Teasers round 4, making slow progress on book 2

Me this week. Photo: S K on Unsplash.

What I've been up to

I've been writing when I can, but the past couple of weeks and especially the first few days of this week were rough for me health-wise, requiring a lot of rest.

Which, let me tell you, is not always easy for me to give myself. I'm as guilty as any "productive" person in thinking rest is laziness or weakness (in myself, not others). It always sounds so ridiculous when I state it blatantly like that, but you know the lies your subconscious tells you. Its power rests in leaving those things unsaid. So I say them to take away that power. And to tell you you're not alone. I'm human, I'm imperfect, and I have inner demons just like everyone.

When I have been able to work, I've done some admin stuff I've long been neglecting, so it's still been a good time overall, one that will benefit my business and writing in the long-term.

And I've also been planning the second book in my head, even while resting. Not writing down an outline or anything, since those don't work for me, just letting concepts simmer, puzzling them out, checking ideas against my instincts.

Another reason writing the second book has gone slower so far is that it's going to involve more of everything: characters, world-building, locations, arcs, plot. It's going to be a lot to get it all right, hence a greater mental "fill time" before the floodgates of writing can open.

I also have to figure out how to bridge the first and second book, given the narrative style of journal/memoir, and I'm still playing around with various methods, from flashbacks, to a frame story, to an intermediate novella. Or all of the above. We shall see!

Teasers, Round 4!

And that's a great segue into the last round of teasers! (For now.... No promises about later, especially closer to the someday launch. 😉)

Vibe Teaser 4

Well, that's ominous.

The vibe is spot on. To be completely accurate, the pass should be narrower, essentially a crevice, but I think this does the emotional job just as well. I'll let you be the final judge, though.

Character Teaser 4

And now, for the final character reveal: the main character!

At long last, meet the MC.

This one is perfect. Seriously. In fact, it was so good, it inspired her in-book outfit.

But, again, those of you who have started or finished (yes, there are a few who have already finished! 💛) beta reading might have pictured something different, and that's OK!