this year, I am full up with fire— do not mistake this for burning

1. NaNo final total: 30,724! I definitely expect writing to slow down a little, but I have goals for December, and I already wrote today.

I'm vaguely considering signing up for GYWO or inkingitout for next year, but I'm not sure. Both of their lowest tiers is 75k, which is a little less than double what I've done this year, so I think I might be able to do it if I keep as I've been going, but I keep warbling between thinking something to keep track on might be nice and actually keep me going, and worrying that the extra pressure might end up stopping me.

2. I probably do not need to link the Elliot Page news. Usually stuff like this just kind of gets me going "oh cool" in passing, but this one is hitting me surprisingly deep (in a good way) for some reason. I don't know if it's it being someone who I recognize and whose work I know this time around, or if I'm just particularly full of identity feelings lately, or what, but I just keep seeing things about of it and getting little happy-flail waves of this person is like me, how awesome is that?

3. We had our first snow yesterday! It snowed pretty much all day. I am cold enough that I'm wearing two sweatshirts, but I'm loving it. :D

And now: December Talking Meme!

Dec 01: In an ideal world, what would you be doing with your life? (from forests_of_fire)

( Since I've already rambled, I'll cut even though this isn't that long. )

December meme list -- there's 23 open days still, including the next few. If I don't get more questions, I'm still going to try to post at least most days, though I have no idea what. Dragging up one of the other questions, or maybe I'll show some of my bullet journal spread stuff, because I like how December's stuff turned out. We'll see what I'm up for tomorrow.

For teaotter for December days: A song or artist that you're listening to a lot, and what you like about it/them.

Have I talked about my love for Dessa before? ...Probably, but I'm gonna go again. The thing that really tends to grab me on her stuff is the lyrics -- there is so much gorgeous imagery and fantastic wordplay going on in the lyrics. I've been doing Chime while I work a fair bit, and there's so many amazing lines in there. (I've also always been really fond of I'm in a mood, new shoes, and a bulletproof dress and you slept in my bed, and if I kept quiet I could hear all the voices in your head.)

That's not to say the music isn't amazing. And the vocals. I'm not... great at reviewing music, I feel like I don't have the vocabulary, but she just hits so many emotional notes so well. It's so pretty when it's right, and so powerful when it's right, and I love everything I've heard from her.

( Favorite songs and some favorite live videos. )

The other thing I've been listening to a lot is Paul Shapera's New Albion albums, particularly Miss Helen's Weird West Cabaret. I'll do this one shorter, but if you're interesting in a sprawling verse with compelling characters, necromancy, unrequited love, narration, war, spies, and mysterious messages from the ether told through musical albums on Bandcamp, consider giving the first one a shot: Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera.

(Be aware that the musicals tend to hit some triggery issues; for Dolls in particular, if you have suicide issues, you may want to skip, or at least ask for details first, which I'm happy to give.)

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I know at least a few people are doing the January talking meme instead of December this year. I... am still not doing day-by-day assignments, not least because I'm gonna be away from home for a good chunk of the beginning of January. However, I've still got questions left to go, so I'll be posting in January, and I'm happy to take more -- if you want to throw me questions/topics here or on the original post, feel free!