Now this is weird. I’m posting twice in the course of a week.
Woo hoo!
Of course, I’ve been on break for ten days, so it’s only natural that I’m rested and recharged (as much as I could rest and recharge after the shitshow of a year we just slogged through), and therefore writing a post is only natural. But I haven’t been doing it. My last post before my last post (last week) was November of 2019, in which I proclaimed a new start to my writing and creative output. Rookie mistake. I should know better than to proclaim that I’m turning over a new leaf before I’ve actually turned it over.
But, inevitably, New years come with new thoughts, new goals, and new ideas. I’ve set some workflow transitions in place— got a new computer for Christmas— and have some new story ideas percolating, so I’m optimistic of the direction 2021 is taking.
New Computer
![](http://brianstumbaugh.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2C2B7298-DD16-4B33-A8F3-5E7FB0D77A60-300x225.jpeg)
The first big change is that I received a new computer for Christmas. My MacBook Air was over six years old and struggling with the demands of Google Meets and online learning, so I bit the bullet and went full tablet. The iPad Pro 12.9” was a great call, as all of my daily computing needs (so far) can be handled on this beast of a machine. I even took to drawing a bit, even though I am admittedly no artist. The tree I did on ProCreate is the cover image for this post. Be kind, I’m learning!
New Stories
With the end of the year came a flurry of new ideas. This is not uncommon. But I’ve outlined a few new stories, written some chapter notes for a longer story, and, overall, feel generally optimistic about the whole endeavor. That’s a bright spot for me, because, like others, writing was actually really hard for me in the pandemic. I empathize with all of the writers I follow on Twitter who bemoaned the pressures they felt to create during a time of national panic because I, too, felt completely blocked. And when I did eventually get to sending stuff out in late July, well, those, weren’t my best efforts. Which showed in the flurry of rejections that have been coming home to roost this month. Sigh.
But I’m hoping that with a new start I can get the writing practice under control and really build towards a habit— that’s all I really want. The rest, they say, will take care of itself.
So here’s to 2021. May it be filled with joy and change and wonder.
And lots of good writing.
Wish you all the best in your plans for the New Year. Your new computer looks terrific. I am cautiously optimistic as we head towards spring. My younger brother, the physician, has gotten his shot, and if all works well — the next shot is the 24th — he thinks that by February 15th, he should feel somewhat secure though he will continue to follow all the COVID safety guidelines. I am hoping the COVID smoke begins to dissipate by April and we can see more clearly. I know hope hinges on people sticking to the guidelines each day. We are in this together, and the more we can live that, the more promise we have. The beer waits at a good gin mill down the road. Stay strong.