Not going on an adventure!

We had a road trip planned & booked, partner, kiddo and me, to Brussels and Amsterdam. Well, that didn’t work out. No way of driving 2500 kilometers when someone has a fever. No way of walking sightseeing for days with that. So we stay at home and learn a lesson in how to deal with frustration, because everyone had been looking forward to that trip a great deal. A chance to grow, yes?

In the meantime, I work long hours on a DYI project, namely a garden gate. Which is also the reason the newsletter is a day too late - March is a lot this year. I beg your forgiveness, dear readers!

Projects

Short story collection(s)

I was thinking about adding every short story and flash fiction from my Aeson Chronicles folder to the collection. Which would sum up to about 60k words? And I don’t know if that is simply too much. Also, the stories are as scattered thematically as my brain. How would I make that work? And the biggest question of them all — am I absolutely overthinking this? (No, don’t answer that. We both know I do.)

Develop new writing routines

I am always hoping it gets easier to keep momentum, but the thing is, writers are wading upwards in the river, always against the stream. The torrents almost rip us apart while we try to stay on course, to tell our stories. Or it’s just me who is really bad at keeping at it. Anyway, although it is a struggle, I really did it and kept it at a story a week, some even two. The cancellation of our vacation trip should have taken pressure out, but instead I feel really demotivated. We will see if & how I can overcome that.

Rewriting my novel

That went as well as I expected. With all the things happening in the day job and my life, I am not getting anywhere with that. I simply don’t have enough time on my hands (Narrator: he absolutely has, he just wastes it). Hey, I heard that! (Narrator: because you are crazy, get a grip.)

For ****’s sake… thing is, I struggle a lot to keep on track with my projects. My brain is defaulting to leisure time the moment I can slip out of working/problem solving mode. And if I don’t slip out of that on a semi-regular basis, my mind goes in a downward spiral of worries, fears, self-loathing.

The quality of my draft zero does indeed not help alleviate the latter of aforementioned negative emotions. Also I found that I might have to do a lot more character work before the rewrite.

A blink from the past

Two years ago I wrote a sci fi flash fiction about someone who decided to take a stand for those under his protection, against the odds. Writing (and probably any art) nowadays feels a lot like that. I hope you enjoy the read, would love to hear your opinion!

Promotions

Short Film “I’m Not Awake and Neither Are You”

Author Avenger Deborah Kelty helped make this movie, and it is very well worth a view! Give it a shot, will you?

Ghost Stories Bundle - 19 Ghost Stories for $10!

Victoria Audley has a sale up - her novellas Gleam and The Hunt and the Haunting are part of the upcoming Ghost Stories Bundle on itch.io! From the 3rd of April, you can get 19 ghost stories in poetry, books, and video games for $10.

itch.io/b/3601/ghost-stories

Fizz & Bang

What is your favorite curse? What do you mean this is an odd question?

I think about it more, lately. Because there is really much going on where my only apt answer is a curse, lest I resort to anything more vile. Yes, there is darkness in me, and I hold it at bay, keep it locked in. I know the difference between good and evil; where the line blurs und my weary gaze, I look towards those guiding flames, the better souls around me. Also, there’s law and order, and all that jazz. Can’t have someone turn my family’s life upside down because I did something stupid.

But they can’t sue someone for cursing them, no?

“Your Honor, the defendant, fully aware of the consequences and with malicious intent, uttered a curse against the plaintiff. Therefore we demand…”

Nay, that’s not how it works in the real world. I can curse the House of Zuckerberg, the House of Altman, the House of Trump, Miller, Hegseth, Netanyahu, Putin, all the nazis and everyone who treats other people like things they can break, throw away and replace. I curse them all:

May the crows carry them to hell in shreds. May their desires turn to ash, their hearts turn to dust, their works be undone swiftly and sure as sunrise.

Of course it won’t do anything. That’s not how the real world works. We work from our smallest circles outward to make the world a better place, hope to change hearts and minds bit by bit, word by word, hug by hug. Balancing between hope and desperation, dancing in the storm end stage capitalism unleashed like leaves, still clinging to each other and hoping for a soft landing.

My heart yearns for a good ending, for a solution to all those troubles, to a change of heart of those fearful of change itself, clawing their fingers in the old promise of power and punishment of the stranger. I would forgive those who spew hatred without thought, just to mask their own fears, if only we could all have good things (like, surviving climate change, hopefully even reversing some of it?).

But that’s not how the real world works. Maybe one day, when we have written enough stories, reached enough minds, and enough of those with a crumpled knot of fear and hatred in their chest where love and compassion should beat, have either fixed their hearts or died, maybe then we can only speak blessings and carry on.

It is not today. May the crows carry them to hell in shreds.

But may your every step, dear reader, be accompanied by luck, hope, guarding spirits and filled with joy and strength. May your resolve never falter, your soul know joy, your eyes see beauty every day.

It’s wild out there, be excellent to each other.

Best regards,

Morris

P.S.: Would love to read your opinion/feedback/what you want to know more about? Thx & bye!