snowflake challenge #2

[svgurl]

Challenge #2:
In your own space, set yourself some goals for the coming year.

I'm going to list a few fandom goals and non-fandom ones and to be honest, a lot of them are repeats from last year.

Fandom:

Finish my current long standing WIP, my Clark/Lois role reversal fic. I would ideally like to post a chapter every month, and worst, every other month

Write more for myself rather than just go from exchange to exchange. I've been saying this for a while but I still want to try again. I have a lot of ideas in my head and I'd like to see how they play out

Read and comment on more non exchange fanfic. Again, if I wasn't jumping from exchange to exchange, I would have time to do this.

Do more with comment_bingo; I want to make it a little more interactive - maybe a couple in round posts

Try to watch one new series or movie every month. It will be easier once the NFL season is over :)

Non-Fandom:

Get more organized - my space is a bit of a mess and I need to go through my closet and get rid of what I don't wear, to say the least

Read at least three books a month - I've finally gotten back into reading this past year and I want to be consistent

Travel. I said this last year too, and I managed to get out of the state at least (for a wedding but it counts). One of my closest friends lives in Tokyo and this is the year I would finally like to go visit her

Try to bake at least six things I've never done before. I'm not very good at leaving my comfort zone but I would like to give a shot

Comments

[corvidology]

Writing outside of exchanges is difficult once you've acquired the habit, particularly as it's sometimes the main interaction with your fandom since most of the coms disappeared.

Tokyo! \o/

[svgurl]

True! It's funny - my main fandom (Smallville) is not exchange popular and I now have a new main fandom (MCU) just because I have been writing so many exchange fics for it lol I think it's the solid deadline and accountability that keeps me going. I don't work well without hard deadlines so it's nice to have a reason to write.

Here's hoping! I would love to go. :D

[queenslayerbee]

I wish you luck with your goals! That Clois fic sounds really interesting 👀

[svgurl]

Thank you! I'm very fond of it but I somehow keep stalling on continuing and I feel bad that I haven't updated it in well over a year. It was supposed to be ~20k originally and well, it's shot past that for sure, which is definitely not new for me lol :D

[vriddy]

So happy to see comment_bingo in your goals, I love that comm :D And I've been recommending it on several people's posts who mentioned "commenting more" in their goals, haha <3

I hope you manage to find the right balance between exchange fics and your own projects, it's really hard to do! Best of luck with all your goals :)

[svgurl]

That's so sweet of you to say. I'm so glad to hear that. Also, I've noticed and appreciate it! I saw those people whose goals aligned with comment_bingo and I felt awkward self promoting, but then I would see "Oh vriddy has already done it! Nice!" ♥

Thank you! Hopefully this is the year! :D

[vriddy]

Aww that's nice :D :D I'm glad to help!! Though I think you should also feel free to mention it when it's relevant haha XD To many more fun rounds :D <3

[svgurl]

You're right! I am happy to rec everything else but I guess I need to get over my self reccing anxiety. Yay! Here's hoping! :D ♥

[folk_melody]

Ooh the Clois fic sounds very interesting! Good luck with your goals - hope you have fun with them :D

[svgurl]

Thanks! I love it but I can't seem to focus working on it. I just don't want another year to go by where I don't update and let it stall longer than it has. Thank you! I appreciate that. ♥ :D

[winter_doggo]

Baking is a cool one :O I ought to step more out of my comfort zone in the kitchen myself. Travelling is also a nice one, getting about and seeing new places :]

Good luck!!

[svgurl]

I support it! I've loved to bake but I started doing it more during the pandemic, because I was bored, and I would like to try some new things (pastries are at the top of my list). I hope you are able to venture out of your own comfort zone as well! And yes, I agree, traveling is fun. I feel like I should do more of it, since I can.

Thank you! :D

[snowynight]

The Clark/Lois fic sounds interesting!

It's good to write for yourself too. Good luck with your goal and enjoy your trips!

[svgurl]

Thanks! I am still really into it, and I just need to bring myself to focus. I feel bad about not having updated in so long.

True. I am hoping to finally find some balance and work on my own prompts. There's less pressure but the lack of a deadline does not help the procrastinator in me lol Thank you! I appreciate that! :D

[snowynight]

Deadlines are both stressful and motivating to me too. I hope you can find a balance you enjoy!

[svgurl]

They can definitely be both! I think, for me, the accountability factor of exchanges helps, because there are definitely bingo challenges and fests where I haven't been able to keep up and they have deadlines too.

Thank you! I appreciate the kind wishes. :D

[potentiality_26]

Cool resolutions -- good luck!

[svgurl]

Thank you! :D

[bleodswean]

Great goals! I found comment-bingo a really good way to write more and write exclusively for myself and my muse.

Now's a good time to look at the clothes - for me, the rule of thumb about not having worn it once in the past year works really well! Out it has to go!

[svgurl]

Thank you! :D

That's a good rule. I need to quiet the part of my brain that goes "but what if I want it someday" because the truth is, if I haven't worn it in a year, I won't miss it in the future.

[scintilla10]

Oooh, great goals! I especially resonate with wanting to spend more time reading in the collections of exchanges I participate in.

Good luck! :D

[svgurl]

Thanks! I definitely want to do more of that too. I wasn't able to even begin with the FIAB collection because RFE noms opened at the same time, but even normally, if I signed up for less, I could even read more fics that aren't my gift.

Thank you! :D

[buggyfiction]

You've got this!

[svgurl]

Fun colorful gif! I appreciate the well wishes! Thank you! :D

[pronker]

Splendid goals - 'getting organized' sounds so practical to put the sense of order in, um, order, and then baking, so you can eat to gain energy for travel. :)

[svgurl]

Thanks! You are very wise and make a good point! I need the sugar to keep me going. :D

[vendettadays]

Good luck on your goals! They look great - I'm completely with you on writing more for yourself with less focus on exchanges, it's something I've been trying for the last few years too.

Tokyo! Hope you get to travel there and visit your friend!

Thank you for rec-ing comment bingo. I'll have a look at it :D

[svgurl]

Thank you! I feel like it would be a nice change of pace to really focus on what I want to write, and post for me. If only my self imposed deadlines were as effective lol I hope you are able to write for yourself as well!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed! She's been there for a decade and very patient about it. :D

No problem! The next round should start sometime this month - I am waiting for a point where I will have time to make the cards.

[vendettadays]

Self-imposed deadlines-tell me about it! :D I struggle with that which is probably why I have so many WIPs

Definitely hope you get to go! Tokyo's a great place for food and sights :D

Yay looking forward to the bingo!

[svgurl]

I feel you! I have no power over myself lol I have always had way too many WIPs, some being a thousand words and a couple of others just being a line or two. I haven't looked at my MS Word docs in years but I know they're there.

Thanks! It looks like an exciting destination! My dad enjoyed it when he went there for work years ago. I'm vegetarian but my friend promised to make sure that she'll find food for me.

Yay! I'm so glad to hear that!

[peaked]

I love your goals, repeats or not!

I feel you on not feeling like you can stretch into non-exchange stuff. May this be the year for us both! I look forward to seeing what you do with comment_bingo! If you need a sounding board, you know I'm always around for a baked good. 😉

[svgurl]

Aww, thanks! :D

Having no restrictions is both nice and scary! I think it's the lack of deadlines that really get to me - I can't convince myself that I should write this by "x" time lol I know and I appreciate that! ♥ If only I could safely send you some. :D

[royalblue31]

Write more for myself rather than just go from exchange to exchange Okay, this made me pause and think: Yeah, she's right. I definitely have to do that too.

I hope you achieve all your goals! I kind of feel like you've got the baking thing in the bag, and I look forward to seeing all your new creations this year! :D

[svgurl]

Maybe this is the year we could both get it done! Keeping my fingers crossed for us.

Thank you! Aww, that's very kind. ♥ I would love to do more though and I will definitely post pics if/when I do! :D

[bradygirl_12]

All admirable goals! ☺️

Exchanges are fun but you need to go full creative. Exchanges limit you because you're writing to specific guidelines/preferences. They can be inspirational but see what you can do without prompts. Your Clark/Lois fic is a great example of unfettered creativity! 💃

[svgurl]

Thank you! :D

You're totally right. It is a useful way to expand your horizons (I've definitely written ships/gotten ideas that I never would've thought of or done on my own) but also limiting in its own way. It's funny - the Clois fic idea actually was because of someone back on LJ drawing a "role reversal"/"Superwoman" AU based off of Tom Welling's Vogue photoshoot, if I remember correctly. Over a decade later, I finally got around to trying to write it! :D

[badfalcon]

I had a wardrobe organise earlier in December, tried *everything* on, and got rid of probably half my clothes - things that didn't fit, gave sensory ick, that I didn't wear, didn't... well didn't spark joy
It was quite freeing!

Good luck with your goals

[svgurl]

Wow, congrats on getting that done! I can imagine it would feel nice to have more space and cleaner shelves. I'm hoping to get there sooner than later. :D

Thank you!

[wearing_tearing]

Good luck with all of your goals! I also have the goal to comment more on non-exchange fanworks.

Re going through closets: same. There are clothes in there I haven't worn in years. And yay for getting back into reading! :D

[svgurl]

Thank you! Good luck to you as well! That's a good goal to have. :D

Yes, that is definitely me. I don't know why my brain insists that "oh it still fits though and what if I want it again" when I literally haven't thought or needed it in ages.

Yay! The reading was one thing I was pleased about. I tapered off a little in the last few months but I'm hoping to come back strong. :D

[wearing_tearing]

I don't know why my brain insists that "oh it still fits though and what if I want it again" when I literally haven't thought or needed it in ages.
Also me!! I still have some t-shirts from when I was in high school that fit and so I'm always like: I could wear this as a pj so it's valid for me to keep it lol

[svgurl]

I totally get that! I have a couple of shirts that are probably a decade old too at this point. I'm like "well, this may not be a going out shirt but it could definitely work on days I'm just lazing around at home". So many excuses lol :D

[sparrow2000]

Those are awesome goals and I wish you the best of luck. I especially like the writing more for yourself - get those ideas out of your head and on the page!! :)

I've also been thinking about a closet reorg. You may have inspired me to actually do something about it rather than just thinking about it...

[svgurl]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind wishes. I really have fics that have been lingering in my head forever and I would like to make a go at them so here's hoping! :D

Yay! I hope I can inspire myself too and we can both have clean closets for 2024! :D

[shaddyr]

Ahh! I hope you get your WIP done - I have one of those languishing as well.

I love the Comment Bingo - that looks like a great idea!

What kind of things are you interested in baking?

[svgurl]

Thank you! WIPS that linger just haunt me. I have a couple more that are even older but this is the one I feel is most doable to get done so I want to focus on it. :D

Thanks! The next round should be starting sometime this month, when I decide I have the time to make the cards, if you're interested in signing up.

Thanks for asking! I usually like to bake cakes, cupcakes, muffins, tiramisu, etc. I would love to get into pastries - I'm not the strongest with dough, which is why I don't make cookies outside of chocolate chip, but I would love to try making chocolate croissants, eclairs, and the like. Also I want to try a lava cake too. I am sure there are more but those are off the top of my head.

[shaddyr]

The next round should be starting sometime this month, when I decide I have the time to make the cards, if you're interested in signing up.

I am seriously considering it. Especially since it looks like it's a do what you can manage kind of thing. I'm leery that my desire to sign up to DO ALL THE THINGS! is greater than my ability to follow through, so things that are optional make me happy.

I would love to get into pastries

Mmm, Croissants! Classic French pastry is so tasty but SO much work.I fully admit I am far too lazy for that. Choux pastry, that's not so bad. Don't be intimidated by it - my eldest actually made a Croquembouche when they were 15 and it turned out awesome! I am sure that you will nail making eclairs!

While they aren't exactly pastry, we made these Mile High Bacon Cheese biscuits a few years ago - you laminate the dough to create they layers and it makes them puff up in a similar way as croissants do. I highly recommend it if such a thing appeals to you.

I read a recipe on making lava cakes once, but have never done it. I'd like to give that a try as well.

[svgurl]

It is! My goal with the comm was just to encourage commenting and I wanted to make it as low pressure as possible, which is why, even though there are a set list of prompts, I'm happy to let people exclude as many prompts as they would like and swap them out on their own once they get their card. If people don't get a bingo, there aren't any consequences and you can always sign up for the next round. And I'm with you! I have had to work on my fandom FOMO when it comes to signing up for stuff. :D

They are so good, which is why I wanted to try it but it is very intimidating. The layers to get the flakiness and the pastry cream are definitely the scariest parts. Thank you for the encouragement!

I'm vegetarian but I will see if the pastry dough recipe and tips work and see what I can substitute if I give a shot. Thank you! :D

Maybe we can both get it done this year! Good luck!