Re: 2025 Resolutions
Dec. 31st, 2025 09:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rynling(1) Compile a second botanical horror fiction zine.
Done! The stories ended up being more fantasy than horror, which is cool. I called the zine “Green Dreams: Tales of Botanical Fantasy,” and I put a free-to-download digital version on Itchio (here).
(2) Create a moss-themed disability positivity zine.
Done! The zine is called “In Praise of Moss: An Argument for Sustainable Disability Positivity,” and I put a free-to-download digital version on Itchio (here).
(3) Write a Bloodborne-themed Legend of Zelda horror-romance AU novella.
Done! The story is called “What Dreams May Come,” and it’s on AO3 (here). I devoted hours of research into developing a suitably Victorian writing style, and I like to think this turned out well. It’s also got some atmospheric gothic illustrations that were super fun to commission.
(4) Reread the Tolkien translation of Gawain and the Green Knight and use it to write a Legend of Zelda AU novella.
Done! The story is called “A Green and Gentle Twilight,” and it’s on AO3 (here). Like the Bloodborne piece, I put a ton of research into developing an appropriate linguistic style, and I’m proud of the result. This is a really interesting piece of writing, I think.
(5) In the spirit of the pagan mythology that informs Gawain and the Green Knight, commission a solstice-themed illustration.
Done! The darkly brilliant Frankiesbugs created this illustration, which is on Tumblr (here). I ended up using this as the cover of my botanical fantasy fiction zine, whose first print run sold out almost instantly. This art is really something special.
(6) Write an urban gardening story about Aerith in FFVII Remake.
Done! The story is called, appropriately enough, “Urban Gardening with Aerith Gainsborough,” and it’s on AO3 (here). This story has a lovely illustration by the marvelous Artofpipeur, who did a wonderful job depicting the charm of the Sector 5 slums.
(7) Commission Artwins to create an illustration for the second edition of my dark fantasy zine Terrible People.
Done! The illustration is (here), and the second edition of the zine is free to download from Itchio (here). I really, really love the work of these two artists, and they’re wonderful to work with.
(8) Draw a twelve-page minicomic about Koroks.
I didn’t do this, alas. Back in March, I realized how considerably the Legend of Zelda fandom has declined, and I came to the conclusion that drawing this comic wouldn’t be worth the time and effort. The process of writing the script and drawing the thumbnails was fun, though.
(9) Draw an illustration of Ganondorf dressed like Kurt Russel from The Thing.
Done! The illustration is on Tumblr (here). I should probably mention that Kurt Russel didn’t actually wear this outfit in the movie. Rather, this comes from a Tumblr-famous meme image (this one here) that circulates every winter.
(10) Draw a pop art illustration for the Year of the Fire Horse.
Did you know that horses are infamously difficult to draw? I understood this on an intellectual level, and now I know it on a visceral level as well. This isn’t the best art in the world, but my illustration is (here). In any case, 2027 is the year of the Earth Goat, and I’m already looking forward to it. I just... I really love goats okay.
(11) Buy paper copies + reread all of the manga series Dragon Goes House-Hunting.
Done! This was such a joy and a pleasure that I ended up buying paper copies + rereading all of Delicious in Dungeon as well.
And finally:
(12) Edit and query An Unfound Door, an original gothic fantasy novel.
The novel is finished and edited, and it has a strong set of query materials that have gone through multiple readers. So far I’ve queried 25 agents and gotten only form rejections and silence. It’s kind of a downer to try and fail, but it’s good to remember that most people never even try. Never give up! Or perhaps: if at first you don't succeed, reconfigure your definition of "success."
Like 2024, this year was mostly about figuring out how to make good art, as well as how to find a place for it in the world despite being shut out by gatekeepers. Next year I will continue to challenge the gatekeepers! In the meantime, I’ll keep cultivating the most beautiful garden I can outside the wall.
Here’s to lots of green and growing energy in 2026. 🌿
Done! The stories ended up being more fantasy than horror, which is cool. I called the zine “Green Dreams: Tales of Botanical Fantasy,” and I put a free-to-download digital version on Itchio (here).
(2) Create a moss-themed disability positivity zine.
Done! The zine is called “In Praise of Moss: An Argument for Sustainable Disability Positivity,” and I put a free-to-download digital version on Itchio (here).
(3) Write a Bloodborne-themed Legend of Zelda horror-romance AU novella.
Done! The story is called “What Dreams May Come,” and it’s on AO3 (here). I devoted hours of research into developing a suitably Victorian writing style, and I like to think this turned out well. It’s also got some atmospheric gothic illustrations that were super fun to commission.
(4) Reread the Tolkien translation of Gawain and the Green Knight and use it to write a Legend of Zelda AU novella.
Done! The story is called “A Green and Gentle Twilight,” and it’s on AO3 (here). Like the Bloodborne piece, I put a ton of research into developing an appropriate linguistic style, and I’m proud of the result. This is a really interesting piece of writing, I think.
(5) In the spirit of the pagan mythology that informs Gawain and the Green Knight, commission a solstice-themed illustration.
Done! The darkly brilliant Frankiesbugs created this illustration, which is on Tumblr (here). I ended up using this as the cover of my botanical fantasy fiction zine, whose first print run sold out almost instantly. This art is really something special.
(6) Write an urban gardening story about Aerith in FFVII Remake.
Done! The story is called, appropriately enough, “Urban Gardening with Aerith Gainsborough,” and it’s on AO3 (here). This story has a lovely illustration by the marvelous Artofpipeur, who did a wonderful job depicting the charm of the Sector 5 slums.
(7) Commission Artwins to create an illustration for the second edition of my dark fantasy zine Terrible People.
Done! The illustration is (here), and the second edition of the zine is free to download from Itchio (here). I really, really love the work of these two artists, and they’re wonderful to work with.
(8) Draw a twelve-page minicomic about Koroks.
I didn’t do this, alas. Back in March, I realized how considerably the Legend of Zelda fandom has declined, and I came to the conclusion that drawing this comic wouldn’t be worth the time and effort. The process of writing the script and drawing the thumbnails was fun, though.
(9) Draw an illustration of Ganondorf dressed like Kurt Russel from The Thing.
Done! The illustration is on Tumblr (here). I should probably mention that Kurt Russel didn’t actually wear this outfit in the movie. Rather, this comes from a Tumblr-famous meme image (this one here) that circulates every winter.
(10) Draw a pop art illustration for the Year of the Fire Horse.
Did you know that horses are infamously difficult to draw? I understood this on an intellectual level, and now I know it on a visceral level as well. This isn’t the best art in the world, but my illustration is (here). In any case, 2027 is the year of the Earth Goat, and I’m already looking forward to it. I just... I really love goats okay.
(11) Buy paper copies + reread all of the manga series Dragon Goes House-Hunting.
Done! This was such a joy and a pleasure that I ended up buying paper copies + rereading all of Delicious in Dungeon as well.
And finally:
(12) Edit and query An Unfound Door, an original gothic fantasy novel.
The novel is finished and edited, and it has a strong set of query materials that have gone through multiple readers. So far I’ve queried 25 agents and gotten only form rejections and silence. It’s kind of a downer to try and fail, but it’s good to remember that most people never even try. Never give up! Or perhaps: if at first you don't succeed, reconfigure your definition of "success."
Like 2024, this year was mostly about figuring out how to make good art, as well as how to find a place for it in the world despite being shut out by gatekeepers. Next year I will continue to challenge the gatekeepers! In the meantime, I’ll keep cultivating the most beautiful garden I can outside the wall.
Here’s to lots of green and growing energy in 2026. 🌿
no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 01:40 pm (UTC)querying trenches are evidently more backed up than usual. also, i'm in the "never even try" camp having failed to crank out even one query letter before melting into a pile of gibbering goo so godspeed 🌿
no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 06:19 pm (UTC)I'm thinking more of all the people I encounter who are like, "I could publish a novel if I felt like it," which is a very frustrating sentiment. If only it were so easy.
I know the tradpub route is a matter of luck, and the numbers are against me. Also, I'd love to say "it doesn't hurt to try," but in reality it does in fact hurt. I had to take a break from querying in December to protect my health... but also because December is the worst month to query, apparently? I feel like there are all sorts of secret esoteric rules, and I'm very much a novice.
If I get a hit from an agent, that's great. If not, I am legitimately excited to jump into digital publishing! Even if my only audience is me personally, it will still be nice to read my novel on the bright and shining screen of my lovely tablet.
I think Chuck Tingle said it best:
https://www.amazon.com/Pounded-Rating-Because-Think-Deserve-ebook/dp/B0CP4MBQ8R