Tris Talks... April Newsletter!
Writing newsletters is hard.
For one, my brain is a wee bit fractured. Always has been. As a child, I could conquer any problem that required calculation or logic or thinking my way around it. If I could extemporize and work my way through it, I was fine. I could write. I could do chemistry and math. But things that required memorization were nearly impossible to me until I found tricks, like hooking my reading to music, so if I recalled the song, I would recall the page and could find my spot on it again. (Kinda wish that trick STILL worked, but sadly, no).
Looking back on an entire month is tough. I know I did things. I have to refer back to a calendar to find out what.
It’s been a busy month, too, for work, writing, and social. Small family things coming up that need to be handled. House things. This will be what life is like for the next few months, it appears.
What I’ve published…
Last night I uploaded the ebook for Finding Their Roots to D2D and it is on its way to all the platforms selected for wide distribution! The book will be available in electronic form from most major spaces for $3.99. I’ll send out an official announcement once it’s live everywhere and that will be for subscribers only and will include the first scene as a preview!
I’ve been trying to post What I’m Reading Wednesday and Work in Progress Wednesday and while I’m not perfect at getting them done each week, I’ve been somewhat regular. I won’t include links to all posts in the newsletter, but if you’re curious, you can watch the tags on Pillowfort and Tumblr.
Pillowfort:
- https://www.pillowfort.social/tryslora/tagged/what%20i'm%20reading
- https://www.pillowfort.social/tryslora/tagged/WIPWednesday
Tumblr:
- https://www.tumblr.com/tryslora/tagged/reading
- https://www.tumblr.com/tryslora/tagged/wip%20wednesday
On Tumblr, my most popular post continues to be the one on how writing sex scenes and fight scenes are similar. It makes me happy to see other folks getting lightbulb moments, too.
What I’ve accomplished…
Aside from all the actual work done, my biggest accomplishment this month was using Pacemaker. I bought a subscription to Pacemaker in March, figuring that if it works for me, excellent, and if it doesn’t, I’ll cancel before it renews next year.
So far I really like it.
I tested it in March with a plan to keep me on track for beta reading a novel for someone. Then in April I set up three projects:
Edit ITS and finish by mid-May
Get FTR published properly by end of April
Start second round edits of MF in May and finish by September
I’m on track for ITS and close to on track for FTR—the simple fact that I’m in one interface for both word tracking and a checklist is helpful, though. I see all the things expected of me. I think it’ll be excellent as I move forward and create daily lists of things that need to be done, if I can figure out a way to include those as well. I also like the idea that it can have multiple plans brought into a project (draft, revise, edit, publish, YAY).
Anyway, I’ve edited about 2/3 of ITS so far in April, and that feels good. It’s getting done, and I feel like I’m being productive instead of wallowing in the fear of edits.
Don’t get me wrong: I still fear those edits. I’m just pushing past it as best I can.
Nothing new has been done on outlining, unfortunately. That is pushed to May. I hope.
What comes next…
Well, two tasks are obvious: I need to finish this round of edits of ITS (and send it off to Duck Prints Press again) and I need to publicize FTR so that hopefully it will SELL.
I also need to prepare for Balticon at the end of the month. Keep an eye on social media for information about my panels/etc. while I am in Baltimore and if you are there, please say hello!
And of course, I need those outlines ready so I can draft the next PHU and 7Lakes books. I will be using the time between when I send ITS back to DPP and when I receive MF to get that done. I hope. Fingers crossed!
Upcoming appearances…
I will be in Baltimore, Maryland for Balticon on Memorial Day weekend. Looks like most of my panels will be on Saturday and Sunday. I’ll try to send out a note with my schedule before I go!
The next event after that will be the NASFIC in Buffalo, NY, in mid-July. I will be helping with programming and on programming at that convention, and am very much looking forward to it.
I also hope to help out with Duck Prints Press events over the course of the summer, including Fandom Fest in August in Schenectady, NY.
If you’re curious to see snippets as I work, all levels of my Patreon are treated to early chapters of PHU when it is posting, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at works in progress.
And find me on social media if you want to chit-chat or just hear me natter on about life, writing, and fandom. I’m tryslora everywhere!
Thank you for reading Tris Talks...!
If you are interested in supporting my work, you can find me on Patreon and on Ko-Fi for one time tips.