2024 Writing Goals!

[chocochipbiscuit]

Technically, I failed most of my 2023 Writing Goals.

'Technically' because no, I didn't post either of my longfic projects, and no, I didn't do all the writing exercises I planned on doing.

Instead, I wrote a lot less in 2023. But I did a lot more nonfandom hobbies; I read more original work, including nonfiction. I spent more time jogging and going out with friends. I joined a board game meetup group. I have binoculars and while I hesitate to say I go 'birdwatching,' I definitely go bird-looking. (I'm also terrible at identifying most birds by their calls, but the Merlin app is very good for that!)

I'm trying to take that same sense of gentle exploration into 2024. Especially because I've been thinking of various reasons for why I've not been enjoying as much fanfic lately.

Essentially: I've come to think about the ways that fandom does (and does not) nourish me. Despite the much-vaunted transformative power of fandom, it often feels difficult (when it's not fundamentally hostile) for me to write about or for characters who are not just queer, but queer women of color, when writing for fandoms that so often default to white or pseudo-European fantasies as the baseline. (Some nitpicking about when it's the canon vs the people in the fandom who make those default assumptions, but the essential points remain the same.)

I've realized that for fandom to remain fun for me, I have to start consuming different fandoms and/or being more selective about how I engage with my existing fandoms.

So! I'm going to continue reading original work, and try writing fanfic for a few works that are new for me. I also plan to experiment more with writing original work, even if I choose not to post it. :)

Very loose bullet-point goals, just because having specific goals always helps

• Still finish and post one longfic WIP (either Awoo AU or the Fallout Necromancy AU). (Undecided which, right now, which might be part of the problem; I need to get excited about them again. They're both in messy first draft stage so need revisions, then beta, then more revisions based on feedback.)
• continue reading books about writing and doing the writing exercises; while 1 chapter/week remains the goal, no shame if it slides to 1 chapter/month
• write for at least one new (to me) fandom this year, preferably for a canon that predominantly features characters of color. I'm already thinking about finishing my Fraud Squad fic, or maybe writing something for The Burning Kingdoms. I love Black Water Sister and don't feel like I can meaningfully write something for it right now, but there is this fic I'm so excited to read for it!
• I am officially giving myself permission to be weird and experimental! Here's to writing the weird kinks and hyperspecific fetishes! Here's to writing second person POV! Here's to forced metaphors and alien analogies and leaning into my weird synesthesia tendencies!

That's it! Some very gentle goals for a very gentle year. :)

Comments

[hibernate]

Bird-watching! That's so cool! There's an island off the coast of my town that's a popular bird-watching area and it always seems like a really fun thing to do.

Fandom, fandom, fandom... you know, I've been involved in fandom for a long time and I don't think I'll ever leave, but I struggle so much with finding spaces that fit me. Social media in general is so toxic. And I'm interested queer women but I find the way fandom does femslash often is so unpalatable to me. I'd never want to ruin someone else's joy, but I like the way you phrased it, about finding canon and fandom spaces/fic that nourish you. It can be hard!

I am officially giving myself permission to be weird and experimental! Here's to writing the weird kinks and hyperspecific fetishes! Here's to writing second person POV! Here's to forced metaphors and alien analogies and leaning into my weird synesthesia tendencies!

HERE HERE!!!

[chocochipbiscuit]

Bird-watching! That's so cool! There's an island off the coast of my town that's a popular bird-watching area and it always seems like a really fun thing to do.

It really is!!! Some areas are more interesting/varied in the birds you're likely to see, but I've started getting fond of even the "common" ones like house finches and sparrows. They can have very bright or cute colors and it's fun watching them do their things! Plus the birds are the neighbors I actually see most regularly. :)

Social media in general is so toxic. And I'm interested queer women but I find the way fandom does femslash often is so unpalatable to me.

Also true! And tbh I've not always been great about it myself in the past in terms of critiquing trends rather than individuals, but just... when so many people are doing the same Thing I Question And Do Not Like, it just becomes easier to disengage.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS AND LOVELY, HERE'S HOPING FOR A GREAT YEAR FOR BOTH OF US!