Book Plan 2009

This year's book plan is based on type rather than on quantity. It's impossible for me to do "fifty books in a year" as I've done in the past, or "a hundred stories in a year" as I attempted to do last year (and failed miserably). I've decided that, though I am a short story writer and this is amajor flaw/weakness in my writerly character, I do not gravitate toward the short story. I just don't, and I try to force myself every so often and it's a disaster. That's not to say I don't love certain short stories--I do--but they're not my bread and butter. Novels are--always have been and always will be. Maybe that means I should write novels. Anyway, I digress...

This year's book plan is to read books that have had movies based on them. The release of 'Revolutionary Road' and 'Benjamin Button' and 'The Reader' all started me thinking about how I could incorporate those books into my annual plan and as I started to look around for other books that have movies based on them, I was...well...stunned by the sheer amount of them. I'll of course include short stories like 'Benjaman Button' and '3:10 to Yuma'...pretty much whatever I can get my hands on.

I'm not setting a number, but I am going to make sure I watch the movie also. I've got a list going but would love to hear suggestions on books I should read--so post in the comments if you've got any favorite books that have become movies (of any time period--don't think I'm not going to be reading 'Age of Innocence' this year!!)

Wreck This Journal--a challange for writers and bibliophiles

Okay, kids...can you do it?



Can you, as a lover of books and the written word, and probably an avid journalist who has kept a diary/journal since childhood and laments those that have been lost in transition, buy this journal? A journal that is meant to be trashed, wrecked, consumed?

It may be the ultimate exercise in creativity.

Happy New Year...and keeping myself accountable

Welcome to 2009! So far, so good...at least from my end of things.

Every year I struggle with resolutions, so this year I'm putting them out there publicly. Feel free to call me on my behavior if I drop the ball on these at any time. In fact, I think a little policing might do me a world of good.

I've broken up my resolutions into two categories: personal and writing. I want (read: desperately need) to get back into a writing routine, so I'm really going to push that this year. But, I'm going to do it differently than I have in the past--no writing classes. This year it's all about actually writing and getting the shit sent out.

Personal resolutions:

1. Do not spend more than I earn

2. Keep house clean

3. Complete yoga teacher training

4. Make a decision about mortuary science (apply this year or next?)

5. Run at least three times a week

6. Run a half-marathon

7. Do yoga five times a week

8. Once a month, fill at least one bag to give to charity or consignment

9. Keep my weight where it is--maximum

Writing resolutions:

1. Send out five submissions a month

2. Write one story a month

3. Journal at least three times a week (in a hard copy--not blogging...though I'll blog like a fiend
in 2009!)

4. Read six books on craft

5. Read 26 books (either fiction or non-fiction...this will lead into Book Plan 2009)


Sounds like a lot, right? But that's okay...I can totally do it.