Freeeeeddoooooooom!

Since my recent freedom from the old day job, I've been trying to find part-time work. This is going about as well as it did before, which is to say, it's not going that well. The economy is lousy and there's really not much out there for someone with an English BA and experience in teaching ESL.

After talking with my parents and fairly assessing the likelihood that I will go from dead-end job to dead-end job, never climbing above the poverty level, **~~I've decided to go back to school for a masters degree in communications, a field I have some familiarity with and--with the rise of New Media popularity--a good amount of interest in.~~

Of course, I'll have to get a job while I get my masters, or at least until I can satisfy all the requirements to go back full time if that's the route I decide to take. I'm still in the early stages of planning this, so I can't say much more on the subject other than: "Have GRE book. Will study."

~~Besides school and work,~~ I've got several writing goals and plans this year. These are what's coming down the writing pipeline for me in 2013, though my situation is somewhat transient and these are subject to change pending the manifestation of school/work:

*My short story, The Incident of the Clockwork Mikoshi, will appear in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences world in some exciting fashion, which I will reveal a bit later.

*I will be writing bi-monthly fantasy book reviews for Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show magazine, the first will be out April 8th!

*I'll be releasing a YA Paranormal Comedy novelette called BULL-RUSHING THE GHOST via podcast and ebook, likely some time in July.

*I plan to finish the first draft of the outlined novel, HERETIC'S RESONANCE, by the end of October.

*If I somehow manage to pull all that off, I'll either write a novella about a side-character during NaNoWriMo or I'll get to work on the third draft of HELLHOUND, which needs to be rewritten from the ground up to work. Maybe a few old scenes can be saved.

With all this excitement, there's also Pendragon Variety Podcast, which has started recording again and is making some headway with the first issue of the Literary Magazine. I'm also looking forward to auditioning for some paid voice recording work with ACX, an Audible affiliate. Now wouldn't THAT be a way to pay my way through school?

Did I mention I was a bit overcommitted? Because I'm also doing some more voice work and attending or speaking at at least four more conventions this year.

Needless to say, everything but the writing and school will have to slow down once I find a job, but for now, I'm steering my life down a path I'm excited about.

What are your plans this year?

**I have decided not to go back to school, actually, but to try to support myself with writing, voice-acting, and part-time work. Yes, I am crazy, but I have to start treating myself like a pro and do what makes me happy.