This Is The Way
Are we there yet?
Fair weather is a good basis for family trips, innit? Aye, it is, and when you drive ANYWHERE the inevitable question from the backseat will be some form of “Are we there yet?”.
Same with any writing project I ever started. Some part of my brain is always nagging about how long it takes to finish something, or why we can’t take a detour, or that we need to take a break - seriously! - lest something will go awry.
The heat is doing its part in this as well, and I am wondering every day if I really was made for this. But on the other hand, how would I find out if not jumping in and giving it my all (as little as that might be)?
Sometimes parents say things like “if I had known THAT beforehand…” - and hold right there, you KNEW. You just ignored it. Same with writers. Be honest. We knew what we were getting into, at least with the writing part.
Publishing… that’s probably an entirely different beast altogether.
To answer the question, I am not there yet. As you will read below.
But I saw Mandalorian & Grogu and I was entertained. That’s something, innit?
Projects
Short story collection(s)
I’ve read through some of the older pieces and already dread the editing. Also, world building is partially missing, partially too much of a distraction. I will have to deal with this in portions. Still did not find a common thing for the collection, aside from all of them playing in the same star system.
Writing routines
Yeah, this is going horrible. Routines are routinely broken, that is the only steadiness to be found. The heat is doing its part as well, giving me ample reasons to not write but go swimming with the family or just try to endure the hot evenings with cold beverages and an old fan.
Rewriting my novel
I started some new elements in Campfire here, to get a better grip of the world and the people surrounding Gunnar. Also, the story is too long and too short and why is everyone better at writing long form than me? Ugh. Reading the old draft, I realize I did a bad job at describing things, people, and did not transport emotion. I know what Gunnar thinks and feels, but the reader? Not so much. Damn. There’s work to be done.
A blink from the past
This sci-fi short story was very well liked by people that mean very much to me. Also, I once submitted it to Uncanny, but it was not what they wanted. Maybe it is what you want?
Promotions
Portal Goblin
Portal Goblin Vol1 is out, everyone! Of course you remember me talking about it last month. OF COURSE I SAID!
Well, good news - you can buy it directly on Ko-Fi! Let’s all do so and have a good time reading!
Portal Goblin Vol.1 :Reap the Undead
Summer Sale Aradhna K.
Treat yourself to some wonderful stories everybody, Aradhna has a sale going on her new itch.io store. Don’t miss out!
Fizz & Bang
As you might have noticed, this newsletter is two days late. That is mostly owed to me being very much distracted and also a bit lazy. BUT - the heat is also a factor!
We spent yesterday swimming and enduring the temperatures next to a big body of water, which was very nice aside from the fact that some thousand people had the same idea and the sun was actively trying to melt us, and failing that, give our skin a nice crisp. No amount of sun protect lotion could have saved us.
Today, lightning and thunder rode the cloudy sky. It cooled down, but not enough, and I still don’t feel like writing much. If I was a more professional about it, I could achieve more, whispers my impostor syndrome. But watching Norway vs Ivory Coast with my son was probably more important. There’s things you can only do once, and people aged 32 and 46 dying right and left of me are a sign that I better spend some time with those I love.
I just have to be careful to get back into writing. To not hesitate to follow the urge when it arises. Jot those words down, bring the story to paper (or the screen, mostly), and use the moment, the inspiration, the feeling.
But at the moment, I am not afraid of not getting back. It has become a constant, the need to get words down. But not in this heat. It will pass, my writing passino will stay.
Drink your water, stay out of the heat, and read some stories in the shade. And if you like them, tell the writer. They need to hear it. They never tire of praise, although they might rather endure it than bast in it.
But also, tell your friends, so they might read them too.
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!
