Category: Musings

Updates May 02-07

Hello,

Thank you for the likes and follows.

It is official. I did not win Camp Nanowrimo. I don’t feel bad about it. I am glad I was able to write the words I did. Due to external circumstances, I went as far as I could go. I won’t go into details, I will add that this is the most active I have been outside of my house in 2 years. Since I’ve been sick, I couldn’t do several things by myself. This April that changed. So positive vibes all around.

Not sure I’ve mentioned this before but I’m watching Moon Knight on Disney plus. I like the show. I was hooked on the first episode. Moon Knight has a strong tie to Egyptian mythology. I heard that this week will be the last episode, I am not sure. Watching it has given me some ideas for the story I have been developing based on Egyptian mythology and shapeshifting. I am doing research. I am still working on Connection Lost. I count my stories by scenes. I am up to scene 3 in this story.

I feel that I am repeating myself. Last year, when I was working on Star Crossed, the Nanowrimo project for November. I have not given up on that story. There were some issues I didn’t understand about my characters in Star Crossed. I have worked out some of them but not all of them. The meanwhile story is Connection Lost. I have other stories in my head milling about and I want to work on them all. But I don’t have the time, energy, or mental capacity. The solution I have decided on is to have a main story and a developing story. I work on them during the quarter. Make evaluations and changes at the end of the quarter. Everything else, stray ideas for other stories go into an idea book in the back of my planner. This is a new attempt to keep focus. I am optimistic about the results.

In reading news, I put a pause on listening to Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh. I have completed another urban fantasy series by Helen Harper and will most likely write something about them. Helen Harper has a comical take on the genre and I have some thoughts on the subject. I don’t have a time when it will be published. Another task that will have to be cleared up this week. I have two reviews that need to be completed and posted and there is an essay I am nervous about sharing. The plan is to release it this month, everyone cross our fingers.

That is all I have to say about writing, reading and writing life. If there is anything you want to add please leave a comment or suggestion. I am always up to learn how to improve this website. I wish us all a great week, full of kindness and opportunity.

End.

Updates April 25-30

Hello,

Thanks for the likes and follows.

The third week of April, got kind of overwhelming for me and it was too much. I didn’t post anything on the website. It was like a mini reset. I knew that signing up for Camp Nanowrimo was going to be a struggle. I actually thought I was prepared. I am not sure if the terms I have used in the past to talk about my life when it is not about writing are understood or not. There is the writing life and everything else. It is slightly different from the term day job because I’m not being paid to live. Just calling it life seems so generic. I had made an agreement to complete a job. It took up more time than I thought it would. Something had to suffer and it turned out to be the website. Last week was when I finally came out of denial.

I was a little disappointed in myself. I make promises to maintain this website all the time. I miss my goals more than I reach them. I thought that by the second quarter of the year I would have my stuff together. It is hard to remember that it is the process, not the destination, that truly matters. The silver lining of writing is that there was progress in Connection lost. I have moved on from part one to part two of the story. On average I write about 500 words every couple of days. I will continue to write this story until the first draft is complete. I won’t make any predictions but I will prepare for the miss.

I wrote about relistening to the Bedwyn saga by Mary Balogh in my last update. I am going through the historical romance slowly. I am up to book 3, Slightly Scandalous. The female lead was a jilted fiancee in another series. One of the reasons I was intrigued with Mary Balogh’s books was how she treated beta characters. I once had a large number of her books in hard copy. I bought the Bedwyn saga ebooks the first time I bought a nook. I liked her books because although the female leads were beautiful they were not diamonds or described as such. They were usually older than 18 years and sensible. There was a time in historical romances when all the female leads were too beautiful and wild women yearning to be tamed by the right man. I know what that sounds like. All my feminist hackles are raised. I think my love for these stories speaks of the skill of the author. I should be jealous. hose were stories I liked at one time.

The other series that I got interested in is called Fractured Faery series by Helen Harper. The comic urban fantasy is also set in the United Kingdom. It is funny and unlike anything, I have read before in the genre.

Before we know it this week will be over. I will have to make some adjustments for May. It looks like I will be acquiring a day job. I’m not sure yet how it will affect my writing. I am hoping it will be positive.

That is all I have for this update. I hope this finds you all doing well. Remember to be kind and be ready for the next opportunity.

End