Category: Writing

Updates May 16 -20

Hello,

Thank you for the likes and follows.

The work/life/day job balance is still an issue. I feel like I am only getting the bare minimum done. Which is annoying? I’m open to positive constructive suggestions, that can be left in the comments below. I am making lists of what has to be done but after the day job, I have no energy. Looking into taking vitamins for a boost and prevention of anything else. I don’t think I have stressed enough how important health is for a writer’s life.

About a week ago, I came across a Youtube Thumbnail it featured a subject I have been tossing around for months. Up until that time it had never been on my recommendation list. I felt a type of way. I didn’t watch the video despite really wanting to. Just to hear what someone else thought of the subject. I desired to not do it because my essay on it has not been published yet and I am tweaking it. It has a broad tie-in with the Lord of the Rings spin-off that is coming out later this year. I didn’t know that when I started the essay. There was the teaser and people- fans, Tolkien loyalists, all had something to say about it and it was mostly negative. I am on the fence over the whole subject. There are people who wish the LOTR spin-off to reflect RR Tolkien, I believe that sentiment is understandable but also impossible. We live in different times than when Tolkien made up this world. I think that his work, despite it being phenomenally good, has unintended biases. It was something that was inescapable because of where he grew up and what he believed in. One of the main things about Tolkien’s work is that there is a distinct line between good and evil. These days audiences are aware of the gray character and redemption arcs. Anyone of these arcs will interest some fans and not others. It all depends on who is more vocal.

Over the weekend, I made a list of my writing projects. There are several in various stages of development. I am reading them and making notes for later. Connection Lost is still the main story of this quarter. The writing goal is to complete the dinner table scene. The writing projects will require more planning.

Instead of listening to audiobooks or reading online, I started to read two Korean manhwas. Graphic novels were created by Korean artists and writers. Many are based on webnovels and many of them are later adapted to live-action K-dramas. The two that caught my eye over the weekend were The Thorn that pierces on Tappytoon and How to Hide the Emperor’s Child on Tapas. Both stories are fantasies but they are also very different in execution. Both are ongoing series, so I will talk about the first five episodes at a later date.

That is all I have to type to write today. I hope that you all are doing well. Now more than ever we need to be kind to each other and stay positive.

End

Update May 09-13

Hello,

Thank you for the likes and follows. Sorry for the late edition.

I almost had a writing/life/day job balance. Things went left and I am in a bad mood. This is disappointing since the weather for today appears to be good and nothing like the picture for this entry. I am completely behind on the work that I have to do. It is clear to me that I’m in a bit of a self-sabotage rut. The best part of becoming aware is when you have the energy to change. Earlier this year I wouldn’t have posted anything. Lament about not keeping my goals next week. It may not be perfect but I am glad this post will come out today. I am striving for writing to be a career not just something I do with my free time. So I write for better or worse. Today is worse but it is getting better.

In writing news, not much is going on. I am working out scenes for the story. I am using writing prompts as a catalyst. Not sure if that is the correct word but that is how I am using them to produce non-linear scenes for Connection Lost. One of the things I wanted to put into the stories with this main character is that she is not alone. Often in urban fantasies, the main character is an orphan, an only child, and a loner. He or she may gain a family later on and one or two of them might be blood-related. But the character is always alone in some form. Now that I wrote that, my character also has a form of loneliness about her, despite her literally not being alone. It is something she believes; it is not true and during the course of the story, she’ll get an epiphany.

While listening to an author’s weekly podcast, I noticed that she did more planning for her books than I did. I decided to try her method, it might prove to be difficult because I started the writing project already but I do have stories in development that could benefit from this. I will try to keep you all updated on that status.

In reading news, I started to relisten to an audiobook I wanted to write a review. I thought I had everything I needed to write a review but when the time came to start. I avoided it like the plague. That does not speak well of me. I started to read and listen to other books. That was a mistake. Especially since I have a direction I want this blog/website to take. I will do better.

These are the goals for this week to do better than last week. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I wish every the best. Please remember to be kind and say yes to every positive opportunity.

End.