Not Overlooked (This Time) October Update

Hey guys,

I remembered the update, and it wasn’t overlooked in case you were worried. This one’s structured a bit differently than usual. But in case you’re new, each month I break down the good, the bad and the ugly of what I’ve been up to.

What have I been writing?

This month I have been hard at work at Hollow’s Heist to an almost unhealthy degree. For those who may have forgotten, I’m attempting to finish a second draft in 100 days. The deadline is Dec 21st at 3am EST.

Luckily, the last two weeks I scaled back if only a smidge. My workload has been dense, leading to very little social life. Every day I wake up, edit, race to work, come home, edit, and sleep only to start the routine over again.

However, I’ve made a point of taking a few breaks. Tuesday night D&D and Online Church have been my two constants for refreshing myself and a friend recommended a TV show that I’ve enjoyed recently to binge while I eat. It’s inspired me with new ideas for Lafonda and Leo’s world and another secret project I had concocted.

What have been the results?

I’m roughly 100,000 words in out of a projected 165,000 to (more realistically) 170,000 words. After I cut chapters, I accidentally skewed the numbers. Whoops! So, with 40 days until my deadline, I still have a ways to go. I’m hoping to polish another 20k this weekend before two upcoming gatherings, which are much needed breaks.

What have I learned?

Before I can explain what I’ve learned, I suppose I should say how I’ve been. Honestly, I felt a bit frustrated and exhausted. Until I pulled back to 10k from 20k a week, it felt like I was getting nowhere despite trying my hardest. I barely tread water. Now I’ve enjoyed the process a bit more. Cutting back helped refresh me a bit to keep going.

So I’ve had to relearn the obvious: I’m not a machine. Breaks are good, lol.

As much as I want writing to be my full-time job. I’m not there yet. And that hurts, because I want to be, but stressing myself up the wall spells a bonafide recipe for burnout… again.

I have to humble myself and admit I can’t do everything.

So what’s next?

I think once this class is over, I may take a short break. Write, but not push too hard. Several projects clutter the back burner and hopefully none will spoil on simmer, if you know what I mean.

For now, I need to hit 10/12k words a week, if I want to meet my deadline. Meaning if I intend to at all reduce my workload, I must try harder at least one more week. This has me worried I could fall back into the same hole.

Luckily, I had formed a new strategy, and until Microsoft updated, it was working. I find it kinda funny actually.

Some encouragement

I have a little story to share that made my week. Last Saturday I had some peer revision on a chapter. While some rightfully said I need to break down the scene’s spacing and imagery in more detail, but everyone said my story never ceased to amaze them with how imaginative it was. Did you catch that? Imaginative! The very same word I had twisted against me about this time last year in a contest that my characters were unimaginative. (Yes, I’m still a little sore about this.)

But hearing that, it was the most encouraging thing, like God placed a note in my lunch bag. This means I’m improving. Book by book, chapter by chapter, I’m getting better and I’ve found lovely people like you who are willing to read my stories, and I’m grateful for you all.

I guess my point is thank you guys for reading. There have been times I wish I could burn my books because they aren’t working, but you guys have offered me encouragement to keep going. Editing has been hectic and I needed this pick-me-up. Someday “I’ll make it” as an author, but by then we’ll have done it together. Through muck and confetti, it’ll happen.

As my co-worker has been quick to point out, I’m impatient, lol.

Special Shoutouts

One of my fellow Active Alumni Writers published his first book, Of Scales and Fur by John King 

I’ve had the luxury of reading the early editions and have enjoyed them. Full disclosure, I haven’t finished the final version. Nor am I being paid to promote this. I genuinely enjoy his characters and his world and think others may as well.

His book’s about Shiva, a dog dramatically transformed into a magical creature called a demi-wolf and finding her place in the world with her newfound magic called the pack link. There’s also this war between dragons, humans, and demi-wolves that she’s precariously caught in the middle of. Again, it’s very unique and not your typical “not-middle-earth” fantasy.

Here’s a link to his book if you’d like to give it a shot.

Also the lovely author Lori Lee Palmer got her first publication in the Florida Writer Magazine! So this month’s been pretty exciting for our circle of writers. A link’s below for her site to check it out.

First Publication! – Lori Lee Palmer

More from this month

One last piece to note. If you’re interested in a more in-depth peek at some cut pieces of Hollow’s Heist, here’s a link below to my website.

Click here.

Otherwise, thank you for reading!

Antonio