writer Wednesday

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: 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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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday! A lot to cover… Maybe not a LOT.

It’s been a while but I’ve been a busy bee. Let’s not waste any time and here are the word counts:

  • Smut: 13,290
  • Kinktober: 37
  • Dewey: 14,909

“Gosh what happened to Kinktober?” (which I will give a different name at some point) Whelp, I finished the first 4 prompts I chose, and it topped 10k words. I separated them into the individual stories to start editing to make my life easier. This means the word count resets to zero for the time being. The editing process is about halfway done, and I should be able to get one out before the end of the month. I cleared out that part of Shelley (the Frewrite Traveler) to start fresh with the 5th prompt. My goal is to keep writing prompts and release the finished ones at least once a month while I work on the longer stuff here and there.

You’ve also probably noticed I’m posting reviews again. I have 60 or so finished reviews ready to go. I just have to type them up and keep up with my ARCs. I keep putting them off to write and end up having to read 10 or more in one day. I also have library books to return and other physical books that have been orbiting my life to either gift, donate, or sell. They’re not all graphic novels, so they’re taking longer to get through. I’d also LOVE to review some of the books I’ve backed on Kickstarter. I’m pushing to release more content in general and be more active. Time to get back to it!

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Normal. I am completely normal.

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I am being totally normal and not a nutjob at all about Hazbin Hotel starting up again. Yup. Not weird about it at all…

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I doubt I’ll ever have anything I’ve made hit it that big so, I may be living vicariously through her right now. I’m fairly certain I can count my fans and have fingers left over but it is so awesome to see Viv made it big. But enuffa that. Can’t have fans if you don’t make something to fan over. So, here’s the word counts:

  • Smut: 13,172
  • Kinktober (can I still call it that after October is over?): 4,269 (prompt 3 finshed)
  • Dewey: 14,489

There’s always a part of me that sees the success of others I admire and it makes me want to work harder. I’ve plotted out how I want Dewey and the smutty book to go so it should write up MUCH faster. I think once the smutty one is finished, I’ll get back to working on the next book in the First Brood series. Kinktober prompts will feed the erotica pen name for quite some time and I kinda feel guilty for putting it aside AGAIN in the name of making some tiny bit of royalties to help keep the lights on. If you wanna see the prologue, it’s on my Patreon for free, but you will be lost if you don’t know the first three books. Chapter one of Dewey is there, too if you wanna check out what that is. I may not win awards but, I sure hope you enjoy!

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Another one done.

I have not been focused, to be honest. I’ve been flitting between my three WIPs. I’ll start work on one for the day, write a couple sentences, switch to a different one, then do the same. I seem to be stuck on the smuttier one but the other two are chugging along.

  • Smut: 13,172
  • Kinktober: 3,480 (2 prompts done)
  • Dewey: 14,325

Not much. October is always wild and I have been FLYING through my ARCs. I had a goal of reading 150 books this year and I’m at 184. I have almost 60 reviews written for me to type up. I’ve also been knitting to try and get rid of more yarn and decluttering my room. Resume appointments are kicking up at work (yeeaaaahh, that’s not a good sign… I hope I’m helping) and I’m still after my now adult child to get his ass moving to get his surgery.

I am happy to see that a couple of books sold. And print copies at that! I never think those are gonna sell since the ebooks are cheaper, but yay for me! I certainly hope they enjoy it and leave a nice review. I hope this means things are turning around. Fingers crossed.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Prepping and Progress

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Things have been going really well! I’ve been flying through the prompts I have stored up and working on my two big projects. Here are the word counts:

  • Smut: 10,855
  • Dewey: 14,092
  • Kinktober: 222

You do NOT want to know how much I overthought whether or not to keep the word count for Kinktober cumulative.

(It’s not even that serious…)

I decided to do so because then I can just keep writing and not be tempted to jump around between prompts. Once I start one, I have to finish writing it before I can start the next one. I’m gonna do my damndest to keep them to 5k words or less but, much like with the smutty one I’m working now, sometimes the story gets away from me. I didn’t intend to break 10k words with that one at all.

And yes, I am still keeping mum on that pen name. My kid is an adult now, and it probably wouldn’t affect him much if that name got out, but… People are WEIRD. And people are SCARY. Especially these days. It only takes one nutjob to make my life hell, and I’d just assume avoid that. I’m sure if someone gave enough of a shit, they could track that pen name down, but for now, I’m not telling it.

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atthequillsmercy

WIP Wednesday: Myyyy Eyyyyeezzzz

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I haven’t even watched Schitt’s Creek yet. Aside for anything Hazbin Hotel, The Good Place is what I’m fixated on right now. Honestly? I am honestly concerned about how much media input I am currently absorbing since I’ve already blown through my reading goal for the year on Goodreads and my ‘Watch Later’ playlists on multiple platforms are testing the limits of their respective sources. Did you know there are upper limits to those? I am totally the person to find those as I will add something that strikes my fancy in that moment and get back to it… Whenever. What that comes with it is what my eye doctor will fucking hate. I have clogged eye things somewhere (look, I am tired and canNOT even bother to give medical terminology) and I intermittently remember to do a hot eye mask to ease that discomfort. That means a hot compress for 20+ minutes twice daily to avoid surgery… Something I remember to do 30+ minutes a couple times a week because the thought of sharp objects near my eye are terrifying. But this isn’t a trauma dump. You’re here for the word counts.

  • Dewey: 14,079
  • Smut: 10,234

I am also 12 prompts deep into Kinktober. And while I’ve been very loosely outlining them, I will be starting the writing process for those this week. As someone trapped between Gen-X and Millennials I… Don’t like to work on 9/11. I just don’t. I like to powerfully dissociate from my trauma instead! Perfectly healthy. Not an odd coping mechanism at all… And I’m not gonna lie, I started Dewey with the best of subversive intentions but there are times it just feels too fucking real. It’s hard to work on. I’m gonna power through because it’s important.

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atthequillsmercy

Writer Wednesday – Writing Update

I’ve been doing decently with my daily goals but not as perfect as before. I’m getting stuck between chapters but once the chapter starts, man do I ever get going. But on the other hand, I have been keeping up with my reviews.

Words are just flowing and I’m reading like a machine. It’s awesome.

Of course, being stuck home cause of the crappy weather helps. 😉

 

atthequillsmercy

Writer Wednesday – First Brood Update

Despite being distracted by the con, book 2 is progressing. I am glad to take this extra time with it because I found some impressively GLARING typos I somehow managed to miss the first 5 times I went through the manuscript. But progress is being made. Look forward to seeing it before the end of the year for sure. 🙂

When it comes to the various other short stories I have been juggling, I am just picking away at them line by line when I have time. I would be working on them more but… Yeah, I dunno. Shiny objects?

Seriously, I’ve been getting more books to review (expect another installment of the Walking Dead novels…) so those take up a lot of my time. I don’t consider it a waste at all (the fact that publishers still offer up their work to me after reading the other reviews I’ve written just amazes me) because I get to read things I never would have ever picked up on my own. But, it’s time I’m not writing. Just a fact of life. I’m still trying to balance reading, writing, and the working single mom thing but I hear I’m pretty damn awesome. I’ll get the hang of it.