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JT Johnson's avatar

Can’t wait to read it! My resolution? Making writing more of a priority over sculpting—we will see, for now sculpting is what brings in the cheese

Happy new year!

Joe G's avatar

You're a sculptor. That's so cool. What kinds of things do you sculpt?

JT Johnson's avatar

I am I am! It varies but for ive been focusing on fantasy creatures like luck dragons, regular dragons and other cryptids.

Joe G's avatar

Dragons sound complex to sculpt. With all the scales and teeth. I'm getting D&D vibes. You'd make a pretty penny sculpting Warhammer figures too, I imagine.

JT Johnson's avatar

The scales can be tedious! With the artdolls I sell right now they have soft posable bodies (wire and faux fur or minky) so the scales only go on the head/feet

Cheap & Crass's avatar

My resolution is to write more stories and go to Portland!

Chuck Palahniuk's avatar

Wait until the rain stops. Dismal here.

Cheap & Crass's avatar

Ok! Happy New Year Mr. Palahniuk!

Joe G's avatar

And don't forgot to hail more Satan lol

Logan the Lobotomizer's avatar

Mine is to write more. I’ve got catch up on these house calls.

Jake Gardner's avatar

No resolutions, only vows. It’s semantically easier for my ODD. I vow to get back in shape, read whenever I’m not writing, finish a first draft of my novel, and publish a story on Substack at least once a month. Oh, also, find a home and move. That should keep me busy.

Jake Gardner's avatar

Yeah, I had some more concerning personal growth and such, but I had to prioritize.

Auri Muir's avatar

I resolve to write a third novel and not go to the ER for anxiety.

Nivethine Mahendran's avatar

Oh, I wish you all the best in your writing journey and navigating anxiety. I’ve got a very similar resolution for this year - I made my very first 911 call in 2025 because I thought I was having a heart attack … it was panic :(

I’m hoping things get a bit easier to manage 🤞🏽

Auri Muir's avatar

Those are the worst I’m sorry. I’m sure there’s a note on my address they’ve visited so often. 😂

Sarah P's avatar

As an ER nurse - I hope no one made you feel shitty for getting checked out. You would be surprised how common this is!

Auri Muir's avatar

Bless you for being an ER nurse. Depends on the day and the staff!

Sarah P's avatar

You are welcome to shoot me a message if you want some tips for this NY resolution. I can send you some advice to help you differentiate between anxiety attack vs cardiac/respiratory emergency in the moment.

Auri Muir's avatar

That’s kind, thanks!

Jessica Moats's avatar

sendings love and understanding to anyone on the panic attack / severe anxiety spectrum. for those who have never had it they just do not get it. advice like “just breathe” is the quickest way to get me in murderous rage. have found some hope though and gives good insight it character i suppose.

Logan the Lobotomizer's avatar

I liked the malice of inanimate objects.

Iggy Thomas's avatar

James turns the mundane into pure dread. An ordinary mezzotint, slow-moving routines, then suddenly a figure appears. the quiet buildup makes the reveal hit hard. Truly brilliant!

Congrats J.Lincoln, I’ll be reading both of your pieces on here soon!

My resolution this year is to survive myself a little longer, and maybe ,just maybe be someone my past self would regret knowing less.

Chuck Palahniuk's avatar

Funny you mention that. To me, writing has always been a "vacation from being me." Once the story is up and running, I can gain enough velocity to escape the atmosphere of Planet Chuck.

Iggy Thomas's avatar

Yeah I’m realizing I don’t write to explain myself, I write to get out of my own way. Once the story has momentum the self kinda drops off, and that’s the relief.

What does Planet Chuck look like before lift off I wonder..

Chuck Palahniuk's avatar

Planet Chuck is an awful place where every cry baby whim is not granted, and all drivers are either going too fast or too slow.

John Raisor's avatar

That story about objects makes me imagine The Brave Little Toaster turned to murder. "I could use a bath too."

kay's avatar

happy new year!! my resolution is to listen to at least 1 full album a week and write my thoughts down, & start keeping a journal.

Sarah P's avatar

Drink eight glasses of water a day, and write letters to my mom.

(Haven't seen her since I was fifteen, and we just had our first conversation in 20 years!)

Nivethine Mahendran's avatar

My resolution is to read more of my peers’ work, both here and with my own writing group - I’m hoping my ability to provide more concise feedback improves.

For my own writing, I’d like to try and experiment with writing something other that short stories. I tried my hand at the baby talk flash fiction and had a ton of fun with it, so maybe I’ll keep doing more of that.

Andrew Rutledge's avatar

New Year resolution is to get my book sold to a publisher. Finally officially signed with the agent who’s been interested in the manuscript. After a few more edits, it will be time to submit. Fingers crossed!

Chuck Palahniuk's avatar

Can you share the agent's name?

Andrew Rutledge's avatar

Aram Fox at Massie McQuilkin & Altman

Action's avatar

Congrats on getting an agent! Hope all goes well with the publishers.

Cameron h petrie's avatar

“They’re too attached to it and react defensively to any feedback.”

I remember being like this when I first started out. It was a hard one to grow out of.

Matt Andersen's avatar

Looking forward to reading!

I can attest. The better I’ve gotten at critiquing (really critiquing) someone else piece, the better I’ve become at critiquing my own.

Levi Polzin's avatar

Good pick this week Chuck! I had a lot of fun examining it and thinking about how I can apply my own criticism to J’s work to my own.

Levi Polzin's avatar

Also, whatever happened to that “baby talk” piece?

Chuck Palahniuk's avatar

I was letting that stew. The flash fiction magazine seems very excited to see what's produced.

Levi Polzin's avatar

Nice, I figured as much, but I got so excited about the idea. I hope it comes to fruition! Thanks.

Bryan Wiler's avatar

you beat me to it. i've had this question (along with a paragraph-long baby talk story) sitting off to the side for a bit.

Levi Polzin's avatar

Same! I already ran mine past my writing group. I think I hit that perfect mark of what the fuck is going on and absolutely crushing you. Hopefully.🤞🏼