…and writing a long-overdue post.

Since the advent of COVID-19, I’ve had plenty of time to post, I know. But I’ve allowed myself to be distracted–mostly by Netflix. I was going to post something on COVID-19 a while back (my thoughts on everything that’s happened since it hit us), but, for reasons known only to my subconscious, I lost my nerve.

Now I’m forcing myself to post something.

I’ve been: out of work and on CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefits) for the last little while; looking for gainful employment, and had a couple of near-misses; working on my novel–for the last month or so, I’ve focused on writing a chapter outline for what, hopefully, will be the last draft, and I still have to edit that before getting to work on the book itself. I’m also planning other books: my next novel, a young-adult book or two, a graphic novel, what could possibly be a YA graphic novel (truth be told, I still haven’t determined if my YA book will be a graphic novel or not), and I’m also thinking of writing a children’s book–I’m thinking middle-grade for right now. Oh, and I’ve started sketching again.

I’m also preparing to move house; right now, I’m sorting through my things, and have even done some packing. I’ve done some sorting and packing in fits and starts within the last year, but, seeing as I have to be out of my current place by February of the coming year, I’m focusing on getting my belongings sorted and packed within the next couple of months…when I’m not working on my first novel.


So, that’s what I’ve been up to for the last few months. I’ve been keeping safe, and I wear a mask whenever I’m out in public, and taking other measures to help curtail the spread of COVID-19. Going forward, I plan to post here, and on my other platforms, than I have until now.

Here we are–December 31, the end of the year, New Year’s Eve. And, just as in previous years, it’s a mixed bag for me.

I have had to restart writing the latest draft of my first novel more than once this year; it is now the end of the year, and I still haven’t finished writing this draft, nor is it ready for me to submit to an editor. I’m halfway through my latest attempt at writing this particular draft, and I’m hoping within the next year I’ll have it ready for an editor.

I’ve just looked over my records of everything I’ve done this year; I haven’t accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish, but I’ve done quite a bit. My exercise routine has faltered within the last couple of months, but I intend to make physical fitness a big part of my life, alongside my creative projects. Oh, and making a living. Among other things, such as cooking healthier meals and packing up my house.

I admit I had a pessimistic attitude towards my activities in 2019, but, having taken a more or less objective glance at my accomplishments within the last year, I refuse to be so hard on myself, while I’m determined to improve.

I attended the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival (VanCAF) this weekend, and I’ve developed an interest in adding writing comics and graphic novels to my oeuvre/portfolio. But, of course, I need practice. Lots of it.

I turned forty last month, and only now I’m developing an interest like this. I’m also interested in video games–an interest I’ve developed in my thirties–and various forms of technology. But I realize I’m not getting any younger, so I’m determined to do something about these interests now.

I didn’t know why I didn’t develop these interests when I was younger; now I realize it may be because I was a cultural snob, starting when I was, at my youngest, a pre-adolescent, if not sooner. I could go into ‘coulda-shoulda-woulda’ mode here, but what’s done is done, and I have to live with that, and the consequences.

Now, back to the present.

In terms of my career, I still have gotten nowhere, though I am trying. In terms of just trying to survive, I’m lost at sea. Conventional wisdom states you’re supposed to have everything figured out, and be settled down, at the age of thirty years old; I’m forty years old, and I’m still not where I want to be. And I’m torn between being ashamed and being grateful I’m still alive to do something about my circumstances. For instance, I’ve started writing out a chapter outline for the latest draft of my first novel after I’ve lost count of how many attempts to get the the damned draft written (again, I could go into ‘coulda-shoulda-woulda’ mode here, but I’m doing the outline now, before I’ve shown the draft to an editor), I’ve gone back to doing practice sketches, and I’m now interested in learning how to create and produce comics. (I know, at this point, I should do things in bits and pieces, but I’ve got ideas, and I like to at least write them down and start work on them while I’m thinking about them.) Also, I’ve increased my exercise schedule, and I’ve decided to start eating healthy, while tidying up my place and preparing to move house within the next two years (which I’m doing now, as opposed to waiting until the last minute and scrambling).

At this point, I’m asking myself if life begins at forty, or if I’m just using that as an excuse for wasting the previous years of my life. But I guess time will tell.

A new year has begun, and I enter it with the best of intentions. I have made my plans for this year, and have even found at least one way to make myself accountable for achieving my goals. At this juncture, I would do anything to make sure I have something to show for all of my efforts at the end of this year, especially since I’ll be turning forty this spring.

The one way I have found to make myself accountable for achieving my goals this year is what’s known as a bullet journal, which I’ve created to keep myself on track vis-a-vis my tasks for this year and which I plan to use often. I’m sure I’ve made some mistakes in creating this journal–it’s my first bullet journal, after all–but it’ll definitely serve its purpose.

My goals for this year are: complete a novel I’ve spent a good decade trying to write; finish planning another one; start saving money again, and get my finances in order; get on a regular exercise schedule; eat healthier food than I have been; get most of my belongings packed up (I’m moving house in 2021, or before), and improve my housekeeping habits; increase my visual art and photography skills; find other income streams besides my current job; increase my output on my blog and vlog and start a podcast; and return to political activism, if only part-time. I know that sounds like a lot, and I’m going to try not to spread myself too thin, but these are things I feel I need to do.

I don’t know if I’m set for 2019, but it seems I’m on my way.