Author’s Log: Like A Kid Again (#amwriting, #ROW80)

So this post is going up a little late because I attended Tampa Bay Comic Con over the weekend, quite frankly, it wasn’t quite as fun as I’d hoped it to be. The Exhibition Hall really didn’t have anything new to offer other than some pro Cos-players, all of whole were nice and friendly.

The high point for me was meeting TV’s Constantine (Matt Ryan) in person, and he was perfectly lovely. Sadly, the show was cancelled right when it was finding it’s feet, so no one would have backed out of the engagement. But he discussed the show and the source material with great enthusiasm as he signed autographs, and seemed to be genuinely happy to be there talking geek with everyone.

Unfortunately, the Tech Monkey and I were forced to walk a half mile through a Florida monsoon to get to the convention, so I was a soggy mess when meeting him (though he did compliment my Constantine costume, so YAY). We also left the camera in the car, so no pictures this year. NONE. Because my phone also died. ARGH.

Thinking I still had another day to dry out, I decided to delay my photo op until today, Sunday. Instead the streets of Tampa were flooded to Noah-like proportions and we were stranded overnight, unable to get home. We were forced to slosh through two feet of water to a hotel across the street from the gas station we took shelter at, and no sooner did we make it inside our room than I discover a B-horror movie sized bug. On my NECK. *shriek*

So we’re missing the last day of the con, with little more than a slightly damp Hellblazer with Matt Ryan’s autograph inside to document our adventures.

*splayed* *birdies*

HOWEVER.

A couple of really fun, sorta-great things happened prior to the Con, however, that I’m kind of tickled to report on. I was really REALLY busy again last week at the day job, especially with taking Friday off, so my lunchtime writing sessions just didn’t happen. But. BUT.

A couple of nights last week, once the Tech Monkey went to bed, I stayed up and wrote in my notebook instead of my computer. Like, I literally turned off all the lights, hunkered down on the couch with my favorite Comfy Blanket (TM), my lap desk, a book light, a spiral notebook, and a good, flowy pen (you know the ones I mean.) And I just WROTE.

This is how I did it as a kid, prior to computers let alone the internet, in the Deep Dark Times when the Earth was just starting to cool. When I wasn’t under the blankets reading books or comic books, I was scribbling bad epic fantasy and even worse fan fiction (sometimes both) in a spiral notebook, with only a dying flashlight for light. And it was some of the most fun I had as a kid.

I think I may be on to something here. Maybe, a couple of nights per week, I should revert to kid-dom and simply have fun, instead of worrying about word counts and craft and all the stuff that makes writing a job. (A fun job, no doubt, but still a job nonetheless.) Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s fun the thumb your nose at your grown-up self and refuse to adult for a time.

Because the floodgates opened, y’all. I got pages and pages of Blood & Steam 2 down, and a WHOLE NEW OPENING for DRAGON’S HEART, which had been giving me whole issue of Not Being Right At All, and has been tapping me on the shoulder, begging to be fixed, ever since.

Holy Words, Batman–it became a challenge to stop, not to start. I had to force myself to go to bed. Project Insanity might not be so insane, after all.

(Well, okay. It’s still insane. But at least I feel better about it.)

Oh, hey, look–updates!

Project Insanity

Project Insanity is my mad scheme to publish one novella per month for the next FIVE years, beginning in 2016 (which means I have to draft like a crazy person NOW). Behold, as I apply lightning to The Monster of my Production Schedule, and probably fall flat on my face whilst so doing. *dons fez* *blows noisemaker*

 

The List (3Q2015):

The Mysterious Adventures of Becca Carlisle (Blood & Steam #2)–IN PROGRESS.

Sweet Home Oklahoma (Sweet Home #1)

The Innovative Adventures of Lucia Carlisle (Blood & Steam #3)

Tess (Keepers of the Flame: Origins #4)

 

Sanity Check (July Edition):

 

 

BLOOD & STEAM #2: In Production

 I’m noooooooot quite there, but I am inching closer. I got to blow something up, however, which always makes me happy. Krakens in the last book, and now explosions. YAY!!

SWEET HOME #1: In Pre-Production

 I’m working out a plot sketch/outline for this, and seem to have hit a snag around about Plot Point 2 (instead of Midpoint, just for a change). I think I know what’s going to happen, but I need to work my main character around to giving up what she thought was most important to her and instead make the decision to settle–however temporarily–in a small ranching town instead of on the west coast like she originally planned. It’s gonna be a tough sell, folks, and begs the question of what she’s really looking for.

UPDATE BLOOD & STEAM #1: Quest Completed!

Ugh. This is going up later today. And let’s NEVER do THAT again, shall we? Naturally, I discovered a better way to format my back matter in regards to my Other Books, so I’ll have to go through those Other Books, and update those as well at some point.

BONUS GOAL: Lose Some Dang Weight!

I was down 2.9 lbs last week, and 0.62 points on my BMI–whoo-hoo!! I guess being sick for the first time in years has to be positive in some way, doesn’t it? I noticed my appetite change dramatically, in that I’m not eating nearly as much even now that I’m healthy again.