This song hit after I made last Saturday’s post, so I couldn’t choose it. Still, it acts as a theme for the week. Just felt a little bit off once I went back to work. Think the cold and stress of other things were acting as anchors.
Nothing really happened this week because I couldn’t. I had to get into work after a break, so make up tests and such. My son missed 2 days of school, so the later half was all about helping him get caught up and situated. The mask mandates ended, so there was some tension in the air at first. Due to his autism and anxiety, my son wasn’t very thrilled with this, so he’s still wearing his. I’m doing it too for another week or so just to make sure things are going smoothly. Beyond all of that, I didn’t do anything else of note because it was all work.
Yup . . . I finished the hand edits for Slumberlord Chronicles: Darwin & the Fate Bracelet. That was early on after binging over the weekend. I’m still nervous about this character, so I might go back to Teaser Tuesdays for this in June. The National Holiday things are fun, but not bringing in any sales, so I can do them sporadically. I can toss out a few teasers for Do I Need to Use a Dragon?, which may be out in the fall or winter of this year.
I can’t get my brain to work on all creative cylinders lately. I mean, I enjoyed the editing, but now I’m scared about trying to write a book. It’s not like I haven’t figured Darwin out enough to get him right. He’s still a challenge because he needs to be effective and easily distracted. He needs to solve problems while causing trouble. He needs to be able to interact with villains to show the plot without getting into long conversations or pissing them off within minutes. I realized how easily a serious or arrogant character lost their temper with Darwin, which I think is how those kinds of people really deal with someone like him. I think that’s still at the crux of my nervousness too.
You see, I’m happy with how Darwin has come out. He works very well. I just know he can ruffle feathers, which hurts for a character like him. Maybe I’m overprotective since he’s so innocent. Him getting yelled at or hurt is similar to seeing a child getting abused, so it gets my blood a little hot. Darwin is also a source of comedy, which people can see as insulting. It’s such a major balancing act that I don’t think I can ever be 100% confident that I’m hitting the right mark. This is why the teasers in June might help out.
Nothing else really happened. I watched ‘Arcane’ on Netflix, which was pretty cool. I don’t know the game, but that didn’t take away from it. I played some video games when I had some down time during the week. That’s it. I wish I had something more exciting to report, but that’s it. The usual doubt, frustration, fatigue, and a small report on what I’m watching on TV.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been watching the news a bit too. Well, more that I’m looking at what people involved in the big events are saying and doing. It’s stressing me out, but I know I shouldn’t look away. So much going on and it’s all scary. Can’t even sugarcoat any of it because that feels like a pointless deception. This shit is happening in our lifetime and that’s fucking insane to me.
Goals of the week:
- Weekend of fun with the son.
- Work.
- Start preparing May posts. Anybody have topic suggestions?
- Watch more ‘Magi’ anime.
- Hydrate is still on the list.
- Start typing in the edits of Slumberlord Chronicles: Darwin & the Fate Bracelet.
- Go over the outline for Slumberlord Chronicles: Darwin & the Halfling Hunt
- Sleep
Legends of Windemere 
I’ve got nothing. I am able to work on fiction, so I kind of retreat into that. My goals are to survive. As far as posts go, I’m down to one or two per week.
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Survive is definitely high on the ‘to do’ list.
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Charles, Darwin can’t be all innocent. He does need character flaws. But, how he deals with what he does is important. Some steps forward, some steps back. Aren’t we supposed to make some of our main characters suffer a little? I had to amp that up in my book! Have a good weekend. 📚🎶 Christine
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Innocent isn’t the same as perfect though. Also, we don’t have to make them cry and break all the time. Some might not have the full understanding to realize what’s going on. Darwin isn’t a character I can torture and have him continue on like my previous main heroes. If he breaks then that’s the end because of his innocent nature.
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Got it, Charles. You know your characters well, and they can help out with the writing. I sometimes have a chat with mine and we come to mutual agreements. 🤣
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I try to do that with Darwin. He doesn’t understand. The character is designed to see the world and use a logic unique to himself, but weird and child-like to others. So, I can’t have him act like one would expect.
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That’s a challenge, Charles. Darwin sounds like a great character that you created. 📚📚Christine
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This shit is happening in our lifetime along with a lot of other shit. It never seems to end.
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I could have sworn it’s just been the last 3-4 years where things have gone total shitstorm.
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There were duck and cover nuclear exercises in grade school and the air raid warnings, Bay of Pigs, Cuban missile crisis, Iranian hostages, Vietnam, Kent State, Inner city riots. I know you were there for 9/11. Seems it has been one thing after another.
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I guess. Just feels like we’ve had a pandemic, brewing WW3, economic upheaval at home, and other things in one short period.
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They’re no longer insisting on masks as much here either. It makes me even more reluctant to go out than I already was. On the one hand I’m glad people are having the freedom of choice. On the other hand I know most people are going to decide it means they can go back to pre-pandemic rules, and I feel like it’s not safe for that to happen. Good thing I prefer to stay away from people who aren’t in my computer as a rule anyhow.
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I spent two weeks still wearing a mask. Numbers didn’t go up, so I might stop while I’m at work. Public areas like stores are still worrisome.
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