2012 Writing Projects

Where I update my progress..

As of February 12, 2012

1.  Blog here every day

I’ve posted every day, more than once many days, even while recovering from eye surgery thanks to Guest Blogger. 

2.  Blog at Midlife Bloggers on a weekly basis, focusing on the 2012 Presidential election.  It’s not quite happening on a weekly basis, but four posts have made it.  Next up for me is a pretty lengthy essay. 

3.  Blog at Elk Grove Patch on a weekly basis, focusing on local issues.  Not doing too well on this.  Two posts published.  Not sure what the third will be.

4.  E-publish two short story collections — The Marfa Lights and Other Stories and Shady Acres and Other Stories.  

I’ve achieved this

5.  E-publish two novels — One Night in Bridgeport and Weed Therapy.  This is my next major project

6.  Turn this blog into something more akin to a website. 

This blog is what it is.  markpaxson.com is officially my author website.  Don’t like the look of it, but will continue to work on it.

7.  Finish the second draft, and as many drafts as needed, of the script for The Marfa Lights to get into the shape needed to make a movie of it.  And, then, help my niece, Danielle Brown, do everything possible to make said movie.

The second draft was completed a week ago.

8.  Once that script is complete, turn to my half completed novel — Terror in a Small Town — and see if I can convert it into a script and complete the story in that form.  I actually think it has the most movie potential.  I’ve just run into a roadblock in completing the novel.

9.  Keep working on the other new stuff I’m working on and posted here.  The Irretrievable Past.  K Street Stories.  The 167 words a day challenge.  Here’s my question for those who have read any of those pieces — and, if you haven’t, go look at the Category links for each of them and take a look — which one should be my first focus.

The Irretrievable Past is still there, still lurking.  Other things have distracted me from it.  Like blogging here every day.  Words with Friends on Facebook.  The script.  But, with the second draft of the script done today, I’ll have some time to turn to the story.

10.  Find more new things to write.

11.  Find a workshop or conference to go to since my planned trip to Oaxaca won’t be happening.

I applied for the Bread Loaf Workshop in Vermont in August.  I don’t expect to make it, but the answer would have definitely been no if I hadn’t applied.