Yes, it’s that time of the year when EoYM strikes.
That’s End of Year Malaise, a term coined many years ago by my old pal and sparring partner, Charlie Sutton. It describes the period from the beginning of November to about the start of the Christmas holiday shutdown, when it’s all you can do to drag your sorry ass into and out of the office, to stay awake and to repress the urge to beat up people who annoy you by breathing too loudly or standing at the top of escalators gawking around like eejits instead of moving along sensibly.
Or maybe that’s just me. I am eternally vigilant for I know that I am merely a pair of comfy shoes and support hose away from becoming a certified Grumpy Old Woman (as opposed to the unofficial one I currently am).
2011 has been a weird year, some awesome highs and some equally awesomely impressive lows.
Not to wish my life away, but I am looking forward to 2012 (possible Mayan/Aztec/Toltec Apocalypse notwithstanding), for next year I will be writing fulltime. This is made possible by my wonderful Significant Other who will be supporting me for at least the first six months of the year while I finish the Brisneyland by Night novel and draft its sequel, Vigil.
There will also be the Adelaide Writers Festival when Robert Shearman, Kelly Link and Gavin Grant will be in attendance. There will be WeirdFictionReview.com. There will be the NatCon, which is Continuum (NatTinuum!). There will be my Short Story Doctor project. There will be Lisa Hannett’s and my Lair of the Evil Drs Brain with interviews with the likes of China Miéville, Karen Miller, Sean Williams, Ronnie Scott and Kirstyn McDermott.
There will be stuff and there will be writing. Hopefully there will be some publishing. There is much to look forward to … but for the moment, I am just resisting the urge to crawl under my desk for a Costanza nap.
Is that what this feeling is? I see *nods in agreement*. Though, this year it has kind of snuck up on me (I blame the Final Year of School Evah).
Yay on the imminence of 2012. I’ve struggled this year to allow SO, soon to be husband (egads, how does that come round so fast I ask you), supporting me. 2012 shall also be brought to me by the Letter W – Wedding and Writing…well that is my plan. Teen will be out in the world doing uni in some form which means I shall no longer be tied to the dreaded school cycle. If the apocalypse does come, well, ce la vie.
I, too, am drug down by ennui and fatigue. But November is the month of my birth, so I have to at least make an effort.
Congrats on the opportunity to write full time! Me, envious? Never!
Almost done, Nickster.
😀 The opp to work fulltime is also attached to an undertaking to do more ironing :-).
I leave the ironing to my cat.
🙂