setting goals, failing, moving forward
as promised, I have updated my 2025 reading journal, which reveals a much slower reading year than I've had in a while. one thing to note, though I haven't actually updated the "on the shelf" section (oops), is that I've picked up and set down a lot of books: Jaws, Dracula, Shy (Mary Rodgers's memoirs), The Other Valley, and Eat Joy.
but among the books I have finished, there are some great ones: Reaper Man and Strong Female Character and Everything is Tuberculosis.
so far, I've read 11 books out of my annual 25 book goal. during VEDS, I made 20 out of 30 videos. I did not enter a game in either the Spring Thing or IFComp, despite coming up with an idea I really like and outlining a good deal. sometimes this feels like failing, like reaching and reaching and never grasping. then I reconsider. to read, to write, to create at all is never a failure.
never satisfied and continuing nevertheless; this is the way.