neadods | The State of the Nea

Reviewing
I realized today that it has been over a calendar month since I heard from Once Written. A quick check of the webpage shows that it hasn't been updated since the end of May.

I think this one's a goner, folks.

It's not the first time I got a reviewing job only to have it evaporate around the same time that I turned in my first review - my Zentertainment job went pretty much the same way - but it's a minor pisser in that Once Written promised to pay, and I've turned down Mystery Reader and probably won't get a second shot there. On the other hand, I've still got Reviewing the Evidence and intend to work my way from "guest" to "regular" reviewer on I Love a Mystery Newsletter. That's at least a basis to go on, and with both of them having published me, I can use 'em both as references at Bouchercon.

Anybody want a review of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell to coincide with the publication of the paperback?

Resolutions
Been tweaking my resolutions list (gotta strike out "run Shore Leave masquerade" don'tchaknow!) and have made a change to next year's resolutions (since this year's half done). I'm going to codify that in addition to the general "get this stuff done" checklist, I'm going to set myself each year to complete one handiwork object, learn one new craft, and take one in-depth class. I've been leaning more and more in that direction all along, so now it's official!

Doesn't get me off the hook for the general to-do stuff, though, which I'm way behind on...

Missionaries
Putting tags on most of my LJ posts was an eyeopener. I'd forgotten how long it had gotten since I last put in some serious effort on the missionary project. Even if I don't outline the book this year, I really must dust off Hiram's diary and get it into the timeline and cross-referenced. *sigh* He's such a blowhard, I'm not particularly looking forward to that.