(Crossposted from my site.)

We've once again come upon the ending of another year. And, in order to fight my time blindness and remind myself that I actually have accomplished things, I'm going to once again review my 2024 year!

The two big negative things that I want to get out of the way are as follows: the election results, and my parents telling me that, if I ever plan to go on HRT, I'm going to have to leave. Not just I can't do HRT under their roof, which, don't get me wrong, would be shit enough – that if I ever plan to take HRT ever in the future, whether that was under their roof or not, I would have to leave their house now. Thankfully, I've started building a plan to move in with my significant other, where I could go on HRT. But jeez. Somebody's sealed their fates in the retirement home.

Anyhow! For writing-related accomplishments: I completed my Rough Draft Month goal in November of 20,000 words! This is the first accountability challenge like it that I've met the goal of, so I'm very pleased. I also participated in multiple zines and fandom events. I was a writer for Pokemon Winter Wonderland II (set to be released this month!), and for Transitioning to Joy, a Danganronpa zine about trans characters (which I actually completed in 2023, but the mods suddenly went silent for months on end before suddenly releasing it this year). I participated in my first-ever fandom exchange (the Consumed By Desire Flash Exchange), and I did my first fandom bingo, too (the People with Disabilities Drabblefest Bingo)!

In terms of art, I was the artist for a project made for the Fuck Capitalism 2024 Jam, Produce Prophet! I also made an independent zine titled "Just Like Me (for real, for real)", which is a collage-esque digital zine about canonically queer characters that make me feel seen.

In my personal life, I graduated college this year! (Finally!) And, equally if not more impressive, I officially Twitter (and co) this year! I deleted my art Twitter and Instagram due to their bullshit policies on training AI on your content, without the ability to opt out. Scumbags. Instead, I've joined BlueSky as an artist (where I've nearly regained my original Twitter following, in a fraction of the time!), and Sheezy.Art, where I'm really enjoying myself. I also started posting more regularly on Dreamwidth this year, which I've been having a lot of fun with. The bingo and exchange I participated in were from there! I've been a lot happier since I officially quit Twitter. It's sort of insane. In the words of food house: "Get your ass off Twitter 'cause it gives you fucking MENTAL ILLNESS!!!"

In terms of fandom events, I got really into Dead Plate, Dungeon Meshi and Alien Stage this year, which all remain as my main fixations at the moment!

Splatoon 3's DLC, Side Order, came out this year, too, and it was absolutely fantastic!! My Nintendo year in review actually showed me that I spent the most time gaming on my Switch in February, which not-so-coincidentally coincided with Side Order's release, hehe. Also, thanks to the active Splatfests, I was super into playing Splatoon basically all year! The Grandfest, of course, took place this year, and, even though we lost, I was proud to be a Present Ruler! (Speaking of, I should get on playing again, I've gotta start grinding Conch Shells for Frostyfest…)

I can't, of course, leave out the Pokemon megaleak. It was basically the biggest Pokemon event of the year! I'm still of the opinion that, like, basically all of it should have been released in an artbook ages ago, and GameFreak would've made absolute bank. But instead, GameFreak wanted to gatekeep it all. I don't support the leakers, because they definitely leaked some very private information about GameFreak employees, but also, hey, you reap what you sow. I was a bit sad that there wasn't more Galarian stuff in the leaks, but I was super happy with the information we did get! It was all super cool.

In 2025, I plan to do Get Your Words Out (which is an all-year event to help motivate people to write a certain amount per month – I pledged the Backpacker plan, myself), and hopefully get my driver's license!

Those aren't resolutions, though. More just loose plans. I don't really like New Year's resolutions, because I feel like most of them fall off by February, and most of them are immeasurable. But, I do want to start the New Year off with some reminders to myself! So, reminder to me: in 2025…

Be a student of what you admire!
Do it badly rather than not at all!
Know that guilt and shame are not productive!
Be cringe, because that's better than being mean!
Make bad art!
You can't commit suicide, because the internet will be SO FUNNY the day that Trump dies!
Do it scared!
And, as always, remember that you were not put on this world to entertain people!

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