Freelance Writer and Social Worker

10 Writing Goals I want to Meet in 2016

OMG. It seems like just yesterday that I was watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and anticipating a nice afternoon of football. Now we're finished with Christmas and it's almost time to think about those pesky New Year's Resolutions. Maybe I'm masochistic to make them at all, since they often fall by the wayside along about February, but somehow I just can't seem to resist. So, anyway, here they are, the 10 things I want to accomplish as a writer in 2016.

1) Get a New Computer. I'm not saying that my computer is old, virus-ridden, and slow, but the "Original Property of Thomas Edison" welcome message must mean something. Seriously, my technology is so far out of date that I can't even Skype, and my memory is strained to the breaking point with out of date files and pictures I'll never use again. It's time to upgrade.

2) Publish. In this new world of online publishing, "publish or perish" isn't just a phrase for academics anymore. Right now I'm working on two books: one is a book of Halloween/horror stories for lesbians, and the other is a nonfiction compilation of lists for writers. My goal is to publish both of these books by the end of March. Then I'll start on two more.

9 Favorite Holiday Movies and Specials and How They Made Me a Better Writer

One of the things I love about the month of December is the chance to see some of my favorite Christmas movies and specials. These are programs I've enjoyed for years, often since childhood. In some cases, I can almost recite the dialogue along with the actors. All of them have influenced the way I view the world and, to a certain extent, the way I write.

1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964). Narrator: Burl Ives. In this sweet TV special, chock-full of my favorite holiday music, Rudolph is reviled and shunned for his glowing nose...until that very nose helps to save Christmas. Writing Lesson: Rudolph doesn't succeed in spite of his differences; he succeeds because of them. Don't be afraid to be unique.

The Ref (1994). Stars: Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, Dennis Leary. In this unlikely but clever tale, a burglar takes a feuding couple hostage on Christmas Eve and ends up saving their marriage. Writing Lesson: The dialogue in this movie is fantastic. I watch the Spacey/Davis scenes whenever I get blocked trying to right a particularly nasty argument.