I’m writing this on Wednesday since I’m going to be on a trip for a few days. That means limited laptop time even though I’ll have it with me. Next week, I’m going to try to rebuild a few things like doing a weekly pinned post on Twitter instead of leaving one up for months. Anyway, I’m going to get into the big stuff since I’m already rambling due to exhaustion.
Camp ended on Wednesday (which is today as I write) and it was a big push to the end. I had to pack up the games on Monday, so everything became art rooms. This was a little messy, but it kept most of the kids occupied. I was running around on the last day getting things clean or combating a headache. Furniture had to be moved, so add soreness to the list. Doesn’t help that last Friday I got a sunburn on the top of my head, which drives home the fact that my hair is thin and dying. It did the gross stuff today and I’ll leave it at that. Overall, it was a busy and memorable summer that didn’t let me get much else done after I got home. Too tired and I was still struggling with the divorce. Something about coming home to a lonely room after a hard day of work just drove home the situation. I just don’t like being lonely at this point, but that should pass. The camp job didn’t allow me to get much therapy time, but I’m going to get back to that.
Will I do this again next summer? Probably not because I need to work on getting my initial teaching certification. That means tests and a Masters program, which will take time. I want to do something with Beginning of a Hero and The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks too. Not to mention that fantasy tip book. I need to get my life in order and make time for writing. This year, I put everything else first as it should be. The summer job was a big part of that. It was a good experience and I enjoyed it, except for the pneumonia and sunburn. Nothing ever goes smoothly for me, so I knew something was going to go wrong. My son will still be going, so I might get to see the people I met this summer. That’s in the air because of the ex-wife and finances.
Going back to the writing, I’m hoping to edit War of Nytefall: Eradication before I get back to school. I can possibly do it, but I’ve already been snagged for a house project that might kill it. Maybe I can get to within a chapter or two of finishing, which I can live with and use a few nights to do. One issue I’ve got is that the series stopped selling while Legends of Windemere has taken off again. Since Clyde’s series is one of the cornerstones of the whole tapestry of Windemere, I want to see it through to the end. I also don’t have any more stories to tell in the previous series. If I stick myself with the same characters doing sequels and prequels then it means everything else I’ve got planned will be cast aside. I want to keep writing Clyde and get to Darwin Slepsnor and Sin. I have my superheroes, god origins, and the rise of Elysium. I can’t figure out what to do here, which is frustrating. There’s no marketing to explain why my first series explodes every two weeks. Really wish it could carry over to my other stuff since I write in the same style, especially Ichabod Brooks and Kira Grasdon’s solo adventure. I do appreciate the sales, so don’t get me wrong. Just curious about what it is about this one that gave it staying power.
I need to rewrite the outline for War of Nytefall: Ravenous at some point and get back to outlining fantasy tip entries. The latter might be done a bit on the trip when my son is either asleep or watching TV between outings. I can do the November blog posts too and clear that off the deck. Might be best to do that and save the other stuff for when my son is with his mother. She gets him for the end of his break since I have to get ready for another school year. That’s 7 days to edit with one going to a school orientation day, so I might be able to make it. I’m sitting here staring at my large pile of notebooks and realizing I can’t remember a lot of the stories. Do I chalk them up to death since my creativity has been crippled for just over a year? Feels like I’ve lost so much and now I’m getting mopey again. Maybe I’ll post about it next Sunday. Still can’t decide on if I want my superheroes and alien bounty hunter to show up in Windemere. I bring them up from time to time, so it might happen again.
That’s pretty much it. I need to finish laundry and packing. What are the goals for next week?
- 2 days of father/son time.
- School supply and lunch shopping.
- School orientation day.
- Editing when I can.
- Painting son’s room while he’s away.
- Resting and getting back on the exercise bike.
- Enjoy the trip even though I’ll be heading home right after this posts.
- November blog posts.
- Go through story ideas to see what gets revived in my head.
Legends of Windemere 
So sorry about the sunburn!
Wishing you an enjoyable time with your son.
Hope you meet your goals!
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Thanks. The trip is fun so far. Heading home tomorrow.
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Sorry about the sunburn. Hope you enjoy your time with your son, and get some writing/editing time in before school starts back up.
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Thanks. I’m hoping for writing time. Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen though. I can’t work if everything is against me.
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Just don’t give up hope…
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Sounds like you’re doing what must be done. No shame in that. You’ll get back to some free time eventually.
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I’m having trouble with thinking this was entirely the right path. I feel weakened physically, mentally, emotionally, creatively, and spiritually. A big reason for that is not having much free time during the last year. I’m routinely being told that it will come, but then it’s snatched away. My free time this summer consisted of 5 days coming up. I may have already lost them to a surprise painting project. Then, it’s back to work. Nobody really wants to let me rest enough to heal here.
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Sometimes you just have to say, no. Sorry, I can’t participate in what you have planned for me today.
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Some of it is work and the rest is painting my son’s room. I also run into the problem of getting pestered and guilt-tripped if I say no. If not in person then by texts, so I lose the time to that anyway. Just can’t win when other people are around.
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Hope the trip went well. With camp over maybe, you’ll have some time. When does the school job begin?
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School starts on September 3rd for me. There’s an orientation day on August 28th too. Doesn’t look like I’ll have much or any time to make real progress.
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Well, a couple days or rest anyway. (Hopefully)
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That’s my hope . . . Except for the room painting. I’m so doomed.
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😳
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Yeah. I just can’t win.
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Good the summer is over for you. Enjoy the trip with your sun. When does school start for you? Good thoughts for any time found to write. 📚🎶 Christine
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I have a welcome back day on the 28th and then the first official day is September 3rd. I get 5 days of rest that may have already been claimed by projects. People around here don’t think I need time to rest and treat my writing as a failed venture.
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Oh boy, Charles, you’ve got your time programmed for you! And no sense you need rest. Now, for the writing statement. I find people’s eyes glaze over when I just talk about writing. Or they smile, make isn’t that nice comments, and change the subject. Oh well! Try to get what rest you can! 📚🎶 Christine
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Programmed is a good way to put it. These are always events that I either can’t walk away from or will suffer a bit for doing so. I’m constantly put in no win situations when it comes to time management. The writing thing just hurts now. I had years of support when people felt like I was all talk and no action. Once I took action, most people stepped away and are now trying to kill it completely.
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I hear you, Charles! So frustrating! Really seems many people support ideas, and turn off the support when you are actually doing what you planned to do! Whatever that is. Not only with writing. Hang in there. 📚🎶 Christine
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From what I can tell, a lot of people support dreams. They’re fine with it because dreams aren’t tangible and can’t get in the way until you try to make them reality. Once that happens, they start thinking about how things can go wrong and feel that they need to play devil’s advocate. They think it helps, but it hurts.
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You got it, Charles! Like we don’t know the challenges ahead of us! We do know, we got brains, people! 🤣
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I think people who aren’t artistic tend to see it as something you can put off until retirement or just quit. They expect success in a year like other jobs. So, they walk away with a lot more ease than if they were supporting a teacher, doctor, or lawyer.
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That’s an interesting thought. And I agree! 📚🎶
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