Well, it finally happened. I've been sort of waiting for it since February. Since I teach littles, it was only a matter of time before I was properly exposed to COVID-19. My two girls and I are on lockdown for two weeks, which eats into Thanksgiving. We're hoping to test next week so we can participate in family stuff.
I have gone AWOL again and there is really no excuse. My health is improving, especially since I've been working to lose some unneeded pounds. My back is better, having another procedure soonish.
I am currently hanging out with my kiddos, trying to not eat all the snacks and watching reruns of ER.
Writing? That's the point of this blog, right? Well, it just so happens that one reason I haven't been blogging is that I haven't been writing. Goes hand in hand, doesn't it?
I have plenty of ideas...for new work. I'm banging around a haunting story (haunted horse ranch in north Texas...interesting, huh?), and another different take on angels/demons that I started working on last year.
But finishing Dark Ember? Holy crap, its like pulling teeth. What is the deal? I can start stuff, fill it out, but I always fumble the landing. I know, I know. Beating this dead horse, but it astonishes me. I wrote most of Dark Ember in about 4-6 months. Its taken me that long to even try finishing it.
I know part of the problem is the book's length. I'm at 116 thousand words, with no real ending in sight. Should I trim it down in edits? Should I split it into two books? I have no idea. Trying to let go of that worry, to just follow the story, is very difficult.
There's no news on Guardian. I need to start submitting again, but its November. Basically a dead zone for writers. I guess I'll try again after the first of the year. I've got a new ending for that book in mind, so when I have some time, I'll go back and retool it.
What else? Nothing. Literally nothing. I have GOT to get this stick out of my craw, to get more writing done. I did about 400 words yesterday, on a chapter I've been stuck on since June. JUNE, y'all.
I've got two weeks off, til December 1st when I can go back to work. I need to work on this book, just end it by any means necessary.
Any advice?
-C.A.