Before I get to my writing progress, I should say that I’m in discomfort and pain.  There was a field day this week, which resulted in being outside for 4 hours.  I didn’t put on enough sunblock and forgot my hat.  So, my forearms, scalp, back of the neck, and my forehead are burnt.  Think my nose is too.  Been using lotion to help with the healing process, but it definitely wrecked the end of my week.  Hard to focus on writing too, but I’m still trapped in a thinking stage.

The project on my plate is the outline for ‘Coven of the Gray’, which saw some progress last weekend.  I figured out the setting and what the Coven would be after.  I even found a psychological concept that involves the number 13.  Then, I began designing my protagonist with a traumatic past.  Everything was going well until I reached the end of this part and hit a wall.  I don’t want him to be a trained fighter and I see him using the severed arm of a statue as a weapon.  Yet, I can’t figure out what kind of power I want to give him that allows him to face off against the monstrous Coven members.  I was leaning towards shadows, but Mab Winthrop in War of Nytefall had that.  I kept coming close to ideas, but would get distracted by something.  It was frustrating.

Right now, I keep thinking of having him be able to absorb light and darkness depending on the terrain.  Too much of one can trigger a memory returning, which is traumatic even if it’s a good one.  Light would be a positive memory while darkness a negative one, but he needs to keep himself balanced.  There might be a part where he tries to overdo the light and it nearly kills him or causes another issue.  Of course, I don’t know how this is going to work in terms of battle.  Maybe he can use the energy to create shields against attacks and channel it through the statue arm?  I don’t want to go with invisibility, but there could be a stealth one for darkness.  I might have to design different uses for each energy.  Does this sound viable for a one-shot story?

I also can’t figure out if I want to have more than one other protagonist, which would be a woman who follows him.  She knows the area and helps by giving advice, but openly hates him without knowing why.  I was thinking of having her power be regeneration and immortality or something that prevents her from dying.  It still hurts when she takes damage and she’s not a fighter either.  Guess I don’t want her to help with the physical battles, but to be more of a guide.  There was a rival character that I considered, but it feels like the protagonist is going to have a lot on his plate with the corrupted Coven members, his returning memories, and his dangerous powers if I go that route.

Nothing else really happened this week beyond work, parenting, and some Pokemon outings.  The local library is doing an anime/game/comic convention this weekend, so I’m taking my son to it both days.  He will be in costume both times, but the rain might force one of his props to stay home.  It’s made out of a lot of cotton, which wouldn’t do well in a downpour.  It’s too big to fit under an umbrella too.  He’s entering the cosplay contest tomorrow too, so I can’t have anything happen to this stuff.  Family is coming over tomorrow as well, but that shouldn’t interfere with the contest.

This coming week is going to be busy too.  A few things have to be done in regards to an upcoming life event, which is stressful.  There’s work and parenting as well, which I feel like I shouldn’t have to say.  The weather is supposed to be rainy, so I might have to do more biking than Pokemon walks.  There’s a fun Pokemon event going on for the week too, which makes the weather extra annoying.  Still, I’ll find a way and tinker with ‘Coven of the Gray’ when I have the energy and time.  That’s been iffy during the week because I’ve been ending each day exhausted, but anxious enough that I need a little Zzzquil to make sure I fall asleep quickly.  One of the sources of my stress needs to go away at some point, but it’s going to be another few months before I can possibly get any relief.

I still plan on starting to write Darwin & the Deadland Queen once the school year is over.  I might not finish by the end of the summer, but I should be able to make some progress before a school year that is sparse in days off.  Of course, I won’t start the weekend right after school ends since that’s the big Pokemon Go-Fest event, but I’ll have the following week to get writing done.  I really should go over the story outline again and get an idea of how many days I’m looking at for finishing.  It’s never right, but it gives me a general idea.

Goals of the week:

1. Heal from sunburn.
2. Take son to convention and cosplay contest.
3. Repair costume if necessary.
4. Get sleep.
5. Finish watching ‘Falling Skies’.
6. Start watching ‘Invincible’.
7. Work on ‘Coven of the Gray’ when I have the time, energy, and focus.  (Might be difficult for the next 3 weeks since hat life event is jumping into high gear.)
8. Lego time to relax.
9. Pokemon Go or biking for exercise.