Since my last post was a look back at 2018, I thought I might follow with a look ahead. This year promises to be full, as my debut poetry collection launches this summer, and I have several other projects in the works. Here are a few of them:
- Drafting and starting on the first revision of a novel. I’ve spent the last month and a half working on background and research on a novel which touches on midlife, parenting, marriage, and androids. Given that I have a decent working knowledge of the first three, the bulk of the research has been on the last, and as I’m working that into the draft, I’ll share more on my blog.
- Finishing up a collection of poems in the voices of people aboard a metal asteroid generation ship. I have the first third written–eight poems–and I’ve done research and written notes for a further four. Again, as I’m working the research into the poems, I’ll post more here.
- Pass the amateur radio technician license exam. In the above-mentioned novel, the protagonist and her father are amateur radio operators. Which led me to doing research about ham radio. Which led me to wonder if I could pass the entry-level exam. And so, I started studying. I’ve passed the practice tests I’ve taken–the math and electronics sections weren’t new to me, as I’ve been a software developer for the past ten years–and once I’m more confident about the other material, I’ll take the exam. I’m aiming for sometime in February or March.
- Build an AM antenna. Specifically, this one. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been fascinated by radio since I was a kid, so probably no surprise that I took novel research into the realm of my own backyard. The protagonist’s husband builds far more elaborate antennas than this for shortwave listening, but I thought it would be interesting to have the hands-on experience. That, and I have had the materials sitting around the house for months. So this one is more of a “finish up” than a full project.
- Read 52 books. Back when I was in grad school, studying English literature, I usually read at least 60 books a year. That number has fallen drastically in recent years, so I’d like to get back into the habit of reading. Granted, it’s easier to read that much when books are assigned–or I find that’s the case, anyway. Often, outside that framework, I’ll finish a book and then waver between options for my next read. I have a list for the year, so we’ll see if I can get the books in.
These are the major ones, among all the tasks for book launch, my plans for the two small garden plots in the backyard, more Q&As with speculative poets, finding a better layout for my website, and keeping up with the 2019 Texas legislative session and politics nationwide.
What do you have planned for this year?