self published writer

atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: I need some advice. What sounds better?

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I’ve been flying through my ARCs and working out longer these days, and that may have impacted my numbers a bit. There’s also the fact that I’ve split myself into two additional projects. However, I am LOVING working on those projects. I take that as a win! Plus, I have some time off coming up where I can take a whole day to just work on one project and make some real progress. I’ll be trying for more blog posts, too. I have a nice pile of reviews all finished and plenty of books that need reading. Writing will come first, of course. But I guess it’s the numbers for today that matter, right? And these are in progress numbers. I have more writing to do tonight:

  • A: 20,814 (to be honest, I’m stuck with this one)
  • B: 1,944
  • C: 19,921 (kinda stuck on this one, too. This always happens when I hit a big action set piece)
  • Manos: 1,956
  • Antichrist BF: 4,433

Since I’ve been so inspired with the Manos “fix,” I have wondered how I should go about posting it. It will be kinda long for one Patreon post. I’m trying to hit most of the beats for the movie so, I was thinking maybe posting it in parts on Patreon, then posting it in my ebook shop here for free if someone wants the whole chunk at once. Which one would you be more likely to read? I’m guessing it’ll be easier on the eyes to break it up into parts… We’ll see. I have to get more words in before I get some sleep. I have a long run in the morning.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: I started another one!

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Okay, I didn’t NEED to start the “There, I Fixed It” stuff right away, but when inspiration strikes, you take it. I’m probably stretching myself too thin, but fine. I’m going for it. The first movie I picked to “fix” is Manos: The Hands of Fate. This movie is often cited as one of the worst movies ever made. However, the idea of travelers happening upon a scary cult is a classic, and I think it’d be fun to write this! I’m going to try to keep as many of the character names the same as the movie, but not necessarily all the scenes. There’s this overly long makeout scene and this random-ass couple of ladies at the end. If I can’t naturally fit them in, I’m cutting that out.

Should I add another project that will keep me from finishing the stuff I have and publishing it? Probably not. Yes, I need the money; yes, I need to produce to make that money, and I should treat this like a job, but I also write because I love it. And I want to keep loving it. When it’s complete, I’ll put it up on my Patreon for free. These will always be free since they’re mostly just for fun, and I’m not smart enough to grapple with the copyright issues that come with doing this. Better not to take the chance of getting sued. I guess this would fall under “transformative,” though. Whatever, we’re not here for that. We’re here for the word counts:

  • A: 20,814
  • B: 740
  • C: 19,862
  • Antichrist BF: 4,433
  • There I Fixed It: 775

The one good thing about having the extra projects in my Google Docs is that I can pull out my phone whenever I feel like it and get in a few more words here and there. I’m also posting some previews over on my BlueSky as teasers. They will probably have typos, so be gentle.

This also does mean that the longer projects will not have much of a dramatic increase but I am putting my foot down and not starting anything else. I am already teetering on the edge of burnout and trying to push through it until the inevitable day where I accidentally sleep through my alarm and sleep for 12 hours. Again.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: And then there were four

I almost forgot I needed to do an update today. I was able to post another part of Dewey on Patreon and since I’ve joined Koala Quill, I’ve earned two badges:

It’s actually a good motivator and Philip was SUPER helpful getting the browser extension to work with Postbox. If I have Postbox open while I type on my Freewrite, it fills up the progress bar just like with Google Docs. Speaking of which, that brings us to the subject line. See, I usually only have three projects in development at a time since only three fit on the Freewrite:

I’m sure someone out there has found ways to hack their way into fitting more but I don’t want to. But, since I have three non smut projects going right now, I saved the B slot for the short smut and moved Antichrist Boyfriend to Google Docs. For now, the breakdown is as such:

  • A: (Emma) 20,814
  • B: (smut) 513
  • C: (Dewey) 19,645
  • Google: 4,042

Google Docs is probably where I’ll be writing the “There, I Fixed It” stories which I will just leave on Patreon for free. Maybe if I write enough of them, I’ll make them a free ebook or something. We’ll see I end up hating this little side quest or not. I’m really hoping I can get some material that will entice someone to my Patreon and finally get some members. I was able to get three stories done last month and I’m hoping to either match that or exceed it.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: August 2026 Roundup

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I have to admit that while I haven’t put many more words on my longer stories, I was able to catch up with a bunch of ARCs, post a ton of reviews, and publish three stories this month on my smut pen name. I am also in the process of assembling bundles for that pen name, learning the hard way about merging and converting documents, let me tell ya…

Despite not adding on to the longer projects as much as I’d wanted to, I am ready to post to Patreon next month. I’ve also added more items to my online store; all comics I’m looking to get rid of. I’m also thinking of adding a new project to my Patreon that will be available for free on all posts. I wanna call it “There, I fixed it,” where I take ideas that I feel had potential but not the best execution. It’s mostly movies where, like The Happening, the concept could absolutely be handled in a way that’s effective and not so goofy. I think it would be a fun way to stretch my writing skills. I have no set schedule for this; it’ll be done sporadically whenever I have the chance to do it. I just don’t have the audience to commit to taking requests or a hard timeframe. I’m all about pumping out content at this point.

I am also making plans to catch up with the ARCs I have that are not comics or manga. I got a nice one from Flame Con that I wanna read and a pile of library books to get through, including Haunting Adeline, because I want to see if it’s as bad as everyone says, and In the Miso Soup for the same reason. I also have some more movie and TV show reviews on deck.

Like I said, pumping out content. Maybe volume will help me pull out of this pit.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: First Brood 4 uptate!

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I’ve updated my Patreon with the newest part of First Brood 4: Emma. That one is on the paid tier, but the first chapter is available for free.

As I’ve been editing and cleaning things for Patreon, my word counts aren’t the best:

  • A: 20,612
  • B: 912
  • C: 19,121

I’ve also started posting some of my old comics to my other website. I photographed a decent stack of them to start, and I wanna make sure I get all the condition details right before they’re all live. I’ll be selling them around cover price if they’re new and discounting the ones that are yellow or damaged. And if you’re subscribed to this blog or any of my socials, you’ve seen that I’m catching up with a LOT of reviews. I’m nearly caught up with all my recently requested digital ARCs, and once those run out, I have older digital ones and physical books floating around. I am not short on content.

I was also approved for a press pass to FlameCon! I won’t have a table there or anything, just me and my son checking it out and reporting on it for Otakus and Geeks. I post reviews there as well from time to time. I’m doing my best to get up the money I need and working as hard as I can. Thanks to everyone who’s supported me so far. It means more to me than you know.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: In where I complain but I’m grateful

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It’s been a wild couple of weeks, especially going back and forth with the contractor about the basement Apparently “I’ll call you with a time” really meant “You tell call me when you’re available.” Silly me. Can’t believe I thought words mean what they mean. I’m also in limbo with the dentist. And my check engine light keeps going on and it’s adorable that it thinks I’m going to do anything about it unless that fucking car is on fire.

But I am so grateful for all the people who took a chance on my work during the Smashwords sale. It ends July 31st. Man this month flew by… I also got my Patreon updated and I’m on track to have more next month. I’m sticking with monthly for now. Here’s the word counts:

  • A: 20,023 words; 2 chapters ready for Patreon
  • B: 736 words; 3 smut stories in editing process for release next month
  • C: 19,121 words; 3 chapters ready for Patreon

I don’t have any patrons yet but I don’t care. I want things ready if I get some. I also worked my way through a nice pile of ARCs that I’ll be posting reviews for and I’m working on my overloaded eReaders and pile of library books. I’ve finished a decent pile of manga that I’ll probably sell since they’re too smutty for the library. I do the adult collection but not ADULT adult if that makes any sense. I’m not sure if I want to post them to my blog, on my separate shop site, or toss them on eBay. I’m not looking to make a profit, I’m looking to get them out of my house and in the hands of someone who will enjoy them.

I guess that’s it for this week? I can’t think of anything else. I’ll probably think of 10 more things as I go to sleep tonight.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Editing!

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I’m up to three finished rough drafts, as well as parts to edit to post on Patreon. That means no real word counts of note to post. The good news is (is not having word counts ” bad news?) that I am aiming to post again on my Patreon this month. I am still tweaking my page. I’d like a better description and more art, but that’s not the most important part. The most important part is getting more books out.

Also, I’d like to thank everyone once again who has purchased my work during the Smashwords Sale. I really hope you enjoy them!

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Lots of Updates!

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If you’re subscribed to my blog, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been fairly regularly posting reviews. That’s gonna continue. I have a lot to get through.

Next up is my Patreon! I’ve been editing a lot, and the next part is up! It’s on the paid tier, but the first chapters of all my WIPs that I’m working on will always be free. The first part of “Dewey” is here.

Smashwords has started their July sale! All my books are discounted or even free on that site! You can check them out here.

Now, time for the wordcounts:

  • First Brood 4: 19,914
  • Smut short story: 570 (published 2 stories last month)
  • Dewey: 17,316

I am doing my best to try to get out some good content. I need to treat it like a job if I’m going to make money from it like a job. It’s not going to be easy, I am going to be very tired, but I have debt and a kid to put through college. I gotta do what I gotta do.

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atthequillsmercy

Whelp, it was a good run but…

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Due to facing more and more financial pressure. I had to put a chunk of my books back on Amazon. I’d taken them down because they suck, but I legit cannot afford to have any sales channel blocked to me. You can see them all here. If you see any missing, they’ll be up eventually. I can understand if others don’t want to support them, and in that case, all my books are on Apple, Kobo, B&N, and my own store here on the blog.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: I don’t do April Fools

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I’ve been editing the completed manuscripts over the last week, but I’ve also resumed working on First Brood 4: Emma. Shelley (my Freewrite Traveler) has three spots. I’m using one for Emma, one for short smut, and the last for Dewey. Sure, I’ll crank out the short erotica to make some extra cash (I need it, I have no Patrons, and there won’t be any OT in the summer), but I need to work on things that make me happy for a while. 

  • Emma: 17,515
  • Smut: 161
  • Dewey: 15,778

I went back and forth between editing and writing today. That’s why the numbers aren’t that impressive. I’d like to finish both those big novels this year since I have book 5 in the First Brood series cooking in the back of my head already. Not that this series is super popular, but I love working on it. I started that back when I was a teenager, and somehow, it’s been a constant in my brain ever since. I did post the chapters of Emma I have so far on Patreon if anyone would like to see what it’s all about.

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