What an august... (Patreon)

Well, may as well summarize.  This month was a mess.  I'd hoped to get a chapter of Homelands done.  Or a draft of Homelands.  Or something done before Everfree this  weekend.  That's not going to happen.  I officially lost my job and now need resecure some more solid employment.  I don't know if that means going back to Amazon or not.  Panda's okay.  She's lasted longer than the vet anticipated, but her medication's expensive and we can't increase anything so when she goes it'll be pretty quick.  Add to that that the world decided to throw every distraction possible at me and I'm pretty frustrated.

For a while I was able to deal with my writing problems by doing worldbuilding exercises.  They were creative, something that a few people liked, and gave me a feeling of accomplishing something.  What they weren't was Homelands, which is what the majority of you want and deserve.  But if this month is any indication, that's going to be a problem, and that terrifies me.  2 chapters a year is not going to conclude this story in my lifetime.  I have to do better.

Problem is, I'm not sure how.

When I was writing Horizons, I had some things that helped.  I had almost daily reader feedback.  That engagement was huge.  I don't think something like that would be possible over Patreon, but it might be over Discord.  I had editors that I was obligated to get stuff to.  I held myself to deadlines.  I used word instead of google docs.  These are all things I need to re-implement, or at least try.  I don't want to give up.

I'm going to be using this weekend to try to figure out how to tackle things.  One way is just disciplining myself and write Homelands.  Write it.  Finish it.  Be done.  The next is writing whatever comes to me, as long as it's STORY.  This is very important.  Worldbuilding isn't story.  Whether it's Homelands, Noir, or something else I need to be writing something daily.  An hour at least.  The third way is to just stop beating myself up, take a few weeks to refocus, and try to hit it refreshed and ready.

Ultimately, I want to write.  I need to.  It's the most redeeming thing I can do.  But as things are going, I'm not writing.  Case in point, I'm writing this while staring at the Homelands chapter.  But you folks are the people who have kept me going for years.  I want to do right by you, and I hope that you can help me with this.  I want to create stories for you to enjoy.  Just please give me some direction as to the method you'd prefer.

Thanks.

If you're doing Everfree this weekend, you'll be able to find me at the ORC's and Iron Author. I won't be doing much this year.  I didn't get panels submitted in time and mine fell through the scheduling cracks.  I do hope to see folks there.

Take care.

Somber.