)for pleasure reading this year.
Happy New Year!
Foxessa: it is certainly true that we are all one year closer to death.
Mathew, whether my stuff is available for ebooks or whatever is pretty much up to the publisher. They either do it or don't.
I've considered scanning my out-of-print work, then copy-editing it and putting it in ebook formats, but the time in which to do this has eluded me.
I predict that I will continue to purchase and read your works in the coming decades.
Best wishes for a productive, prosperous and happy 2010!
Walter, do you not have the original files saved? The text should be recoverable even if you used WP or some other old word processor.
If you have any books that were typed on a typewriter, just ask your fanbase to scan and rough edit them for you. If I can find an old copy of Angel Station at Amazon or Ebay, I would not mind doing a scan and first edit pass (I would not want to slice and dice my copy. [I think it is my third as I have loaned out two others and never got them back]).
On a totally unrelated, related note, When are you doing your next book signing. I would love to get you to sign my kindle.
I am somewhat travel restricted. A few years back I adopted a dog that had been very badly abused. She is fine while I am around, but if I take her somewhere else and drop her off, she goes nuts. I don't live that far from you. A short drive to a book signing might make a decent mini vacation and save my sanity.
2009 was the year where I got to help you plot two books. Both of which turned out awesome (not because of me, but still).
So, you know, go me.
Ralf, I have the original files, but I want the editing and copy-editing that went into the original print version.
Because I want the books to be, y'know, =good.=
Post a Comment
<< Home