So this was basically my first full week of taking a break from writing big projects. I somehow ended it with a stomach bug and feeling exhausted. Part of this is because I keep waiting up before 6 AM and my son doesn’t get on the bus until 9 AM. It’s a big chunk of time where I’m wrangling home and having to watch the clock. So there’s no sleeping in or even easing into the day. Such is parenthood though. Did I achieve anything?
Legends of Windemere
Took 2-3 days, but I fixed up the outline for Book 13. A lot changed and some stuff wasn’t clear. This means I can dive into it once I feel like my break has been long enough. Not sure if I’ll tackle this, Ichabod, or Dawn in January. I still have no idea what’s going on with Legends of Windemere: The Mercenary Prince. I still hope to release it before Christmas, but it isn’t looking likely. Just can’t win in this arena. Kind of scared that my plan to release 3 of these books a year and finish up by Christmas 2017 is not going to happen. For some reason, ending the book in March or April 2018 doesn’t have the same oomph. Hopefully I’m just being paranoid though and things turn out for the best.
Ravens’ Game
I created a story and cast for the sequel to Raven’s Hold. Basically, Dawn and Corvus are running a resort/hotel that has multiple locations. The building is really an intricate pocket dimension that has memory wipes and other things to prevent the guests from realizing that they are hanging out with people who think they are in another location. For example, you might be staying there while enjoying Hawaii and the person staying in the room next to you thinks they’re in Toronto. Anyway, Dawn is getting bored and makes a challenge with Corvus. 9 special guests have been invited and the two see who can eliminate the most. Dawn has to do it through intricate kills that are not by her own hand while Corvus must drive them insane. If Dawn wins, she’ll reveal Corvus to the entire world. If he wins then she’ll always ask permission before causing trouble.
The challenge right now is figuring out how to organize this. I have 14 characters to juggle here and that seems chaotic. I was thinking of having it be that you get introduced to all of them at once then it focuses on one or two at a time. Basically, you say hi to all of them and then follow one until Dawn or Corvus gets them or they escape the resort. Pick one character as the new ‘Ian’ that wanders from story to story. This would turn it more into a short story set up than the single story of Raven’s Hold. What do people think?
Thanksgiving and Holiday Recess . . . or is this Winter Recess?
This week is Thanksgiving, but we’re not doing the family thing until next Saturday. So I’m not sure what’s going to happen this coming week. Probably a lot of cleaning, which is what I’m doing today and tomorrow to get my part of the workload done. I’ve come to be ‘eh’ on Thanksgiving. Don’t like the taste of turkey, gorging has lost its appeal, and being part of the clean up crew definitely makes it feel more like a chore than a fun event. Not to mention it results in a week or two of leftovers. Seriously, I didn’t like the turkey when it was out of the oven. The microwave isn’t going to make much of a difference.
Not long after that will be my son’s 2 week Holiday Recess that finishes 2015. It’s bizarre this school year. He has Holiday Recess now. Then there’s Winter Recess in February (1 week), Easter Recess in March (3 days + weekend), and Spring Recess in April (1 week). I don’t remember getting this many days off when I was in school. This is a whole parental rant that will lead to Common Core, standardized tests, and the idiocy of both. Let’s forget I mentioned it.
What’s the plan for this week?
- No idea.
Seriously, I don’t know because of the holiday and my own exhaustion. I don’t know how I could be on ‘vacation’ and still be tired to the point where my waking hours are filled with a fog. I guess it doesn’t really work when you still have a bunch of people and noise in the house. Maybe I’ll get lucky and a surge of creativity will hit. Though with my luck it’ll be when I’m unable to write.
Legends of Windemere 
The goal looks attainable. 🙂
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It’ll be tough, but I think I can pull it off with minimal injuries.
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Ha ha ha
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Try to enjoy it. I roughed out a couple of micro-fiction pieces, did some first pass edits on my novel, and did some reading this month. The short stuff came from the Muse, so I tapped them out before I forgot them. Big push projects always come up. I’m enjoying the time between my big promotional push and worrying about my next publication.
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Once the Ravens’ Game outline is done, I have nothing even remotely heavy on my plate. Probably whittle away at the Sin notebook to get that in a decent position. I’d like to avoid worrying about the next publication, but not knowing when that is causes stress. I think I need the smaller projects to help distract me. When I’m just resting in front of the TV, my mind wanders to panic mode.
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You like video games. Try that to override the feelings.
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All the controllers are broken and the systems are older than my son. 😦
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Online? I’m trying here. Maybe a bit of micro-fiction or poetry?
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Thanks. I’ll see what I can find. Most online games (outside of MMOs) are rather quick. Might just need to find a lengthy TV series that the library has on DVD. The kid will be home by Thursday though. That will probably take over most of my time.
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Sometimes your brain just needs a “time out”!! I believe it has to fall back and regroup!! There is always so much going on around the Holidays!! Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Charles and an even better Merry Christmas or would it be Happy Hanukah (sp)? Whatever Holiday you celebrate, let it be special! Take care.
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It would be Hanukkah, but the wife celebrates Christmas. Honestly, we just give the kid his present and then decide on what to do that day. This year might revive the tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas day since the kid has proven he can behave in a theater.
As for the brain, I think it just needs quiet. The idea is there, but there’s always a loud crash whenever I come close. How people keep dropping dishes, knocking over pans, or slamming doors with such timing is beyond me.
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Hang in there and keep fighting the good fight. You always attain your goals. Remember to take care of you. ❤
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Thanks. Taking care of me seems to get tougher and tougher this year. But I’ll try my best.
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Good. You deserve it!
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Try to enjoy what free time you can steal. Like others have already mentioned, just watching movies, tv, or doing nothing might help you recharge your batteries so you can get done what you need to during the rushed holiday season.
Totally there with you about thanksgiving. It was really cool when I was a kid and ate, played, and watched football while everyone else worked, but now that I’m the one doing everything it just seems like another work day to me. I try to make the best of it though, because I am thankful for lots of things and want my kids to have good memories of it like I do.
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Steal seems to be the best word for it. It’s always crowded around here, so there’s no refuge for me to escape to. That ends up wearing a person down after a while.
My family never did the ‘what are you thankful for?’ thing. So that part of the holiday never got locked into me. Weird that it never came up beyond school assignments.
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I’m just seeing this on the 23rd. I hope you’re feeling better.
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Feeling better, but we’ll see how chaotic things get with the holiday coming.
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