THIS GIRL!
(Old picture, sorry.)
You know that feeling when you finish something you’ve been working on for an entire year? A mix of relief, joy, terror, sadness…basically All the Emotions All at Once?
Welcome to my week, darlings. I have, more or less, finished writing Shadow’s Fall.
Oh, there’s plenty of work still to come – revisions, copy editing, all that stuff it takes a village to accomplish – but the huge blinking MUST FINISH BOOK sign is no longer hanging over my head. Aside from one last read-through before I send it to my editor, I am handing the entire thing over and that part of the process is done.
Today I am laying around in my STR8 AGAINST H8 t-shirt doing absolutely nothing, and my only real goal for the day is to make tacos, but in the coming days I have a wide array of things I could, should, or must attend to, including but not limited to:
1. Get a job.
Yes, I’ve been putting off the grueling slog of job hunting; yes, I’ve been pecking at it, but my main focus has been the book. I think there was a part of me that didn’t want to finish writing because then I would have to deal with the actual reality of unemployment, which sucks a box of weasels.
Kind of a big mental shift, from vampires to spirituality, but one that’s perfectly timed to the changing seasons. I always feel more spiritually inclined – and certainly more magically inclined – in the Autumn. I’m a November baby; it’s in my blood. Plus, who on Earth wants to dance around under the Moon when it’s 100 degrees at night? Not this girl.
3. Get busy volunteering.
I’m all signed up to work with Austin Pets Alive! and am hoping to help them with some writing, some rescue work, and some dog walking.
4. Hop back on the vegan train.
I’m considering making “Vegan by 34” my goal, making my birthday the date of reveganization number 5,243. In fact, I’m percolating a sort of Ahimsa Living lifestyle overhaul that will involve food, movement, and meditation, and knowing me I’ll probably write about it, so keep an eye out if spiritually healthy living is an interest of yours.
5. Dive into Autumn!
It’s almost here! Mabon, the Pagan harvest festival (okay, one of them, the one that isn’t Samhain), was always one of my two favorite festivals, the other being Ostara, the Spring Equinox. This is my favorite time of year, even forgetting the weather itself. My social calendar tends to start packing itself full to the brim long about mid-September, and I love it. I have so much more energy and want to do so many more things – like I said, I’m a Scorpio. We come to life when the year dies.
6. Start work on Book 4.
Yeah, I’m laughing too, but the thing is, Shadow’s Fall ends a bit…uncertainly, and I’d like to capture some of the energy of the ending and carry it into the next part of the story. I already have a title in mind…but I can’t tell you that yet.
7. Read some books by other people.
I have a massive to-read pile (don’t we all) and Curl up With a Book Weather is almost here.
8. See if there’s anything off my 100 Things to Do in 2011 list that I can fit in.
I’ve actually done more of them than I thought I had, and I bet I can squeeze in quite a few more before the year ends. The list was just for fun, of course, and next year’s will probably be pretty different, but I have had a good time looking over it and checking stuff off. In fact, just the other day I painted my toenails sparkly black (LIKE MY SOUL), thereby completing #92.
9. Clean my Nasty-Ass Apartment.
I’ve let things slide a little bit in the last couple of months, but the Sylvanstead needs a good scrubbing like you would not believe. I’m pretty sure the toilet is about to become self aware and link up with Skynet.
10. Try out that crazy newfangled “sleep” thing all the kids are talking about.
And now…TACOS!
