An Ambitious Project

This year, 2013, I set for myself three resolutions: each month I would finish a video game I've never beaten before, read a book I've never read before, and write a new chapter for the story I've been writing off and on for the past few years.

The video game resolution was conquered easily, exceeding my quota, in fact. As of this moment, I've completed the following for the first time:

1. Paper Mario Sticker Star (3DS)
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC--"beating" the game, in this case, encompasses completing as many side quests as makes me comfortable, then completing the main quest)
3. Black Mesa Source (PC)
4. Cthulhu Saves the World (PC)
5. FTL (PC--"beating" the game, in this case, means acquiring all ships and completing the game on Normal difficulty)
6. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
7. Borderlands 2 (PC)
8. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC)
9. Mark of the Ninja (PC)
10. On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 (PC)
11. Grand Theft Auto 5 (XB360)
12. Pokemon X (3DS--"beating the game, in this case, meaning I defeated the Elite Four)
13. Mass Effect 3 (XB360)
14. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

I've also managed to complete my reading resolution with relative ease. I read the following books for the first time:

1. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
2. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
3. Dune by Frank Herbert
4. The Hammer of God by Arthur C. Clarke
5. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
6. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
7. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
8. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin
9. A Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
10. Alan by John "Hex" Carter
11. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
12. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

As for the final resolution, I utterly failed. I wrote maybe two more chapters for my story.

Reflecting on my failure, it occurred to me that the hardest thing for me to get over is getting into a state in which I actually feel like writing. I always want to write, but sitting down and actually writing is a different story.

The most common piece of advice I hear for writers is this: write. A lot. Every day, if possible.

So, it occurred to me that perhaps the best way to make progress on my story is to get into the habit of writing regularly. To that end, one of my resolutions for 2014 will be to write and post a blog post every day. Every single day. If extreme circumstances prevent me from actually getting to a computer and typing up a post, instead I'll just write a post in my Techo and post it when I get the chance. One way or another, though, there should be 365 blog posts here by the end of the year.

The posts will be about anything: movie/video game reviews, random thoughts, social/political commentary, a record of my day, or, if this experiment works and I actually end up writing more of my story, I'll post my progress on that.

I'm calling this blog "Charlie's Almost-Daily Blog" in honor of Shigesato Itoi, whose "Almost" Daily News site hasn't missed a day in over fifteen years.

Here's hoping I can be that dedicated.