Dear Future Self, 2010

By little black duck January 1, 2009

8 Comments

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(cross-posted to Warren’s LJ but it bears repeating because it’s that important)

Dear Future Me:

2008 was hard but it could have been worse. You landed on your feet with a great job that makes the one you lost in 2007 it’s bitch with respect, benefits and a unmatched level of awesome.

You came within one chapter of finishing Isle with RJ by your birthday in 2008. You’ve got a finished novel Cupcake, and maybe now by this time 2010 you’ve got two more? Enjoy the taste of that for just a scant moment before you jump into the fight to finish the other projects you’ve got lined up because people are asking what’s next in the pipe. Give them what they want because you’re a drug they can’t inject fast or often enough. Be the pusher.

You have Never, CDI, and Caretaker done and with the right people? You’ve done all of the panels RJ set you up with despite your fear of crowds and crushing stage fright? Good, because it makes everything else look easy by comparison.

You proved you could not only get published but get repeatedly published and develop a following. They’re coming to you, now. This means lots of things – mostly that it can be done, and if you’d actually applied yourself, you could have really made something happen. I though we talked about that “half-doing stuff” thing.

And now you sound like Dad.

But you look like you, and this is good, because at the very least it opens doors and makes people take notice. Once they notice you, once you have their attention, you can make them do anything. I’ve seen you do it. It’s amazing and it’s wicked, and if you would only apply yourself …

Never mind.

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little black duck

Just this fox. I'm a writer of horror and dark fantasy. I totally don't brag about it. The latter statement is an utter lie.

http://www.montileestormer.com

Molly
January 1, 2009 - 9:15 pm

That is a fantastic picture. And the letter is great too.

Happy New Year!

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littleblackduck
January 1, 2009 - 9:34 pm

Thanks evah!

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Davecat
January 2, 2009 - 1:49 am

You think you know what fame is now? Heh. You’d better start shopping for a decent agent before the fan swells and publishing requests get out of hand. Tear it up, babe!

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littleblackduck
January 2, 2009 - 2:00 am

Maybe I’ll pull a Bill Murray and not bother with an agent or publicist – because we all know how well my decision making skills can be when under pressure.

Writing personalities are basically ignored, so while I’ll always have a particular flavor of stalkers, they won’t be nearly as colorful as yours.

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Mom
January 4, 2009 - 12:53 am

That IS a fantastic picture. And I see great things for you too. Don’t buckle, don’t be nervous. Be bold, be brave, you’ve worked so hard for so long. You deserve all the success and good things that will happen to you—get ready!

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Veach
January 8, 2009 - 12:05 pm

Maybe I should have gotten your permission first, but I just couldn’t shake it gone (the image of this amazing photo) unless I used your photo-stream to make a digital rendering. So adhering to the don’t-ask-permission-first / only-get-punished-afterward, your “Unauthorized Portrait” has gotten it out of me (?) and I will be able to rest, now, maybe.

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