Goal/blog check-in

We're about four-and-a-half months into 2010, and I wanted to 1) come up with something new to post here at House Improbabilia, and 2) check in on my goals that I posted back in January. While checking in, I may need to tweak some of these goals or maybe even make some more drastic edits.

Goal One - Maintain my bi-monthly column at Paperback Reader.
I really enjoyed writing for Paperback Reader, and my Papercut column still had some steam. However, without going into too many details, I've stopped producing the column over there. I'd like to thank the editor Bart Gerardi for running both Papercut and my previous column Derek's Open Letter over the years. I learned some valuable lessons about myself as a writer during my time at Paperback Reader, and I hope to continue to grow as a regular horror writer of some sort elsewhere in the future.

Goal Two - Non-fiction book project Number One.
I'm in talks with an artist who may come on board this project as, at the very least, the art deisgner of the cover. The text is nearly 75% complete, and I'm working to have something to show in the next few months (hopefully sooner!)

Goal Three - 2010 Novel Number One.
Goal Four - 2010 Novel Number Two.
For the past couple months, these two novels have been jockeying back and forth, each one trying to take center stage. I've decided which one is going to get the most attention and I still anticipate this one being completed by year's end. Novel Number Two? I scratch down a few notes when something comes to mind, and I'll let it brew for a little bit longer while I work on Novel Number One.

Goal Five - Non-fiction book project Number Two.
I'm riding the accelerator pedal on this one - there are stretches during which I make some headway on this, and then there are stretches during which I'm working on something else. I need to see Non-fiction book project Number One finished first, I think.

Goal Six - As much short fiction writing as I can.
Still on the plate.

Goal Seven - Not quite a fiction or non-fiction project, but there's still some writing involved, so there you go.
Goal Seven needs to be shelved for the time being.