zaliachimera (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zaliachimera) wrote2019-01-01 01:33 am
zaliachimera) wrote2019-01-01 01:33 am
Entry tags:
Meme of the Year 2018 Edition!
1. What did you do in 2018 that you’d never done before?
Went to a professional writing retreat. I attended Viable Paradise writing workshop on Martha's Vineyard and it was amazing! It's one of the most prestigious SFF workshops, alongside Clarion. We were taught by amazing people like Max Gladstone and Scott Lynch and Amal El-Mohtar, and had workshops and hung out with amazing people like editors from Tor and Elizabeth Bear and it was just... incredible. I fell madly in love with all of my classmates in the way you do when you're trapped on an island with people for a week and doing intense work.
I also got an actual job with a salary and holiday pay and stuff! It's quite an adjustment when I've mainly worked retail and done freelance work.
I also got to meet a couple of internet friends who I'd never been able to meet in person, including my friend Sue who I've known for about a decade and we got to hang out!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't even remember what resolutions I made last year. I tend not to make them. I want to write more and I want to submit at least 1 piece of work for publication in 2019.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully not!
5. What countries did you visit?
I visited the US! And Dublin airport but airports don't count.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Better mental health. An ADHD diagnosis or at least more therapy. The ability to focus on writing.
7. What dates from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 1st. I got my acceptance to VP and couldn't even understand the email at first because I just couldn't believe I'd actually got accepted. I had to copy and paste the email and ask someone in a chat to tell me what it said because I couldn't believe it.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Viable Paradise acceptance! I don't think anything could top that. It was my first time applying and I know they get a load of applications and I'm so honoured that I'm a VP alumnus now!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Didn't do as much writing as I should have. I worry I've thrown a way a bunch of opportunities and let people down by not getting things done. I always intend to do them, and they just slip away.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
As I write this, on New Year's Eve 2018, I am at home instead of with friends because I've got a stinking cold. Mental health has also not been great.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Flights and tuition for Viable Paradise. Also I pre-ordered Kingdom Hearts 3 which I am looking forward to immensely.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends who are always amazing and supportive. Everyone out there working against injustice, fighting for a better world.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Fuck you Theresa May. Die in a fire Jacob Rees-Mogg. Fuck everyone who voted Tory and voted for Brexit. Fuck Donald Trump too and his cronies. I hope you rot.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying for Viable Paradise tuition and everything that came along with that. Worth it though!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Viable Paradise. I'm a bit of a broken record! And also my friend winning the Kitschie Award for best debut!!!!
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
Warmth by Bastille
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier, i think! I'm in a bit more of a stable position than I was last year and that helps a lot.
b) Fatter probably? I haven't done much exercise and I feel bad about that
c) Richer! Weirdly. I have an actual guaranteed income every month! It's so weird.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing. Always writing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Having small breakdowns and depressive funks.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my parents and sister and brother in law! It was pretty lazy but nice. Felt pretty nice and Christmassy for once!
21. Did you fall in love in 2018?
In deep platonic love with my VP class. And with Martha's Vineyard. In love with a very specific place at a very specific time I guess?
22. What was your favourite TV program?
I got into Critical Role which has been really enjoyable. Also watched all of Aggretsuko which is an absolute delight! Also the new Doctor Who is brilliant!
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
My list of hated political figures grows ever longer. They just can't stop being absolute spunktrumpets.
24. What was the best book you read?
Look... I have fucking *sucked* at reading things this year. I don't know if I've even managed to read a whole book in 2018 and it is driving me nuts.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't make a discovery but did get to see Fall Out Boy in concert which was awesome!
26. What did you want and get?
Accepted to VP! An actual salaried stable job!
27. What did you want and not get?
An end to the political fuckery that has prevailed since 2016. The utter destruction of the concept of Brexit.
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really enjoyed Black Panther! Getting to the local cinema is kind of an ordeal so I don't get to see as many new films as I'd like.
29. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Schadenfreude
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
I got some cute tops but I'm mainly doing the jeans and hoodies thing. Also pyjamas. Pyjamas are great
31. What kept you sane?
Good friends. Avoiding the news as much as possible.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None of them.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
*laughs brokenly*
34. Who did you miss?
There are some people who are no longer with us who I deeply miss and wish I could tell them stuff that's happened. I miss my friends when they're not around, and my VP family.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
Fuck it, I'm good at stuff!
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Never good just the bad and the ugly
Laid infront of you
Nothing quite like seeing the world through the TV's we know
Feeling helpless I look for distraction
I go searching for you, wandering through our city to find some solace at your door
Went to a professional writing retreat. I attended Viable Paradise writing workshop on Martha's Vineyard and it was amazing! It's one of the most prestigious SFF workshops, alongside Clarion. We were taught by amazing people like Max Gladstone and Scott Lynch and Amal El-Mohtar, and had workshops and hung out with amazing people like editors from Tor and Elizabeth Bear and it was just... incredible. I fell madly in love with all of my classmates in the way you do when you're trapped on an island with people for a week and doing intense work.
I also got an actual job with a salary and holiday pay and stuff! It's quite an adjustment when I've mainly worked retail and done freelance work.
I also got to meet a couple of internet friends who I'd never been able to meet in person, including my friend Sue who I've known for about a decade and we got to hang out!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't even remember what resolutions I made last year. I tend not to make them. I want to write more and I want to submit at least 1 piece of work for publication in 2019.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully not!
5. What countries did you visit?
I visited the US! And Dublin airport but airports don't count.
6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?
Better mental health. An ADHD diagnosis or at least more therapy. The ability to focus on writing.
7. What dates from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 1st. I got my acceptance to VP and couldn't even understand the email at first because I just couldn't believe I'd actually got accepted. I had to copy and paste the email and ask someone in a chat to tell me what it said because I couldn't believe it.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Viable Paradise acceptance! I don't think anything could top that. It was my first time applying and I know they get a load of applications and I'm so honoured that I'm a VP alumnus now!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Didn't do as much writing as I should have. I worry I've thrown a way a bunch of opportunities and let people down by not getting things done. I always intend to do them, and they just slip away.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
As I write this, on New Year's Eve 2018, I am at home instead of with friends because I've got a stinking cold. Mental health has also not been great.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Flights and tuition for Viable Paradise. Also I pre-ordered Kingdom Hearts 3 which I am looking forward to immensely.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends who are always amazing and supportive. Everyone out there working against injustice, fighting for a better world.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Fuck you Theresa May. Die in a fire Jacob Rees-Mogg. Fuck everyone who voted Tory and voted for Brexit. Fuck Donald Trump too and his cronies. I hope you rot.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying for Viable Paradise tuition and everything that came along with that. Worth it though!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Viable Paradise. I'm a bit of a broken record! And also my friend winning the Kitschie Award for best debut!!!!
16. What song will always remind you of 2018?
Warmth by Bastille
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier, i think! I'm in a bit more of a stable position than I was last year and that helps a lot.
b) Fatter probably? I haven't done much exercise and I feel bad about that
c) Richer! Weirdly. I have an actual guaranteed income every month! It's so weird.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing. Always writing.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Having small breakdowns and depressive funks.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my parents and sister and brother in law! It was pretty lazy but nice. Felt pretty nice and Christmassy for once!
21. Did you fall in love in 2018?
In deep platonic love with my VP class. And with Martha's Vineyard. In love with a very specific place at a very specific time I guess?
22. What was your favourite TV program?
I got into Critical Role which has been really enjoyable. Also watched all of Aggretsuko which is an absolute delight! Also the new Doctor Who is brilliant!
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
My list of hated political figures grows ever longer. They just can't stop being absolute spunktrumpets.
24. What was the best book you read?
Look... I have fucking *sucked* at reading things this year. I don't know if I've even managed to read a whole book in 2018 and it is driving me nuts.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't make a discovery but did get to see Fall Out Boy in concert which was awesome!
26. What did you want and get?
Accepted to VP! An actual salaried stable job!
27. What did you want and not get?
An end to the political fuckery that has prevailed since 2016. The utter destruction of the concept of Brexit.
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really enjoyed Black Panther! Getting to the local cinema is kind of an ordeal so I don't get to see as many new films as I'd like.
29. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Schadenfreude
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?
I got some cute tops but I'm mainly doing the jeans and hoodies thing. Also pyjamas. Pyjamas are great
31. What kept you sane?
Good friends. Avoiding the news as much as possible.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None of them.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
*laughs brokenly*
34. Who did you miss?
There are some people who are no longer with us who I deeply miss and wish I could tell them stuff that's happened. I miss my friends when they're not around, and my VP family.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.
Fuck it, I'm good at stuff!
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Never good just the bad and the ugly
Laid infront of you
Nothing quite like seeing the world through the TV's we know
Feeling helpless I look for distraction
I go searching for you, wandering through our city to find some solace at your door