Planning and Productivity Regained

What’s popping? For me, some popcorn with a little extra butter of course. While I’m waiting for my bowl to get filled with my movie snack, I’m going to share my thoughts on something I was asked by recently:

What body of work did you fall out of love with but it took rereading it to regain the passion?

I don’t want to say anything in reference to “love” because I’m not the “lovey-dovey” type. Therefore, I’ll tackle this from a point of productivity.

A few years ago, I wanted to tackle a bit of a taboo subject. I don’t want to say exactly what because it would spoil the fun of one wanting to check it out. I ran it by the publishing house to see if it would get the all clear, which it did.

 

 

As the story began developing, I started adding layers, which I later realized I’d have to do several more books to not only close up the holes I’d opened but to do the story due justice. The end result was Boundless Limits. The saga/series is named Transcendent Choice.

The reason Transcendent Choice is both a saga and a series is because the 1st three books isn’t going to have anything to do with the remaining 3 (or possibly 4) other books. I wonder if “sageries” is a word. If not, I supposed it could be one.

Stranger words have been put together—I could do a whole blog on just that.

 

[image error]

It’s about time to melt the butter—let me do that before I get too far off track.

 

Okay, circling back, I had this outline of how I wanted the next parts to go. Somewhere along the way, these schematics got lost on my old computer when it took a dump (re: stopped working), and I didn’t get a chance to back it up to an online system, like Google Drive.

That was one part of the productivity slump. The next was having my energy diverted in working on other projects, along with some significance changes going on with the publishing house.

By the time the dust settled, the slump became a hole. It seemed as if Boundless Limits was bound.

A fellow author (C. Desert Rose) had been bugging me about when the next TC book was coming out. I’d already developed the title of the 2nd book years ago but the anticipated release date had come and gone. I didn’t want to admit that not only was the thrill tepid as best but also I being a bit lazy.

 

[image error]

 

You see, Boundless Limits involved more research than I’d done on any of my works. Since I was dabbling a bit into unknown territory, I wanted to make sure it came across as authentic. Of course, research had to be a must. You can only do so much with creative license before you get it suspended for writing utter ridiculousness.

Besides, once I’m doing my stuff, I go all in. No piece meal here and piece meal there. I prefer continuance with no interruptions. I’m like that speed demon on the highway—once I’m on the road, stay out of my way!

 

[image error]

 

Just recently, I picked up Boundless Limits and read it again. It got the juices flowing, and I appreciated the investment I made in my creations. The appreciation didn’t transport to action until one of my characters started interacting with me through visions of how she wanted her narrative to go. Not just every once in a while but consistently—to the point where she was being a pain in the butt. Like that kid who is in the back of a car during a road trip, constantly asking, “Are we there yet?”

Now, I’ve returned to planning mode, but it predict I won’t get back to writing the 2nd book of TC until next year. Yes, I do have other projects that have set deadlines. This time, I won’t let them sidetrack me. Vindicta won’t have it.

 

[image error]

Popcorn is served! I didn’t pop enough for two. Guess that means our time together is up.

 

DR