I told myself to have a quiet day to myself and focus on my writing. With the grievance process underway, any time spent worrying over it would just add on to a depression that I really don’t need.
So, I took my own advice and managed nearly 3,000 words in one morning, plus getting to expand on a character who, in the first draft, was barely a background set piece. Now, she’s fully realized and so much fun to write.
An overly helpful but woefully unobservant Southern Belle? Absolutely. Also a blue octopus alien?

I’m working on weaving comedic moments into my storytelling, which looks effortless to some but is a ton of work for me. I’m never sure if my jokes will land, but I think we can all chuckle at the idea of a way too helpful Southern Lady cephalopod. With this section nearly finished, I’m at the halfway point for this rewrite.
Stay safe out there, folks!
-JB Swift