That is really beautiful, Amy

Loss is hard, Burrell, and you've had more than your share. And I am always available to cheerlead writing!

I'll need it, I'm sure, so thanks in advance

I still feel weird talking about this year but maybe I will just get it over with.

My grandfather died. ita died. Ginger died. These were the nadirs of the year. I was laid off, but I don't even know if I can even count that as a bad thing because it's probably for the best.

I...had possibly the most amazing year of my life, ever?

This is the year my "writing career" went into fucking overdrive like I could not believe. It's been unreal. I made 84 submissions and 12 sales (10 originals, 2 reprints). I had 6 stories out. I wrote 86k words. I finished a book. I wrote book reviews for Lightspeed. I helped launch Mothership Zeta. I edited essays for POCDSF. People kept asking me to do things. Stories, blog posts, guest-editing issues, people...just kept coming to me, of all people.

I attended Taos Toolbox. I had a Kaffeeklatsch at Worldcon, where I had actual fans who liked my work. I wrote blog posts that were featured on io9.

I made close to $3000 from writing, editing, reviewing, and participating in cons.

I went from being Nobody to being Somebody and it is so confusing and I don't know how to deal with it.

I also wrote a short play that was read at the SF Olympians Festival, and people liked it.

I made a lot of amazing new friends, and I drank a lot of milkshakes. When I think about this year, I pretty much only think of good things, and then the crushing Impostor Syndrome caused by good things.

Also...last week I found out I'm going to be an uncle.

Congrats on the impending uncledom, P-C! Also the writing successes!

P-C, you have worked so hard and it's so well deserved. Kudos to you!

Amy, I wish I could give you a hug!

I would love that, Kat. I will consider myself hugged anyway.

P-C, that's a great year! But remember, you were Somebody to a lot of people before this year, too.

This was not a great year for me. Emotions and issues don't run on a 12 month cycle though, so I am not cursing the year or celebrating the new one. I am going to try to be more present and take more ownership of my happiness, fuck the rest of the bullshit (even if that sometimes is my kid). I am going to try to be kinder, not so bitter and assholish (if you want to challenge me on that, I am not sure you have spent any time with me).

I love this place dearly. It is my only safe place at times and each one of you play a part in making it that.

I wish I could give you a hug too, msbelle.

Apparently I'm in a huggy mood.

I meant to add, even though I don't post that often anymore, I still read every day. I feel like my life is so boring that I haven't much to say. But I love coming here and knowing you people in the box are still here for me.

I...had possibly the most amazing year of my life, ever?

P-C, I love knowing you had such a great year! It seriously makes me SO happy.

I went from being Nobody to being Somebody and it is so confusing and I don't know how to deal with it.

That's got to be unsettling. In the sense of, the metaphorical ground beneath your feet isn't stable.

Also...last week I found out I'm going to be an uncle.

Hooray!!!