Category: Writing

Weekly writing check-in: brewing up some Kona blend

Just like the editing and scheduling last week, it took me a while to get everything formatted, submitted, re-submitted, and so on.

But it’s (nearly) done!

It’s weird having only two scheduled posts on my dashboard.

I’m pondering what I might do with my blog in 2021. I know I can’t maintain the one-story-per-week pace. I don’t have enough stories in reserve, either on my hard drive or in my head.

Also? I want to get back to writing longer fiction. I’m itching to dive back into Coffee & Ghosts Season 4, and I’m brewing up some Kona blend to do just that.

I have two (maybe three) spin-off series in the Coffee & Ghosts world I’d like to write.

Then there’s that fairy tale series.

A possible epic fantasy duology.

That time travel.

That cold war spy series.

You get the idea.

You can’t do it all, at least, not all at once. (I can’t anyway. No doubt there’s a writer out there who can. We’ll pretend she doesn’t exist.)

So I’m looking at picking a small number of things to focus on for 2021:

  • Definitely Coffee & Ghosts
  • A follow-on series
  • Back to blogging more (because I like blogging more than I like social media–actually, I like blogging and loathe social media. I’m terrible at social media anyway, so I might as well do something I like)

I’m leaving the list at that before I’m tempted to add even more to it.

Now for some coffee.

And some ghosts.

Weekly writing check-in: It’s going to take longer than you think

I didn’t quite get all the editing, formatting, and scheduling done last week, but I did accomplish it all this week.

Which brings me to the lesson I’ve learned (over and over again) this year:

It’s going to take longer than you think it will.

Always.

At least in my case. But then, I’m not one of those writers who likes to live on the edge, pounding out a draft an hour before the submission deadline.

That being said, I do have a jumpstart on the ebook since I’ve been adding each story to the manuscript as I finished it. This may be the second lesson because I can’t tell you how happy I am that I do not need to pull that together this week.

But will I have everything formatted and on the retail sites by next week?

Maybe … but I think lesson one applies here as well.

It’s going to take longer than I think it will.

Weekly writing check-in: Done!

Well, I am happy to report that all the stories for the 2020 Project are done! Finished! Complete!

I need to do some editing and proofing (I mean, we’re not barbarians around here).

And then there’s the post formatting and scheduling. So that’s what I hope to accomplish today.

As a result, I’m keeping this check-in extra short.

See you next week.

Weekly writing check-in: Impressive job!

So, this may be my favorite sp@m comment yet:

Keep functioning, impressive job!

In fact, I think a variation sums up 2020 fairly well.

Still functioning? Impressive job!

In actual writing news, I’m working on that very last story for the 2020 project. I finally figured out that it’s a Diamonds and Toads retelling, which is one of those fairy tales I keep coming back to. I find it unfair. I believe it’s more of a curse to have diamonds and gems fall from your mouth than toads and vipers. (Really, vipers could come in handy, especially in 2020.)

But it’s a modern retelling, so no actual toads or diamonds are making an appearance (so far). If you want actual diamonds (and some toads), there’s always An Army of Toads in my fairy tale compilation, Straying from the Path.

Next week, I hope to report that this story and the 2020 project are complete.

Weekly writing check-in: Good luck, always

I’m pleased to report that I did go on that final walk of 2020 last Sunday. On that walk, I discovered this token in the spot where I’ve found so many other of my rock “friends” this year.

It made me doubly glad I opted for that walk.

This week, I’ve been working on the last two stories for the 2020 project. Did you know that the last Friday in 2020 falls on Christmas day? This is something I’ve known from before the start of the year, and my mind has been churning, trying to conjure up a Christmas story.

I think I have one, albeit one with pirates. (Because nothing rings in the Holidays quite like a band of pirates.)

That leaves me with one story left to write. I actually have a start on it. I just don’t know how it ends.

And I really wish it were nice enough so I could go walking and ponder that.

Weekly writing check-in: this week was the longest month

On Friday, I went to fill out my timecard for work, and I stared at the date: November 2 for a good thirty seconds, confused.

Wasn’t the 2nd weeks ago, at the very least?

Apparently not.

Anyway, the week started with this gorgeous sunset on Monday evening.

And since the week ended on such a grand note, and we only have one more day left of pretend September, I’m going to skip the writing update and go take one last walk for 2020.

See you next week.

Weekly writing check-in: Happy (belated) Halloween

I spent this week working on the last two stories for the 2020 project (and so far, I’m really enjoying myself). I woke up early this morning (thanks to the time change) and spent some hours at my writing desk while the moon was setting. It was lovely.

I managed to not waste a lot of time with either sky replacement or neural filters in Photoshop. I am quite proud of my restraint.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to this week’s weather (70 degrees on Friday!) but not the following week (more snow!).

Weekly writing check-in: thunder only happens when it’s snowing

Van Gogh Snow

So, it went from cold to the middle of winter. On Monday, we ended up with +6 inches of snow. Thursday, we had that odd Minnesota concoction of snow showers with thunder. Then the sky was all orange for a bit.

This week, I was busy with the 2020 project. I have all but two stories scheduled, so I think it’s safe to say I’m in the home stretch. As of right now, the full compilation has 101,000 words. (That’s a lot of words.)

I also had a little fun with a one-off project (more about that on Monday).

In time-sink news, Photoshop has released neural filters and sky replacement. I give you the backyard, Van Gogh style.

I predict many hours wasted.

Weekly writing check-in: farewell, autumn

Another maple, showing off.

I started the week with this gorgeous girl right here. It wasn’t warm, but it certainly wasn’t cold.

Yet.

By the end of the week, I was pulling out my winter parka to walk the dogs. And my poor maple has lost most of her leaves. She’s looking chilly these days.

This week, I spent most of my time getting stories proofed and posted. I have all of November’s scheduled, and I’m into early December. I want them all up and ready to go before WordPress closes that back door to the classic editor (which I’m tying in now, quite happily, thank you very much).

So that’s my goal for the next week or two. Stories scheduled. Then I’ll deal with the new WordPress editor.

Weekly writing check-in: a little less distracted

A little less distracted this week. In fact, I’ve made it my mission not to get caught up in the doom-scrolling and such. That being said, I do like staying informed, and I love long-form journalism. So, there’s a balance to maintain.

I spent my writing part of the week working on stories and images, although I’m still giving the new WordPress editor the side-eye.

For now, I create a draft post with a title, save it, and then access it via the WordPress admin console. Voilà! Classic editor restored.

Sometimes it’s the little things.