The obligatory Resolution Post.

2009 was made of Lose and Fail for me in a lot of ways. Therefore, in 2010:

1. I will lose ten pounds and keep it off. The stationary bike will become my very good friend rather than a hated enemy. It will it will it will.

2. I will write at least four (original) short stories this year. Iron Man fanfiction and Mentalist commentfic do not count. Nor does a Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

2a. I will actually succeed in sending stories to each quarter of Writers of the Future until I either win or am no longer eligible. This...entails writing the aforementioned short stories, because they've already seen everything I have that's suitable.

3. I will complete this Novel o'Doom hanging over my head and actually stitch it together into something coherent.

4. And then I will start the next one.

*nods firmly*

The obligatory Resolution Post.

2009 was made of Lose and Fail for me in a lot of ways. Therefore, in 2010:

1. I will lose ten pounds and keep it off. The stationary bike will become my very good friend rather than a hated enemy. It will it will it will.

2. I will write at least four (original) short stories this year. Iron Man fanfiction and Mentalist commentfic do not count. Nor does a Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

2a. I will actually succeed in sending stories to each quarter of Writers of the Future until I either win or am no longer eligible. This...entails writing the aforementioned short stories, because they've already seen everything I have that's suitable.

3. I will complete this Novel o'Doom hanging over my head and actually stitch it together into something coherent.

4. And then I will start the next one.

*nods firmly*

Somehow, I forgot it's Monday.

So. Have a snippet:

"I'm tired, Chambliss. I'm so tired. And someone tried to kill me with a sword yesterday. Damned if I don't wish he'd succeeded."

"I know, Master Ben." Chambliss's voice was gentle. "Do you wish me to sit with you for awhile?"

Chambliss was one of the few people in his life who actually understood. "I'd like that. Very much. If you have time."

"My responsibilities are light at the moment." The couch moved as Chambliss had a seat. "Shall we trade war stories?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Ben didn't like talking about the war. Any of his wars. "But if you've got some funny stories about Alex, I'd love to hear them."

"Master Alex is a colorful character, and I have a multitude of tales I could tell."

Ben didn't open his eyes. "Butler's choice; pick one."

A pause. "As you've no doubt become aware, Master Alex is something of an adrenaline enthusiast."

A smile curled Ben's lips. "Combined with how much he drinks, I've seen that make for some dangerous hijinks."

"A few years ago, he went to Pamplona…"

And Chambliss was off. Ben had heard this story before, from Megan, but Chambliss was an excellent raconteur with a few extra details that Megan hadn't supplied. Ben relaxed and let the tale wash over him. "And that's why Master Alex learned first aid for a sucking chest wound," Chambliss concluded.

Ben opened his eyes and found that he'd wolfed without realizing it. Chambliss's story hadn't even hitched--Ben wondered if anything could shake his composure and decided that he didn't want to see something that could.

Comments? Suggestions? Rotten eggs?

Somehow, I forgot it's Monday.

So. Have a snippet:

"I'm tired, Chambliss. I'm so tired. And someone tried to kill me with a sword yesterday. Damned if I don't wish he'd succeeded."

"I know, Master Ben." Chambliss's voice was gentle. "Do you wish me to sit with you for awhile?"

Chambliss was one of the few people in his life who actually understood. "I'd like that. Very much. If you have time."

"My responsibilities are light at the moment." The couch moved as Chambliss had a seat. "Shall we trade war stories?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Ben didn't like talking about the war. Any of his wars. "But if you've got some funny stories about Alex, I'd love to hear them."

"Master Alex is a colorful character, and I have a multitude of tales I could tell."

Ben didn't open his eyes. "Butler's choice; pick one."

A pause. "As you've no doubt become aware, Master Alex is something of an adrenaline enthusiast."

A smile curled Ben's lips. "Combined with how much he drinks, I've seen that make for some dangerous hijinks."

"A few years ago, he went to Pamplona…"

And Chambliss was off. Ben had heard this story before, from Megan, but Chambliss was an excellent raconteur with a few extra details that Megan hadn't supplied. Ben relaxed and let the tale wash over him. "And that's why Master Alex learned first aid for a sucking chest wound," Chambliss concluded.

Ben opened his eyes and found that he'd wolfed without realizing it. Chambliss's story hadn't even hitched--Ben wondered if anything could shake his composure and decided that he didn't want to see something that could.

Comments? Suggestions? Rotten eggs?