Mid-Month Check-In: November 2015
2015 is almost over — only a month and a half left. On one hand, this makes me very excited, as I love the “fresh start” mentality that comes along with the new year. However, on the other hand, the older I get, the more the speedy passage of time unnerves me. I think that for every single Mid-Month Check-In, I’ve marveled at how fast the time has flown. I guess that means I’ve been having lots of fun?
WRITING
Despite my hectic schedule and common sense, I’m doing NaNoWriMo this month. For the challenge, I started rewriting the sequel to The Cogsmith’s Daughter, and I’m now about 20,000 words in (meaning I’m behind for NaNo, but ahead of where I was in the draft prior to November). I’ll post more on this later, but this novel is just fighting me every step of the way. With The Cogsmith’s Daughter, all the words just came to me, as if Aya were telling me the story and I were merely dictating, but this one is like squeezing blood from a stone. But hey, “they” say the second novel is always the hardest. So once I’m over this hump, it’ll be smooth sailing, right? RIGHT?!
BUSINESS
After last month’s book launch, I’m letting the business side simmer down while I focus on writing. Mostly, I have read a few indie publishing/marketing books and watched a couple free video training series. I have been making plans for marketing as well as a production schedule for 2016, but overall, I’m trying to focus on drafting. It’s much easier to market the first book in a series when there are others to follow it. Or so I’m told.
MARITAL
“Real life” is relatively consistent. Daniel is plugging away at school work, while I spend my days at work work. He’s found a good place for himself in the Yale community and is really thriving here. I’m just trying to be supportive and taking it all one day at a time.
HEALTH/WELLNESS
I’m getting decent walking in still, thanks to my environmentally friendly commute. However, I have been feeling the sluggish effects of the professional writer’s life, and I want to start exercising beyond my normal walk. We’ve been eating relatively healthy, and my stress levels haven’t been any higher than normal. I would say that I haven’t had a migraine in the last month, but I won’t say that, because that would jinx it…
Anyway, I think that’s about all I have to report for November. I hope you all have a productive month (and slay NaNoWriMo, if you are participating).
How are your new year’s resolutions going? Have you been keeping up with your own writing goals? Share your progress and/or commiserate as needed!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book, book launch, dystopian, fiction, goals, health, marriage, NaNoWriMo, novel, personal life, reading, steampunk, writing, writing goals
