R.J. City's Blog, page 2

#70: The 'Rona Got to Me

So yeah.

My luck in avoiding COVID finally ran out, it seems. Yes, my whole family got it earlier this month (around the 4th of July if you wanna know specifics)... and the symptoms lasted a bit over a week- maybe closer to two weeks? My parents both spent a brief time in the hospital, but not due to breathing issues, thankfully. To stay vague enough, uh, there were complications with my Mom stopping a very important medication? All that to say, everyone's feeling at least a bit better nowadays... I'm still a bit lethargic, so my energy to participate in this year's art fight was a lot less than usual. I reached burnout easier, so I'm just trying to take it even easier. Hey, I'm just thankful to have survived COVID and got out reasonably unscathed. The worst part, I think, was the lingering cough... but the body aches are a close second.

In other, not sick related news!

... There's nothing else to say, honestly! The month of July was a total wash when it comes to writing... for obvious reasons! But hey, at least I've been able to draw and that makes me relatively happy so~ Just trying to stay positive and enjoy the little victories!

Since there's really nothing else to report in this month's vlog, I guess I'll just see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#69: A Surge of Creativity!

Hey, everyone!

I'm happy to start off this blog by revealing that I've been *drumroll* WRITING!

And planning and editing, but WRITING! It's been too long, you have no idea-- or maybe you do, if you've been paying attention to these blogs in general... anyway! Yes!

Near the start of this past month, I found an old flash drive that held old drafts, old character bios... pretty much a lot of OLD information! It was quite the slog to go through, but it resulted in me thinking about my characters and my books (and more importantly, my WRITING) so I guess I shouldn't complain too much~

On the personal front... I wouldn't say the situation is improving. There's a few more issues that have cropped up, and I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with me. I started the month off so strong with my writing, I can't blame it for exhausting me, ya know? Maybe it's something else. All this to say: I haven't really been sleeping well lately, and it's making me groggy the next morning/afternoon... to the point where I just always feel tired and unmotivated. Lately, I feel like my focus is everywhere, and when I TRY to focus on something, it just doesn't stick! Do you ever feel like that sometimes? It's probably not that uncommon, but for me, it's been... ODD. I'm trying my best to get better sleep, but there seems to be an issue with my quality of sleep rather than just the quantity.

In art news, Art Fight starts tomorrow! I'm excited but also very nervous that I won't be able to keep up. With the aforementioned lack of focus, I might work very slowly... and I have so many bookmarked characters that I want to draw for people, it already feels unfair not to meet my goal 3 But I'll still be trying! That lack of focus has slowed me so down (or maybe I'm just rusty when it comes to digital art, I dunno) to the point where I take all day just to finish a half-body or bust. All this to say: I'm already feeling the exhaustion for art that should only be present near the END of Art Fight, not before it's even begun-! But I digress...

Oh, and happy pride! I know it's already the last day of June, but I wanted to showcase two commissions that I received this past month in celebration of PRIDE!

Anyway, I think that's all I have to say so! A bit of a mixed bag, this month was! I exceeded my expectations when it came to writing/editing, but fell short in art and my personal health... boy, I hope July doesn't kill me!

As always, I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#68: I'm Back, Baby

Hey, I'm not dead!

I'm back in a much better headspace. I think I've finally gotten a better grasp on the juggling act that is my life now. I mean, it's not perfect, but at least I feel more inclined to blog, so that's good!

Taking a break from writing, art, or any creative processes, really... it helped me get a better handle on things here in my personal life. I found better ways to de-stress and realize why I do what I do. It's still a stressful situation, don't get me wrong! My game plan is NOT perfect whatsoever... but I'm surviving.

I think I'm living.

Not much else to say besides that, really! I DID receive a nice new review on The Blood Diamond over on Amazon (which you should totally get a copy of for yourself, just saying- shameless book plug) And honestly? That review made me realize that people are still reading my stuff? Still giving it a chance?

It was nice to be reminded.

Other than that, I'm going to try to get back into the writing/editing game... as well as art hopefully? I have all of June to prepare for this year's art fight so I'm very much looking forward to it!

Anyways, I hope to see you all next month! June's looking like a BUSY one and I hope to have more to say... In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#67: A Growing Burden

Hey, everyone~

So February SURE went fast, huh?

As with last time, there's not much of an update, I'm afraid. I'm still drawing, still surviving everyday life, and my writing is practically nonexistent.

I really wish I had a better excuse other than the burden of a growing depression and heightening anxiety...

I also am kind of happy to say that I've been thinking of my characters more and more nowadays, although they are far from the actual joys I manage to find, but it helps, I guess.

Anyways, I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook (Author) | Facebook (Series) | Tumblr ~ Fangs & Kisses ~Rachel Joy

#66: Not Much of an Update

Hey, everyone!

So, thankfully, I'm in a bit of a better headspace than I was last month... the situation hasn't exactly improved, but I'd like to think it's become manageable.

I've been able to focus on SOME writing, have plans to edit in the upcoming months and HOPEFULLY publish something by mid/late 2022? Hopefully is definitely the right word~

I've also been drawing my characters, which I consider a real win since it's been awhile! It might not be writing, but it's still expanding upon my stories and the characters I've created. I'm still connecting with my works so I don't find it discouraging at all...

January was, in a word, alright. It certainly wasn't the best month ever or even a major improvement, but it was doable. Sorry this wasn't much of an update, but I didn't do much this month that's worth mentioning, to be honest.

Anyways, I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#65: Did I Really Survive 2021?

That title's a great question, isn't it...

With the current situation at home, I'm honestly not sure if I did, at least not really. There were some highs of this year, but many, many lows... and they kinda outweigh the good.

So what were the positives? I honestly can't think of any right now. I'm not in the best state of mind at the moment, so forgive me. I have gotten little to no writing done this year, no sequel is ready for publishing. So basically my writing life was nonexistent this year as a whole.

The life of a caregiver, as I claim to be now I guess, is truly draining everything from me. There are ways to prevent that, I suppose, but I haven't found and incorporated them yet, unfortunately.

I wish I had a better mindset to end this year with, but I don't. In a way, 2021 began and ended with hardships. Thankfully, nothing relating to COVID, but still! It's only a matter of time before someone in my family gets COVID, just with the bad habits of certain family members and their inability to stay healthy and remain hygienic...

That being said, I hope that whoever reads this had a better year than I did. I'd like to say 'good riddance' to 2021... and 2022? Please be gentler on me and my family? And may my life become more manageable so that I can write SOMETHING...

As always, I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#64: Struggling to Make Things Work

*heavy sigh*

Another month of 2021 has gone and I'm now realizing just how exhausting the situation has become at my home. I of course won't go into details, and this is by no means an excuse not to write, but my Mom... isn't doing so well. This past week alone has been hellish, and a struggle nearly every single day. I've been to an urgent care, the hospital, and many other necessary trips.

So... yeah. It's been a lot.

I think it goes without saying that I've had barely any free time for ANYTHING, much less writing... the most I can squeeze out is art and maybe some imagines about where I want certain character arcs to go in the meantime. That's about it, though. Unfortunately.

There's honestly nothing else to report. I'm just trying to take care of my family without it negatively affecting me (which it currently IS, I won't lie-)

Thanks for keeping up with my blog... I can't promise I'll have anything new or interesting to report for the last month of 2021. Maybe I'll just reflect on the struggle that's been this year.

Anyway, I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#63: Another Year Older...

Hiiiii, everyone...

So this month has been a rather stressful one, as the past few seem to have been as well. And I'm honestly not sure if I'll ever find the time to write or edit, unfortunately... it's a day-to-day struggle, with some days being better than others, but overall just... really shitty.

I turned another year older on the 27th of this month, and there's been plenty of upending changes to my life since October started... many of them being stress-inducing. I don't really want this blog to be yet another one where I whine about my family stressors and overall give excuses on why I can't work on my manuscript whatsoever.

It hasn't been ALL bad (as I said, some days are better than others), of course. But the bad just overshadows the good, and has been doing that all month, it seems. That being said, I'm honestly not sure when I'll return to the writing space. I haven't lost interest in my characters, of course, I just can't seem to find the time to work with them. Sure, I've had a few moments this month where I further developed a character and decided where and when I should introduce them in the story, but that's about it.

It's not all stress from the family either. This whole month (and some of September), I've been dealing with computer issues as well, but I think it's safe to say I finally figured out what was going so wrong. So there's that~ Then there's just. every day adult issues. that I don't want to get into because it's unimportant to strangers. Hell, I haven't even spoken about them on my personal Twitter, mainly 'cause I'm sure no one needs to know about it. It won't matter to anyone but me and my family, who are living in it.

Anyway... like I said, I didn't want to make this blog 100% about my struggles for the past month, even though that's what I've been doing, so I apologize. I'm thankful for those who've read up to this because that means you at least care somewhat about what I have to say...

I hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

oh and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook (Author) | Facebook (Series) | Tumblr~ Fangs & Kisses ~Rachel Joy

#62: Taking a Break

Hey, everyone!

*looks at title* I know, I know... aren't I ALREADY taking a break from writing? That isn't quite the case... something I'm not sure comes off across well enough is the struggle to write and edit when I'm not in the best mindset for it.

The truth is, I can make all of the excuses that I want, that'll make me feel better despite the obvious procrastination, denial and overall deteriorating mental health. I'm pretty sure I touched on this during August's blogpost, and I can't say my situation has improved any.

And you know what I realized? Even when I'm planning to write, even when I'm plotting future character arcs and such... I still hit a wall somehow. And I'm not sure if it's just life distracting me from being creative, taking up all of my energy, or WHAT. All I know is: this way of working is just NOT working!

I need to move past my block, and I honestly think the best way is to take a break. Not from social media, mind you! A break - as in - a break from trying to write, trying to edit... All month, I've been trying to force myself to write, to edit, and it's honestly disheartening. I feel like if I keep forcing myself to try and write, I'll only become more depressed when it comes to writing, and more frustrated with myself.

Gee, I hope any of that made sense... thanks for reading if you've gotten this far into the blog <3

TLDR: I'm taking a month break for October, seeing how it's spooky season and my birthday month, I feel like it'll do me some good~ Besides, November seems like a good month to get back into writing, seeing how it'll be National November Writing Month and all that <3

Reiterating: I won't be gone from social media; I might even draw more, but we shall see!

I still hope to see you all next month! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

Oh and thanks for being so patient with me <33

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~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy

#61: A Short n' Sweet Update

Hey, everyone!

August really came and went, didn't it... then again, that seems to be 2021 in a nutshell so far- at least for me!

I figured I'd keep this month's blog short n' sweet, namely 'cause so little happened in the past month. My personal life stressors are becoming increasingly harder to handle, so there's that...

No new developments regarding my editing chops, unfortunately! I just... haven't had the energy or mental (health) capacity to even look at my manuscript. Won't lie, it's very frustrating indeed.

The frustration is really setting in for me, and I don't typically try to focus my blogs on personal topics (it's my author site, after all) but I don't think I can just keep saying 'I didn't write a lot this month, all of my effort was spent dealing with mental health and daily - sometimes HOURLY - arguments' for every single blogpost. But yes, frustration is definitely the breakout emotion over the last few months. And at this point, I'm not really sure what to do about it...

Damn, I meant for this to be a short blog where I just give a brief summation of my frustrating August... apologies!

Anyway, I hope to see you all next month! Despite my lack of writing/editing, I - as always - hope to change that in the upcoming weeks, if not months! In the meantime, please keep spreading the word about my book! <3 And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future updates (which includes these blogposts)! Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay safe and stay awesome! <3

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook (Author) | Facebook (Series) | Tumblr

~ Fangs & Kisses ~

Rachel Joy