Writing Turtles

The good news is that I've been writing this month and for the month of July & August I have written 4,168 words in probably three stories.

The bad news is that it is all over the place and so sloooow. Three stories! That's not how you're supposed to do it. Unfortunately, I'm a slave to the muse. When she says froggy, I jump.

I will say that most of that occurred in Dream Stealer so I feel a bit better about it. Honestly, I feel like I've started a new story there. I'm not writing at all on the original story, but rather, I'm writing the backstory that now feels like it is THE story. So, I have no idea what to do about that. I'm just listening to Simon and writing it all down.

The other two stories were an anthology story and a new (maybe) short story. I don't know. They just happened to present themselves so I went with it.

Does any of this ever happen to other writers? I really want to know!

I'm just so glad to be writing again, even a small amount, that I'll write whatever story my brain pulls out. I was getting seriously depressed at not being able to get the words down. Heck, I couldn't get them out of my head. They were there, sitting, gathering dust and beginning to stink. It is a relief to get rid of them.

I have some plans this week to get me moving and hopefully alleviate some of the fatigue. I don't want to go into it now. Just in case I jinks it. We'll see how that goes.

My goal this week is to see if I can get 500 words down in something that is farther along than what I've been messing with. How about Long Summer Run, whose first draft is so near completion? That's a novel idea.

Of course, I'm very aware that this sudden spate of words could evaporate if a flare hits me like a meteor shower. In a moment, I can go from feeling great to rock bottom. From 60-0. Really.

There is one other bit of good news. August isn't over for a couple of weeks. We'll see how it goes.

As I finished this post and got the title, I realized it is a play on words. Writing Turtles. Writing Hurdles. Riding Turtles. Seemed appropriate.

Don't mind me. I'm tired.

Look Forward & Setting Goals

I had a prompt for January 1 to write about what I am most looking forward to and one for the 2nd about three goals for the month. I'm going to combine those here because I don't usually blog every day.

For six months now I've been pretty much incapacitated by a ruptured disc and then surgery to correct it. Only at the end of November did I begin to feel human again. So, I can tell you I'm looking forward to feeling better.

I'm also looking forward to writing more and finishing one of the novels I have near completion. That has been a longstanding desire and health issues constantly derail me. I'm not giving up.

With that said, I think I can set three goals. I don't do resolutions because they're a waste of time for virtually everyone who sets them. Let's just get real about that. They're like constant symbols of your failure. However, a goal is much more forgiving of human frailties and foibles. You project a goal and give it your best shot. If you make it, great. If you fail, you just keep pounding at it like a giant stone and eventually you might crack it.

My Goals for 2018

1. Really read my Bible more. I've improved on that this year with the YouVerse app. I want to continue it and see if I can do even better. And coupled with it, I want to try to pray more. I need it and so does our world.

2. Be more diligent in my writing. Write more and push through the challenges.

3. Schedule my time better by scheduling appointments for my writing and studies and not let outside forces interrupt those appointments.

I think that actually a pretty thorough list of goals for me. If I can do those three things, I might have a book ready for publication by year-end. I will certainly be better organized.

One can only hope.

July 2017 Word Count Tally

I'm amazed at the July word count. Despite the inability to use my hand for nearly 3 weeks due to a pinched nerve, I did really well. It is a bit satisfying.

All of that was done in Hidden in the Mist. At least I'm pretty sure it was. I'm a little fuzzy on a few days but pretty sure.

I'm nearly through with the darn thing! Thank God! It has been a long haul and we won't talk about how many years. Thank goodness for Alice's constant prodding. As a result of it, I might have a finished draft by next weekend. Every writer needs a friend like Alice.Nag, nag, nag, prod, poke, and berate. Well, it seems to have helped a great deal.

Once this is done, my plan is to set it down and finish the other story that is nearly done. After that draft is complete, I want to start the edits on Mist.

One foot in front of the other. Step-by-step.

I'm probably done for the night because my hand is bugging me a bit. Mobility has returned to some degree but hardly any strength and limited dexterity. I can't open tear open bags, cereal bag, condiment packets, opening jars is now more than difficult. They are sending me to a neurologist to see if they can determine where the problem lies.

Still, I'm pleased with that 3491 words for July.