I said I’d come back to talk about what I have on the front burner in the writing department for 2010.  I don’t want to burden myself with too many goals, some of which might be impossible to achieve.

*  I definitely must make more writing time.  I’m on deadline for a project and need to pick up the pace there.  I must have that book written by the end of February, so I can do several edits, before I send it on its way.

*  I plan to write an article a month for the local newspaper’s literary pages.  Last year, I was almost on target with this.

*  The sequel to Sweet Music Man/Distractions is begging me to finish it.  I need to make time for that.  This is the least demanding of my projects, so I’m still thinking about what time line to set for completion.  I just know I have to finish this before year end.

*  I shelved the young adult novel I planned to write for NaNo and went with book two above.  I need to start putting some ideas together for this next in the series of three books.  I really wanted to enter this book in the 2010 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Creating Writing Competition. I might be living in a dream world to think I’ll get this written and edited by July.  Realistically, I might have to sit out the novel segment this year, despite what my extremely competitive self is telling me. I better focus on a short story.

*  The edited version of Contraband is on its way to me.  That has top priority.

*  I need to find me an agent.  The trouble is the lack of time.  Based on my output already — and in a perfect world — I should be writing full-time.  Both my YA novels won awards in the competition mentioned above. I need to edit them and get them to an agent. In these days of vampires, witches and  kids with super-powers, I wonder how well coming-of-age novels will do.

*  I’d also like to find an agent for Sweet Music Man/Distractions, after I’m done editing.  Adultery is a ticklish subject and I’ve found that some people don’t seem able to separate fiction from their personal beliefs long enough to enjoy a story.  Let’s just say I’m putting this on my list of things to do so that I don’t forget it.  If I can see it on a list, I’ll get around to doing it.

On another note — I have to do something about my hair.  Sometimes, I think I have quicksilver in my head.  Got me a great haircut and my hightlights were beautiful.  Then on Friday night I got home and pulled out a box of permanent hair colour I’ve had for a while.  The colour listed was Brown Sable and the hair segment on the box showing the likely results had brown hair.  I ain’t lying.  I applied this stuff — forgetting to separate my highlighted section which is mostly in the front.

On Saturday morning, I woke to a head full of jet black hair.  To put it mildly, I’ve been concerned ever since. What to do now?  Can’t use any more permanent colour for a while, but hair the colour of midnight is just not exciting to look at.  ‘Course, my stylist had a whale of a time with this.  There’s hell to pay for being an impulsive soul.

Sigh.