I have a bullet journal that I use for keeping track of my weekly tasks, my daily tasks, and to natter about life, and track media I consume. This isn’t one of those beautifully decorated bujos you see online. This is a strictly color-coded list of tasks and information and things that I would otherwise forget.

One thing I added this year is a monthly Tarot pull. I did a reading at the start of the year—one card for each month. And every month on the first day I pull a modifying card for that month as well.

This month, the cards were very clear in their advice: Let go of the past and be resurrected anew. Let go of anxiety and allow yourself to release the potential that is currently being squashed. Re-evaluate, take stock, and then move forward.

It’s all good advice.

So that was my theme for the month. Don’t worry about the failures of the past, simply move forward as if every day is new (not a lie—every day is new).

I have been trying to recreate my writing habits. Recreate plans (and stick to them, as best I can). Find ways to make my life work around my writing, and my writing work around my life.

Has it gone well? Um… it isn’t perfect, but I have made forward progress for what feels like the first time in ages. We’ll get to that later. Mostly, I feel a bit more settled in my skin, and I’m handling the frustrations better. I’ll take it.

Things published…

Nothing new is out in the professional arena, but I did write two blog posts this month (first ones since uhhh… January (whoops)).

Priorities… — available on Tumblr | Pillowfort | Dreamwidth | Website

Knitting vs. Writing — available on Tumblr | Pillowfort | Dreamwidth | Website

I also reorganized the bibliography page of my professional website. It’s not perfect, but it’s so much better/cleaner than it was.

Hoping to have more to share with you next month!

Progress made…

My top goal at the start of the month was to start utilizing Pacemaker again. It works for some things (task lists that are completely defined but need to be spread out over a period of time, or things with a word/chapter count). It does not work for other things—I couldn’t figure out how to create an ongoing project requiring me to post two blog entries in a month and get them on the calendar, or something simple like a single newsletter every month. To do those, I would need to create a project which has every month and every expected post/newsletter defined in it. So when it runs out, it’d… drop off my calendar. Not a great solution for someone with a swiss cheese brain.

I did my planning first thing in October! Then I received ITS back from Duck Prints Press and promptly replanned everything.

The original plan had been to do high-level plotting (translation: lots of talking to myself in handwritten notebooks to define motivations, plot arcs, tropes I want to use, etc.) in October, then devote November to creating two detailed outlines—one each for the next books for PHU and 7Lakes.

The new plan is finalizing the edits for ITS by the end of November, then getting started on those plotting and outlining tasks immediately after. The goal for drafting books in the new year remains the same. Here’s hoping my writing ability returns by then!

Meanwhile, yes I have been successfully working on editing. I’m a little ahead of my targeted word count per day, so I’m happy with that. Fingers crossed I can finish up early and get started on talking to myself about new books.

I really do like Pacemaker, and if I’m using it, it’s worth the cost.

What I’m working on…

I think I already covered that. :D

I am currently buried in doing what will be the close to final edits for ITS, so we can prepare to launch the crowdfunding for it (and reprints of the first two books as needed) in the winter. If you haven’t already given the Kickstarter project a save, please do!

The book is approximately 145k words long, and I’m about 35k into it. I do have a ways to go, but I’m feeling optimistic.

I’ve allocated a couple of weeks after that to the high level plotting, then I’ll be diving right into outlining. I don’t normally outline completely ahead of writing a book, but considering these books have left me feeling directionless, I think it’s time to try being slightly more of a plotter.

For me, outlining is literally an index-card level description of what I expect to happen in a chapter. The major points that need to be hit. Things I shouldn’t forget. Nothing more detailed than that, because yes, I am that highly stereotypical pantser ADHD human who feels as if the story is complete as soon as I’ve told it once (hence my issues with editing). But maybe this old dog can learn a new trick. I’ve been refining my outlining capabilities my entire writing career, after all.

This time next month, I should have progress to report!

What’s next…?

I don’t have any expected publication dates, but keep an eye out because as soon as we set a date for the Kickstarter, I will be announcing that all over social media and here as well.

My next convention will be Boskone in February. I just reserved my hotel room for it, and confirmed that I’m all set up with a membership. I’m looking forward to hearing from programming, and getting to both be on panels and do another taekwondo workshop. If you’re in or near Boston I hope you might attend the convention and come see me!

I have also made plans to return to Balticon (YAY!). More on that later, once I have things more finalized. It’s a favorite convention for both myself and my spouse, and we are looking forward to a great weekend there, and a small vacation right after as well.

And now? Time for me to go do some of that editing before it’s time to kick things tonight.

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.

Come 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!