Well it is a time for decisions I think, but before I get into that let me give you a little update on where I am with all of my various projects.
The story is progressing along nicely and I recently introduced a new character who will hopefully add a different form of tension to the story in addition to all of the innate tension that goes with life in a post-apocalyptic world. I really feel like the story is coming along now and the main character is developing into something more than he started out as, and isn’t that the way it should be going? Something about the story is really driving me right now and I feel it pulling me like none of my other projects are. I’ve been sharing one part a week for some time now and I’m wondering if I should pick up the pace on the writing and/or the sharing.
TWISTED IN TWO (the tentative title for my fantasy novel)
I have written more on this than on any other project, turning an early attempt at novel writing into something bigger and I think better than it had started off as, but as I’ve been working on it I have felt the focus of the story shifting dramatically, to the point where the old outline of the story may no longer even be relevent. I hate to lose the momentum on this one, but I’m starting to think that I should stop working on this one for now, re-do the timeline and flesh out some of the new character information before I continue on and turn the story into a rambling mess. This one is my baby and I’m worried about leaving it alone for too long.
MARCH WRITER’S CHALLENGE
I have started working on my participation piece for my March Writer’s Challenge and I’m liking what I have going, but I think it may turn out longer than I expected. I’m okay with long, but it needs to stay within the criteria and I need it to be done on time. I should be all right with that and I want it to be good. Even though I am not eligible to win the challenge, it is my contest and I’d really like to not look like a complete hack when compared to everyone else. I decided to take the piece down a dark road and I’ve managed to work in a number of the words/concepts listed in the challenge so I’m doing pretty well with it, but it may just end up being left dangling…a scene of something bigger that I may add to over time. I kind of like the idea. I can try and revisit the world and characters whenever I participate in another contest….
I have completed five book reviews since I started doing them and I am reading King Whisperers by Kerwin Swint for my next review and it is a little departure from the others. My first five were all fiction, but this one is not. I’m not a fact checker and I have stated previously that all of my reviews are based on how well I like the book in question, so when I post the review you’ll all know exactly what I thought of the book, but not if what he says is true…I’m taking it on faith that the man did his research and did not twist the facts to suit his own ends.
So where am I going with all of this? Well to be honest I’m feeling like I’ve spread myself a little too thin and that I’m jeopardy af failing at all of my writing because I have taken on too much at once. In addition to my writing I have a wife and two kids that I devote a lot of my time to and while I would love to be a professional writer who can live off of any money made writing, I am not, and so I have a full-time job I have to deal with. Don’t get me wrong here. I am not throwing myself a pity party and I don’t expect any sympathy. So why am I sharing all of this with you? I share this with you because I would love to hear from you about times you have taken on too much with your writing and how you managed to deal with it. I have a pretty good Idea about what I am going to do, but hearing from you would be great and help remind me that I’m not out there alone.
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A.M. Kuska
I have a full time job, 2 blogs, a dog, about a million hobbies, a husband, and soon to be a kid. I block out time to write by working on my stories when everyone else is asleep. It’s just so much easier than dealing with the constant whining that starts up the second my eyes are fixed on something else. (The hubby, not the dog. 😉
Eric Swett
I try to do the same thing…I wait for everyone to go to bed or I work early in the morning before everyone else is up. Daylight Savings time has really put a hit on my morning writing though since I haven’t finished adjusting to the new time yet.
Jespren
I need my creative ‘fix’. Writing and reading, but primarily writing, is a necessity for my mental health. But I wax and wane on how much I write. That’s the good part about not making a living at writing is you can slow down and back shelf things when necessary, and pick ’em back up when you are ready. Have fun Eric, your writing will be better for it if you’re not pushing or overextending yourself. In a mostly unrelated note, my power cord for my laptop is lost, I’m trying to use a friends comp to type up my story for your contest. Hopefully will have time to finish it!