This year has been both too fast and too slow. Honestly, I was so caught up in surviving it that I neglected the resolutions I made. Certain things cropped up, which interfered with my success. Still, looking back at them, I did all right.

Last Year’s Resolutions

Here’s what I resolved to do in 2021:

1. Rewrite an old novel

Well, I did this. Only it wasn’t with the novel I had planned when I made the resolution. Does that count? I’ll say it does.

2. Lose quarantine weight

I put on 15 pounds over the first year of the pandemic and I was eager to shed it. By June, I had lost 10 pounds, only to gain much of it back this autumn.

3. Organize Babou 691 secret project

This was my only true failure. The secret project was a print magazine, publishing stories, poetry, and original art. Little did I know that when I made this resolution, I would end up closing Babou 691 five months later. That’s not to say this idea is dead, only postponed.

Resolutions for 2022

This year, I have some ambitious yet doable resolutions, all revolving around my writing and reading.

1. Read 60+ Books.

Each of the last several years, I’ve read around 50 books, but I thought I’d push myself this year. My shelves are lined with books I haven’t read. Hopefully, this time, I’ll be able to read them faster than I accumulate them.

2. Submit 4+ stories to publications/anthologies.

I had my first print acceptance this year and what a feeling. Once I finish Generica (my current novella), I plan to dedicate myself to short stories for several months. There’s a good chance none of them will be accepted, but the small chance that they might be is enough for me.

3. Submit Generica

Eraserhead Press will be open for submissions this summer, after skipping last year. My goal is to have Generica edited and ready to submit by then. This will be the third book I’ve sent them and my favorite so far. (More about this in the writing update next week.)

10 Favorite Books of 2021

Finally, I wanted to share some of my favorite books this year. These are predominately horror, as I dedicated much of the year to the genre. Surprisingly, though, my favorite book of the year was nonfiction.

1. Revolution of the Mind: The Life of André Breton by Mark Polizzotti
2. Gateways to Abomination by Matthew M. Bartlett
3. Scanlines by Todd Keisling
4. Mitz by Sigrid Nunez
5. A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
6. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
7. Opioid, Indiana by Brian Allen Carr
8. HELP! A Bear is Eating Me by Mykle Hansen
9. Sabbath of the Fox-Devils by Sam Richard
10. Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez

Tchau,

Zé