Weekly Update – January 23, 2024

Bit of a slow week this week, but that’s not to say it hasn’t been productive.

Action Figures – Legacies is past 37,000 words as of this past weekend. It’s worth noting I’ve been working on this since November, maybe only getting in one full writing day a week. I haven’t been this productive is a long time.

Part of it is having a really clear idea for this novel, the first sequel/spinoff from the core Action Figures series, and I think part of it is finally getting my sleep schedule in order. I spent 2023 dealing with moderate insomnia. I’d wake up in the middle of the night and lay in bed, unable to get back to sleep, and wake up absurdly early. It messed me up mentally, making me cranky, triggering bouts of depression and anxiety, and impacting my creative energy. If I had a day in which I wrote more than 1,000 words, it was a good day.

Quick disclaimer: this is not professional medical advice, only personal experience, but taking a little melatonin before bedtime has helped immensely. When I do wake up at night I’m able to fall back to sleep quickly, and I’m regularly able to sleep to and past 6 AM — which, believe me, is a big deal for a guy whose well-programmed body clock has been making him wake up at 5 AM for YEARS. It’s had a huge impact on my mood, and by extension, my mental energy.

So, if you’re in the same boat, i.e., having poor quality and quantity of sleep that’s borking your creativity, do some research, talk to a doctor, do whatever you can to correct that. It’ll help a lot.

WRITING PROJECTS

Action Figures – Legacies: First draft underway.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Draconian Measures: Third draft completed, undergoing editing.

The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – untitled book eight: First draft underway.

APPEARANCES & EVENTS

Nothing scheduled

MISC.

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