What are your personal projects for 2018?
I’m so eager for the new year to begin that I’ve been going around asking friends about their plans for 2018. You have to have projects, especially if you feel that the world is going to hell in a hand basket; otherwise you may as well bury yourself. (This would be a really good time for aliens, as in extraterrestrials, to make themselves known).
Robert Alejandro designed the very first Twisted book. We had planned on a catch-up lunch in the new year, but even before we had agreed on the details, I ran into him. I was ten minutes early for a lunch appointment, his lunch appointment had finished fifteen minutes early, and my lunch appointment was thirty minutes late. In short, we had catch-up time! So I’m adding to my list: Make another book with Robert.
The next day I had my catch-up lunch with Ige Ramos, who designed Twisted 2 and nearly every one of my books after that. In the last decade Ige has become well-known food historian, for which I take credit because who do you think hounded him to write? Ige has designed hundreds of books, but this year, his first self-authored book, Republic of Taste: The Untold Stories of Cavite Cuisine, will finally be published.
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At lunch with my first workshop group yesterday (Nearly all of us finished our novels! Absent: Angus, who was out of town), I asked everyone to write down their big projects and pose for photographs: this way there is a record and a reminder of what they have to do. (Click photos to read the lists.)
Deo is our group editor.
Roni has traveled across Southeast Asia alone and can change her clothes anywhere and in public under a malong.
Evan was meeting the in-laws and decided to go floral.
Allan went to Iran this year and made us all inggit so we are planning to visit Iran in 2019.
By the way, Allan is setting up an Instagram account for my feline overlords, and we’re launching tomorrow.
This just in from Pat in Bangkok.
I had an intense 2017. Some of it was terrible, full of uncertainty, waiting, and eating oatmeal. Some of it was fantastic, full of possibilities and good company. I made good on the promises I made to myself in 2016: to write a novel, check, and to never write another column again, check.
I’ve already started writing the second novel. Since the Twisted book series is out of print, I’m going to edit and rearrange the essays by subject, then reissue the anthologies in new designs. The second volume of Twisted Travels will be out by June or sooner. My travel show with Pepe Diokno restarts with a very funny tour of the Czech Republic. I’m working on my World Domination Project lecture-performance with Raya Martin; we premiere in February in Japan.
This list is for the first half of the year. Over-scheduling works for me.
What are your personal projects for 2018?
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My feline overlords’ Instagram is up.
Saffy, Drogon, and Jacob announce each new post.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
December 31st, 2017 at 17:41
Happy new year, Jessica! And thank you!
December 31st, 2017 at 17:44
eztv: I took a road trip with Raya and Gian the other day so I know about your new job (My spies are everywhere). Have a great year!
December 31st, 2017 at 19:47
here’s to plans! happy new year, jessica!
December 31st, 2017 at 21:36
boomerang kid: Remember that if a decade has passed and the plan is nowhere near fruition, it’s a fantasy.
Plan: I will read all of Proust.
Fantasy: I will win the Wimbledon singles.
Have a good year!
January 1st, 2018 at 02:36
Happy New Year, Jessica! See you soon.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:36
Happy New Year, Jessica, and to all your readers!
January 1st, 2018 at 13:18
Chus: Enjoy the actual La La Land!
January 1st, 2018 at 13:19
howcomebubblegum: What book you’ve been planning to read will you get around to this year?
January 1st, 2018 at 21:49
I’m a few days behind on Proust (was targeting to finish Sodom and Gomorrah yesterday; didn’t happen) but I think I’m gonna finish reading the entire thing this January. That’s my only plan for this year; the rest will come soon enough. I didn’t plan on being unemployed when entering 2018 yet here we are.
Maybe I’ll start a Medium account about Proust: I’m going to post quotes from In Search of Lost Time and then reflect on it, a bit like the de Botton book. I’m already thinking of the titles, “Proust doesn’t believe you will find true love on Grindr or Tinder”, “Proust wants you to stop saying ‘amazing’ and ‘literally'”.
Happy new year!
January 2nd, 2018 at 07:59
Hmmmmm good question! Maybe Ulysses (third try) or Midnight’s Children (second). Last year, I tried to read more female authors and I think I did well. This year I’ll try to read more Pinoy fiction or nonfiction. Any recommendations?
January 2nd, 2018 at 13:02
howcomebubblegum: I read Ulysses in college because I hated the teacher. It was worth it. This is helpful:
https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/biblioklept.org/2010/06/16/how-to-read-james-joyces-ulysses-and-why-you-should-avoid-how-to-guides-like-this-one/amp/
I love Isabelo’s Archive, a collection of historical musings by Resil Mojares, and the short story collection A Normal Life by Reine Melvin, who is Pinay.
January 2nd, 2018 at 14:20
2018 Projects
1. Travel with family
2. Re-launch my career lol
3. Start saving/investing
January 5th, 2018 at 06:43
Write more short stories, force people to read them, read more fiction. Have a fantastic year jz!
January 5th, 2018 at 13:40
willyliangco: Or expand your short story into a novel of your college years! The 90s are all the rage.
January 7th, 2018 at 00:20
Raya did mention he’s directing your performance art show in Japan! Hi Raya! As for 2018 goals: write more (and not care if people won’t read it/like it). Can’t wait to read your new books! Thank you and have a fantastic 2018!
January 15th, 2018 at 18:42
2018 Goals
1. Paint one painting per quarter
2. Save for a tiny house (yes to really start saving :))
3. Continue with healthy lifestyle
January 16th, 2018 at 14:58
Since I’m supposed to be a, uh, “journalist,” I’ve embarked on a nonfiction binge read, mostly Pulitzer/National Book Award winners/finalists.
And write more! Haven’t written enough last year. Not even a journal. Yikes.
January 16th, 2018 at 22:01
oriames: Email us photos of the paintings!
January 16th, 2018 at 22:04
geeksturr: If you write journalism for a living and read journalism outside of work, it feels like an obligation. Read something that has nothing to do with work! Reading should be fun. Check out Ted Chiang’s stories, they’re perfect for these deranged times, yet calming and hopeful.