Back On The Horse…Or Yep, I'm Writing Again

Seems like these points where I end up spending much longer away from writing fiction are coming pretty regularly. Maybe they're part of my process. The honest point to make is that it probably has a lot to do with procrastination. (I know, shocker right?) Anyway, I'm back on this blog writing something of an update.

First off, I don't have any new stories finished so I can add those to the list. However, I am working on a book. In fact, I could say that I'm working on two books. I've even put tracking meters up to show the rate of my progress on these two novel projects. Does this mean I'm not writing shorts or I've given up the challenge? Short answer: Nope. Not quitting. I'll get those stories done.

I'm just trying to get firing on some new work and thought it would be nice to have the meters up here for some form of accountability. Or just for fun maybe. I definitely don't want to do if it isn't fun.

I'm working on books. I might even have  nonfiction gig ramping up soon. I'll have to see what the client says when I present estimates. I like doing the co-authored work. It's fun to stretch myself as a writer. Part of that stretching surely happens when delving once again into the kind of nonfiction subjects I've written about before but I'd also add that I plan stretching in fiction as well. Particularly genres. But, that's all further down the pipeline.

Well, that's the update, folks. I'll catch you later. My collection of short stories Other Realms: Volume One  will be out very soon so I'll put something up about that in the next week or so.

Story Challenge 2014: Update #2

The word is sluggish. I've not managed to establish momentum on this story challenge so completed stories are not coming all that quickly. Still, I have an update. I've not sent any stories out to markets yet and am thinking about waiting until they're all done before starting that phase. No hard fast rule though.

Last time I had two stories done. I'm only adding two more stories to the done list. Here's the rundown.

A WAGER IN CALDRED - 9,757 words
IN A GIANT'S EYE - 5,067 words
THERE BE MONSTERS - 7,094 words
TALE OF THE WATER THIEF - 4,572 words

So, I'm slowly plugging along. No white heat here, just slight progress. So, I have sixteen more stories to write. I'm going to take my time. I'll be back with further updates, of course. I'll be happy to finish the challenge.

Dear Writer: Pondering And Puzzling Discouragement

Dear Writer,

I'm off track again. The real world intruded on this fantasy writer and I about left writing behind. Yes, I do recognize the melodrama. I've heard that writers can be drama queens. It's probably true.

I've been discouraged lately and real life hit me with a curve ball and I'm trying to work through that. I've been wondering for a while what sort of plan I should have but keep drawing blanks. I did finish a few more short stories, and I'll list those in an update soon, but I thought about not writing anymore and maybe trying to focus on other things in life for a change.

Have you felt that way?

If you have, I'd like to hear about it. I'd like to hear from fellow writers because I honestly need to camaraderie and 'shop talk.'

I don't know what the next step will be. To write standalones or series? If series, what kind? Episodic or grand epics? Smaller epics? Sword and sorcery or high fantasy? Urban fantasy? It goes on and on. What makes it all exhausting is that I'm feeling lousy about my writing. I know that practice is the only way to get better but I'm just too damned impatient sometimes.

I want readers. I want enough readers to make this writing thing a viable career.

I want to tell deep, intense stories filled with drama, comedy, love, and action. And so on.

Maybe you want that too, dear writer. I hope you get it sorted out too. Maybe you're thinking the same for me.