Drawing from the Well
Sixth Eighth
Chapter 56/91
Scene 340/508 – 66.9%
Word Count: 85,821 (+9,418) – 66.93%
Now THAT is progress. I hadn’t looked at the overall change since I started sprinting. I’ve been so focused on the writing and the total word count going up that I wasn’t really sure how much in how long it had been. Over nine thousand words in a week is astounding to me. I’ve NEVER written like that. Not consistently.
Okay, I just checked my own boast and it’s totally accurate. The highest 7-day total before now was in November at 8,400 words. And November was my best writing month this draft so that’s saying something.
Leaning into sprinting has been life-changing. Even when I lack motivation, I can overcome it by reminding myself that it’s only 25 minutes AND it’s okay if what comes out isn’t the Next Great American Novel. All of that is just setting me up to fail anyway. So now I sit down for BICHOK time, as Sooz puts it, and, miraculously, words come out. Oftentimes I start getting excited about what I’m writing in the process and am sad when the 25 minutes are over. But I stick to that. That excitement doesn’t fade because I break for 5 minutes or a few hours or until the next day. I get to pick it back up when I come back. And it’s all coming together.
So where are we in the story? Well, we’re between the Second Pinch and the Third Plot Point (also known as the Darkest Hour or Dark Night of the Soul). Some threatening stuff has happened to all our protagonists who are now on three fronts. One of those chapters was exceptionally fun to write…okay, two…well, the third was fun too. See, that’s how powerful magical cookie scenes can be. Now we’re kind of in the lull between these two story points so things are coming together and gearing up all at the same time. We’ve got big victories and big losses coming soon.
Too vague? Okay. Grant and party have finally gotten where they need to go for a book and a half and it LOOKS like things are coming to a close. Remember how we’re prior to the 3/4 point, though? Yeah, I’m gonna get a little evil here. Meibor has had one major victory but the true battle is yet to come. And Tassos is back home but that’s hardly a good thing. Again, I don’t want to get any more detailed than that for now.
With everything going on, I’ve had no focus for driving to publication of Book 1. That’ll come but most people are a little preoccupied right now. I do have feelers out for a cover artist and I’m doing a little research here and there but that’s all for now.
Filling the Well
I, Night Angel: 100% (Book 13 of 36 for #ProjectBookworm2020)
Prince of Gods: 100% (Book 14 of 36 for #ProjectBookworm2020)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Marriage: 100% (Book 15 of 36 for #ProjectBookworm2020)
Walkaway: 100% (Book 16 of 36 for #ProjectBookworm2020)
The Last Necromancer: 77%
Society of Wishes: 5%
Lots of reading going on. I, Night Angel and 7 Habits were both short but I got a lot out of them. Prince of Gods was an exciting primer for the Wish Quartet, Society of Wishes being the first book in that series. Walkaway, wow, that book was a lot. I’m still not certain of everything I got out of it. It made me think, it made feel (anger, sadness, love, excitement, wonder), and it inspired me. Now what book can really do more than that?
The Last Necromancer has blown my mind with where it went. The first major twist I did NOT see coming; the second I saw from a mile away. It’s good, though, and quick. I’ve got the other two books in the series queued up for when I finish this one. And Society of Wishes is starting in an interesting place that’s a bit jarring after Prince of Gods. I know it’s going to come around but I have to get into a whole new book now. It’s starting to get really interesting now, though, so I’m curious to see where it goes and what the characters of Prince of Gods have been up to.
Well Chat
It got dark out there quick, huh?
COVID-19 is no joke. Some people are taking it lightly but we are not in this house. The first confirmed case in our county was reported last night. It was a sobering moment even though we knew it was only a matter of time. Mobbed grocery stores are part of my life right now and it is a major stressor for me in the moment. I don’t mind crowds until I start failing to find the ability to move. Then I get REALLY anxious. It’s one of the few things that does that to me.
Some people are expecting a new surge in post-apocalyptic fiction after this is all over and I have to say that I agree. I also agree with the sentiment that now is the time for escapist fiction. My favorite doorway is, of course, SFF and I’m continuing with that. There are going to be some interesting ideas when this is over, though.
So what are we doing here? We’re stocked up on food (though not to the disaster preparedness point; that’s ridiculous). We’ve got toilet paper since we happened to stock up BEFORE things went crazy. We’re mostly staying inside though my daughter just learned to ride a bike at 13 so now she’s amped up to go riding every day. I love that and am totally down. Exercise is good for the body and keeps you healthy to fight off any infections.
We prepped the kids that we weren’t going to be going anywhere for a while. Let me be specific: we aren’t going PLACES. We’re still going to hop in the car from time to time and drive around just to get out of the house. Parks might be okay if they’re mostly abandoned (never thought I’d say that) and drive-thrus are good to go. We’re not going to go somewhere and park and loiter, though (aforementioned parks excepted).
I can’t help but think about The Stand through all this. Especially when someone walks into a grocery store coughing like they’re trying to expectorate a lung. That gives me the jibbly-jibblies. It’s a scary time out there and there are a lot of scared people. Focus is at a premium alongside safety.
So we’re playing games, riding bikes, doing our best to work, and adjusting our plans day by day. I have to say, it’s been great having the kids home. We’re spending more time together and having LOTS of laughs. School’s cancelled until 4/15 for now but if things don’t turn up soon, I see the rest of the school year getting cancelled. It’s only mid-March and 2020 is already feeling like a wash. What a way to start a decade huh?
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. Spend time with family. Work on those home projects you never get to. Read. Play video games. Watch a movie you’ve been thinking about. Listen to some good music. Meditate. Sleep, for heaven’s sake. Take this time of general self-quarantine to rejuvenate. Especially in America, we are so focused on activity and getting things done that we take FAR too little time to recharge. Take this as your imposed period to catch up on that.
And for the love of every human you may come in contact with, wash your hands, cover your mouth, and keep your distance. This will pass but we need to make sure we mitigate the impact on our healthcare workers. They can only help so many of us at a time. I pray for all of you out there that you weather this well and that your fears are well-managed. Be well. Talk to you soon.
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG