Considering 2020, I did well

[schneefink]

Fic I wrote in the past year:
The Magnus Archives
eyes meeting for the first time, a short Gerry&Gertrude fic
Last Edition, Gertrude & Mary have one last conversation
Wait For Me, by Gerard Keay, a time-travel WIP written using RPG prompts, played together with DD (who did it for MDZS)
A Cat Every Day Keeps the Fears Away, Jon & the Admiral because everything is better when you pet cats

Campaign: Skyjacks
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Full Moon, a werewolf!Travis snippet
There Are No Emperors, a Star Wars fusion/crossover

Dice Disasters
Dice Disasters Off Camera, a collection of snippets

Starless – Jacqueline Carey
if this, then that, my Yuletide fic

I posted 23.6k this year! And I completed the 120 days habit challenge from getyourwordsout again. I didn't do many recs, sadly, I'll try to get better about that again.

This was clearly the year of podcasts; if not for Yuletide I'd have posted only fic for podcast fandoms, while I had zero before that. The most rewarding fandom to write for by far was Dice Disasters because of how much enthusiastic feedback I got for each chapter, and that's why I'm still planning to complete that one half-finished Dice Disasters fic and maybe a few more snippets.

In addition to those above, for a while I also listened to the Juno Steel Penumbra Podcast and Kalila Stormfire. By now, however, the podcast phase is already fading again. TMA is currently on hiatus and I'll probably become more interested again in January, but while I still occasionally enjoy reading fic, I don't really seek it out anymore and I don't feel an urge to write any myself. That might change after the finale, we'll see. I haven't even listened to the last few Skyjacks episodes yet, and sadly there will be no more Dice Disasters. There is one other podcast I promised DD I'd check out but currently I have no idea when I'll get around to it.

I didn't watch many movies this year, and barely any TV, with the exception of Taskmaster. I read quite a few good books, about which I'll make a separate post, but none I felt very fannish about. As always, I read fic in a wide variety of fandoms (a lot of Star Wars recently, for example.)

Even though I haven't played a computer game in many many years, I started playing Hades in December and am enjoying it a ton. I have no idea if I'll stay interested in it for a few more weeks at most or if it'll be months, but I look forward to finding out.

My main platform is still clearly DW, which I don't see changing anytime soon. Besides that, I mostly lurk on Tumblr and Twitter. I'm rarely on Reddit for fannish reasons anymore. I also started checking out Discord occasionally, and I can see how it could be fun but I haven't quite found my niche yet.

Fandom-adjacent, our D&D campaign is currently on hold because of COVID, but playing a high-level warblade has been a lot of fun and I look forward to playing her again eventually.


As for the non-fannish side of things – well, there was the pandemic. That sucked, a lot. I'm very lucky that none of my very close friends and family got it (yet.) I worked from home during the spring lockdown, and while it had its nice aspects I vastly prefer working from the office. The uncertainty about the future, and sometimes the present, was a big burden too. Currently it all feels simultaneously very dangerous and, hm, a bit surreal? Like people aren't taking the number of deaths seriously enough, and at the same time my daily life is largely unchanged, apart from the lack of weekly D&D sessions and choir practices (which I do miss a lot) and less shopping.

For me personally, at least the general circumstances were better than they've been in years. I have a stable job as a tax accountant trainee, 30 hours a week, with high job security, and it's currently especially stressful because of all the government subsidies etc. but we're managing, and I like my colleagues. I have enough income that I don't need to worry. I have an approximate plan for the next few years, career-wise, which is nice.
I did fewer exams and classes this year than I originally planned but because I'm working I don't feel the need to hurry, and it's still very interesting. I also finished my bachelor thesis.
I live in an apartment I like a lot with my best friend, and there's many parks and nice walks nearby which was especially important during the first lockdown. While it was challenging at times and I definitely had several low points, overall my mental health was thankfully okay.

I went running at least once every week the entire year! With exceptions when I was sick, but most weeks. In spring, when we were planning to run a family relay marathon in Vienna, I went running twice a week, and even in late Summer I was regularly running ~10 km; more recently it's usually been 3-4km. But still, better than nothing! I'm proud that I managed to keep it up.

I wasn't very good at keeping in contact with friends and family. Even though I can't meet them, I could have called or texted more often. Another resolution I failed at was being tidier: that, uh, did not happen. (And I did not go on any dates, for obvious reasons.)

But apart from that, and overall, I think I did pretty well in 2020, considering *gestures* 2020. And that is a pretty big "considering"! I wouldn't call it a good year, overall, but I'm very aware and thankful that for me personally it could have been a lot worse.

Considering 2020, I appreciated fandom being a bright spot in my life more than ever. Thank you all so much. May we all have a great 2021. Even though the start was not so promising, it can still improve.

Comments

[nonesensed]

That's a lot of work, especially for 2020!

Agreeing on the "things feel surreal now". Hopefully it will improve, because What A Start, but I do have hope! Fandom is a good thing to have because we need all the bright spots we can grab hold of.

Best of luck with your 2021 goals!

[schneefink]

I forgot to mention goals specifically: one, negotiate for a raise, that would be nice. Other than that, pretty much the same as last year.
Thanks :)

[dhampyresa]

May we all have a great 2021
Same to you <3

[schneefink]

*hugs*

[sallymn]

They've been showing Taskmaster over here, it's shambolic but irresistible, especially since so many comedians I love are on it doing ridiculously fun things.

[schneefink]

It's ridiculous and yet it works so well!

[nnozomi]

The uncertainty about the future, and sometimes the present, was a big burden too. Currently it all feels simultaneously very dangerous and, hm, a bit surreal? Like people aren't taking the number of deaths seriously enough, and at the same time my daily life is largely unchanged, apart from the lack of weekly D&D sessions and choir practices (which I do miss a lot) and less shopping
Oh yes, I feel all of this; sometimes it feels like we're just visiting this alternate dimension and haven't managed to take it seriously as the real world yet. (And I hear you on missing rehearsals ;( ).
Best wishes for your (and everyone's) 2021.

[schneefink]

One day we'll have choir practices again! One day in the not too distant future, I hope.

[dr_zook]

You did well indeed! :) I'm glad for you things weren't so bumpy so far. I'm crossing my fingers it stays as smooth as possible!

[schneefink]

Heh, bumpy only in the literal sense, as I've somehow managed to be careless and acquire two huge bruises in the past week ^^ Fingers crossed that'll be the worst thing health-wise, that'd be nice.

[duskpeterson]

I'm so glad you have a stable job - that's a big one. I hope this year works out as well for you (or better, preferably).

[schneefink]

Thanks! Yeah, the stable job is a big relief.