Master List of Progress Reports - 2007

2007: Year In Review

No new chapters. Again.

And I still hadn't finished the site.

Or the renovations.

I was diagnosed with kidney stones.

My wife had knee surgery that sent my anxiety through the roof pretty much for the entire month of March.

I was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia (I'd been tentatively diagnosed with it when I was a kid). It also kicked into full swing, making the renovations a lot more difficult.

My therapy brought up emotional issues that left me a complete wreck half the time.

My wife's father died.

I've had better years.

This had to be one of my worst writing years ever. There were far too many months with only a few days (or one) in which I actually worked on a story. In my blog, I complained about how it seemed like all I was ever doing was jotting down notes here and there. I couldn't remember the last time I'd sat down and worked on an actual scene for several days straight.

I hope I never have another year like this one.

Moral of the Story

Sometimes life just sucks.

The trick is to find the good and hold onto it long enough to get to better days. The problem is when it seems like those better days aren't coming. This year really tested my resolve to keep working on my writing. I think I probably failed more times than I succeeded, but that reminds me of what Thomas Edison is quoted to have said: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." I think another of his quotes is apt, as well: "Discontent is the first necessity of progress." I'm learning to find what works for me mostly because of being so unhappy with what doesn't.