Well, Here We Go Again

It seemed like it was just this time last year that we approached a new year. And, just like then, many of our new year’s resolutions have been unmet. So, with apologies to Monica, we dust ourselves off and try again.

In retrospect, though, I think it might be wiser to set some goals and do away with the word “resolutions" because it is a word that people happily use before New Year's Day and then despise for the next 364 days. "Goals" sounds much better and more appealing.

If I want better resolution, I’ll buy a flat screen HD TV.

????

(Think about it)

Right now, however, I will tell you some of the things I actually did get done that I set out to do for 2010:

1)      I got published, twice officially and thrice technically (my novella Crawl continued in serialization with Spectacular Speculations). Of course, the publications were the e-book anthologies Dark Tidings, Vol. I and Vol. II, but I’ll take what I can get.

2)     I did get acceptance for three of my short stories to be published, in three different genres no less. A science fiction tale will appear in the upcoming Far Space 2 anthology, while a horror tale and thriller will go into Rebel Tales. The publishers of Rebel Tales want me to give them a science fiction short, but I think I’m out of those at the moment.

3)     I got back into “extras” work in movies, after missing out to work at the Census. I was a senior detective on the pilot for “Detroit 1-8-7,” a deputy for “Franklin & Bash,” a pedestrian in Hall Pass and, best of all, got to see Jennifer Aniston in pasties from five feet away on Wanderlust.

And, now, I will show you what I’ve set forth for myself for 2011:

A)    To be physically published, not just in e-book form on Smashwords. After that deal with Mystic Moon Press fell through for Hunters, I’ve been fine-tuning that book, as well as Land of the Blind. Time to get off my ass and get them to where I can hold them in my hands (especially Hunters since I’m giving folks a free peek over at Free Fantastical Fiction)

B)    To find regular employment (no-brainer there)

C)    Be more sociable and not live vicariously through others. You’ll notice that I have no family info on my bio, not even two Pomeranians (sorry, but those evil MinPins are my brother’s)

D)   Get into more movies in meatier roles (still pissed I couldn’t do Fast & Furious Five; they wanted me to be one of the bad guys)

E)    Actually read the blogs of all my fellow writers and not skip over the ones written by people who think two initials substitute for first names

F)    Be even more sociable than before. So, goodbye money and hello Fannie’s Cabaret, LatinEuro, Cherry Blossoms, Plentyoffish.com, Zoosk and eHarmony

G)   Stop letting myself get so riled up by the comments on Yahoo! News. I’m pretty sure the next president will not unite the country because I do not want to be near any of these pinheaded, extremist, racist, one-dimensional, inbred, moronic pricks (pardon my English) and, finally, 

H)   Change the pictures in my profiles for Examiner.com, FaceBook, MySpace and Wicked Writers. For some reason, certain people think I look like I’m about to either kick someone’s ass or complete a contract hit.

Okay, folks. That’s a wrap for Gregory Marshall Smith in 2011. I want to thank everyone who put up with my stuff in 2010. I also want to thank the readers who saw fit to cut down on my page views so that C.J. could win the popularity battle (living near D.C. and being from N.J., she could use the good news).

Take care and I will “see” you, God willing and the river don’t rise, on January 11, 2011.