Through the Eyes of a Pirate

Here we are, only a day away from the end of the year. It’s customary at this time to review everything that’s happened over the course of the past 364 days. I was holding out for a little while longer in the hopes that something different might find its way into my inbox before the year was out. Naturally, nothing really arrived, so here we go.

In 2009 I stepped down from my position as manager of The Source so I could focus on my writing, failed to spur interest in Script Frenzy 2009, got engaged to my beautiful fiance Sabrina, successfully ran the Sudbury Hypergraphic Society booth at the Northern Lights Festival, watched the SHS rip itself asunder, felt the formation of the Underground Writers, completed drafts of numerous short stories, submitted work to publishers, received useful critiques on a number of short stories, received several rejection letters from publishers, successfully ran National Novel Writing Month 2009 in the Sudbury area (with more than 50% of those with a word count surpassing the 50k mark), restarted the Monday Night Writing Pack, completed the first draft of two novels, and made the decision that I need to return to college.

Hell of a year eh? So where does that put me at the moment? I’ve been editing the first draft of my NaNo novel. A good chunk of it has been cut, and I’ve about as many words of notes for corrections, additions, and changes as I do remaining in the original draft. I need to scramble to get something ready for the first Thursday of 2010 for sudmission to the Underground Writers for ciritiquing. I’m thinking the first 3-5k of my NaNo novel might not be a bad idea.

I’m also starting to work on the planning for Script Frenzy 2010. I don’t want a big flop like 2009. I need another successfully planned and executed event prior to my return to college, and I’m hoping that SF’10 will do it. Much like NaNo, I’m thinking write-ins every Monday, rotating locations on alternating weekdays, and two all-day write-ins. I don’t think I really want to do an overnighter in April. I’ll need some more concrete ideas worked out before I bring it up with anyone, but I think we could have something useful pop out of it, and I know I could use the experience for my future career.

By now I’m sure you’re all wondering what I’m talking about. Originally when I was thinking about returning to school, I was looking back at a field that I had given up on previously: computer programming. After having consulted with a fair number of people, all except one having got back to me, it doesn’t look like that would be a healthy choice. Generally, the market’s too full of programmers, there are thousand of qualified applicants for every posted position, and the jobs are unpredictable.

So I started hunting around for something else that I could possibly look into doing. And I dug, and dug, and dug… It was a painstaking process, and finally I was told that I had to look outside what had become my comfort zone. No sooner had been mentioned than something came to mind. Both last year and this year, when I organized NaNo in the Sudbury Area, plus when I had worked out some write-ins in North Bay a few years back, I absolutely loved it. It was stressful, it was a lot of work, but I loved doing it, and numerous times I wished that I could be paid to do stuff like that. Turns out, you can. A quick little 1-year graduate certificate from college in Event Management, and I could fill the role of Events Coordinator for just about anything (from organizing conventions and fairs, to business get-aways and other learning vacations). Cool huh? I think this is the route for me, and from those I’ve mentioned it to, they’re in agreement (though they hate to see me leave Sudbury to do it).

So we’re at the point in the 2009 wrap-up blog where we’re supposed to post our resolutions or hopes for the New Year. Let’s see.

1. I will finish rewriting and editing my NaNo 2009 novel before the end of March.
2. I will organize and run a successful Script Frenzy 2010.
3. I will apply for the Events Management program, OSAP, and numerous bursaries and scholarships.
4. I will cut up one more credit card.
5. I will get published.

Ok, so #5 is a repeat from last year. I’m going to try for it again. If I keep working at it, it’ll eventually work. Wish me luck folks. Happy New Year.

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