Writing status update (#36)

It’s been about a month since my last report on my development of the Shine Cycle, my fantasy series-in-preparation, so whether I have any progress to report or not it’s time for an update.

To sum the month up very briefly, I’ve been sick with a severe respiratory ailment for the past two and a half weeks or so, but I’ve still somehow managed to make some progress on the Shine Cycle. For more specific examples, let’s take a look at the goals I set last month.

Continue regular work on Shine Cycle development (the prerequisite for any substantial progress at all).

As sick as I was, getting “regular work” in on anything was impossible.

Write at least least two character biographies.

I actually managed three.

Do “snowflake step 2” for at least two planned novels.

I did manage to meet this.

Post at least two Shine Cycle-related post before the next status update.

And I managed this: a character profile and a précis.

Create super-sequence outlines for at least one of the “Alternate Universes” sub-series.

I did this for one, and I also considered and decided to discard another alternate-history idea.

Write at least a hundred words of “actual prose.”

None.

On the other hand, I also spent some time and considerable thought working on my collection of fragmentary and unfinished poetry, and extended two poems to the point that I think they’re finished enough and presentable, except that neither has a title yet and at least one of them really needs a “real” title. I got started on this side project because I finally got the incomplete poems, Shine Cycle and Strategic Primer ideas, and collected quotes off of my AlphaSmart portable keyboard.

To sum up, I am very pleased with how much I managed to do given that I’ve scarcely had the energy to get out of bed for nearly half the month.

Now, looking forward to the next four or so weeks: I’m still recovering from this illness, and I have classwork that will demand increasing amounts of time and mental effort, but on the other hand I can hope I’ll have my strength back, and I want to get in the habit of making progress so I can get closer to finishing things faster. Thus the following goals:

Resume and continue regular work on Shine Cycle development (the prerequisite for any substantial progress at all).
Write at least least two character biographies.
Write at least one character history.
Do “snowflake step 2” for at least three planned novels.
Post at least two Shine Cycle-related post before the next status update.
Create super-sequence outlines for at least two of the “Alternate Universes” sub-series.
Make a good start on outlining The Counter by sequence.
Write at least a hundred words of “actual prose.”

As I always say, we shall see.

Filed under: Status updates