You’d be surprised how much thought I put into blog titles. I’m strangely satisfied with this one.
After a couple days away from the desk and enjoying time with my family, I’m back to my usual writing and plotting. We’re about to be in the “overtime is normal” period of the year and I’ll be working 10-12 hour shifts for 5-6 days a week.
You know it’s going to be rough when both the 7-yr old and the 5-yr old are looking at the calendar on the wall, asking when Dad’s workload will lighten. I’m hoping it’ll be late summer, so I can be around before school starts back up.
But Tuesdays are my half-days, so at least I can still take care of them in the afternoon on that day, and I’ll be able to take Han to Kung Fu in the evening.
Of course, since everyone knows I’m about to be largely absent except for Tuesdays and Sundays (I’m a career postman, so I don’t do parcel delivery like the new kids), that means we try to cram everything that we can into those few hours, including dinners with the grandparents or any errands that need me present. Tuesdays are about to be absolutely full of “Things-To-Do”.
Do what you can for your families, readers.
It was a quiet weekend in the writing world, as well. As much as I want to get everything done, it’s important to occasionally step back and look things over. That, and do chores.
The routine of chores can be oddly inspiring, at times. Maybe that’s just me, but I had stumbled across a few plot points while handling the dishes. It was one of those sudden moments when you stop what you’re doing, staring off into space, and the dogs give you very odd looks as you say “Ohhhh, that could actually work,” to no one in particular.
I must have been especially quiet until then, because even the hamster in her exercise ball paused to peer at me. There was a frantic rush to jot down the ideas in my notebook while they were still in my head, and I had to finish the evening chores. But I think I have figured out a crucial plot point that had been eluding me the past few weeks.
So, now I have two new things to try: First, giving myself a means to measure my progress. I’ve told myself that the science fiction story could be done at around 366 pages, so I can work towards a percentage amount of draft work every day.
Second, I’ve given some thought on a suggestion from my wife, Sarah. She’s seen me go through gaming sessions with new players and teach them the basics of character design and development, as well as DungeonMaster discussions on plot-writing and story-boarding. She said I should write out essays that cover these subjects and offer them for subscribers. That’s something to try, at least.
Stay safe out there, readers!
-JB Swift
Swift's Corner 