In The Salt Mines

So here we are, 5 months into 2015 and things sure haven’t gone the way I’d expected, writing-wise.

Remember back in January when I promised I’d write more, share more and and finish things? I’ve kind of stayed on track in that regard, but not in the way you think.

In January, I was flooded with a bunch of freelance projects all at once. 4 to be exact. Since work comes and goes so fleetingly when living the freelance life, I accepted every project and rearranged my personal writing schedule to accommodate them.

Let’s just say it only took me a few days to realize my own work was not just firmly pushed to the back burner, but totally thrown by the wayside.

It pains me, dude. PAINS ME not to be able to work on my own stories but right now, I have firm deadlines for paying clients and I just had to put on my Big Girl pants and deal with it.

I’ve learned a few things along the way, though…

1. I CAN ROCK IT!
In order to meet all these deadlines, I’ve had to up my daily writing game. No way around it. With some installments due on the same day, some in the same week, every other week, constantly for the past 5 months, I’ve been typing up a storm, guzzling coffee like nobody’s business and generally living the hermetic life. But little by little, I’ve seen my daily word count grow (sometimes almost hitting the 10K mark) and when I’m really in the zone, my productivity is killer.

2. IT’S ALL GOOD
So yeah, I may be devoting all these hours (and days…and weeks…) to someone else’s work, but it’s still practice for me. It can only make my own writing that much stronger.

3. ABSENCE AND THE HEART
It really DOES grow fonder! I’m DYING to work on my own books. I admit it…I was a bit stuck in my own work (finishing 1 novel, preparing to edit another, overwhelmed by both), but in this time away, little snippets come to me. Half-scenes, pieces of conversation, & cool twists I’ve been jotting down so when I finally have time for my work, I’m ready to hit the ground running.

I’ve had some of my highest word counts these past few months and I’m pretty proud of the work I’ve done. Not just the stories I’m writing, but the amount of work I’m getting done.

The lesson to be learned here? To keep up the same dedication to my own work as I’ve had for these other projects.

I am so not wanting for ideas. I have buckets of ideas just waiting for me to pay them a little attention. The only problem when I do finally have time to work on my own writing? Choosing which one to do first.

There are worse problems to have, so I’m not complaining. Just pining…

WHAT TO EXPECT

So, here are the projects I’m working on or that I hope to have out in the next few months

• Lockwood novel: I need to finish writing the 2nd half
• Reaper novel (Book 1 of 2): needs editing!
• ebook Bundle: 3-ebook short story bundle, hoping to release it this summer
• Secret Project: this one probably won’t be out for a while, but it’s going to be AMAZING! More details as they’re available

And that doesn’t include the serial, or the other novel, or…or…