<–The State of the Writer: 5/30/21         The State of the Writer: 6/27/21–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

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Finished Projects: 1

• Book Reviews: Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent – 6/3/21

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Project: Story
Working Title: The High Archon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 613
Status: Drafting
Progress: Chapter 1

Ughhhhhhhh *but forever*  So first off, I was wrong about the word count.  What I thought was word count was actually character count, so damn my myopic eyes.  I haven’t broken the thousand word threshold yet with this, and I’m not sure how many more words I’ve written in the past few weeks.  Not that many because I’ve really been struggling…like really.  I’ve never had this much trouble starting a story once I have an idea of where I’m going.  Direction isn’t the issue, nor is vision.  I can 100% visualize the scene, but translating that into words humans can understand is where the pipe is clogged.  I know it’s a “I don’t have enough energy to concentrate” type of thing.  I also have this thing where if I don’t feel like I’m doing well, it’ll really put a damper on my ability to work.  I’m not giving up on this project though.  I…can’t really do that.  I’ll just start obsessing over it if I don’t work on it.  If you think this update is all over the place THIS IS EXACTLY MY FUCKING PROBLEM.  I’ve started what I call “micro” outlining where I break down my outline even more so it’s sort of between an outline and a draft.  I just sort of stream-of-consciousness what I want to happen in my notes and then later will go back and smooth it out.  I did that last night with a scene, and I’m hoping to work on it today.  I’ve also been talking to another author friend about it and I’m about to message my other about it.  Sometimes I don’t even need a response; I just need to hear it aloud.

Project: Story
Working Title: Helpless (The Broken Rose AU)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 2218
Prior Word Count: 2016
Word Difference: 202
Status: Drafting
Progress: Chapter 1

So I was honestly worried that my issues with The High Archon had to do with it being more of an original than a fanfiction, and yes I meant to write “more of an original.”  I think there’s a sliding scale more than an absolute binary, because they don’t exist, and there are quite a few stories that essentially just change a few character details from another narrative, and where do you draw the line between inspired by and copied from honestly?  This is a discussion for another day, but suffice it to say, it’s not a simple answer.

Anyway, I was worried I just couldn’t write anything but fanfic, buuuuut I can’t really do much with this one either, which makes me feel better?  I can’t deny part of it has to do with the stigma that still surrounds fanfic i.e. “You’re not a real writer because that’s all you write blah blah blah,” which is bullshit; however, there are certain things that are fine in fanfiction writing that don’t translate as well to original and/or what you want to market, though, again, this is by no means cut and dry, and the more people accept fanfiction the less stigmatized these will be.  I do think there are some…not so stellar things found that could be expunged, but there’s nothing you find in fanfiction that you won’t also find in the publishing wild, especially now that it’s much easier to do so with eBooks and self-pub.  The lines just become more blurred.

I did get some more words written on this, but I haven’t worked on it in about a week.  I think it’s all part of my general malaise.  I have thought about it though, so I’m not giving up; my brain is just giving out.

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Project: Story Audio Recording
Title: Northern Lights
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Length: Novel
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Status: Finished edit of Chapter 2
Progress: Prepping to record Chapter 2

“Did TSN accomplish nothing in the past two weeks??” you ask, and the answer is…no, no she did not.  Once again, I meant to do this and it just never happened.  I was going to record in the bedroom after I cleaned it yesterday, but after I cleaned it, I was too tired to record *upside down smiley face emoji*  I was really hoping I’d have been able to do it yesterday so I’d have something of substance to update today.  Maybe tonight?  Maybe Tuesday?  STAY TUNED!

Project: Story Audio Recording
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Length: Novel
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Status: Finished editing Chapter 2
Progress: Prepping to record Chapter 2

I literally have no other work to do on this or Northern Lights but record.  I added instructions to all of the separate sessions.  I just need the opportunity.

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On Hold

• Book Reviews: Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent – Yes, I know I posted that this was a completed project, but it’s only my half-assed effort.  I’d finished the “review” portion a while ago; it was the analysis I struggled with and finally had to shelve.  I hope to come back to it one day, but I have to concentrate on my story projects right now

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In Progress

• Game Reviews: Final Fantasy VI – This is at least progressing well.  I’m about to wrap up the music section.  I need to check what I did/said in my prior Final Fantasy reviews then go back and add a few points to the analysis, maybe move some things around, and then do the long and arduous edit.
• Book Reviews: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North – I have to admit, this was another reason I wanted to move on from Unraveling Oliver.  I’ve been waiting to review this book for a long time, and the urge got even stronger after playing FFVIIR.  To say there are similarities in the implications/subtext of the Remake would be an understatement, and I’m finding it difficult to not just go all out about that in this review, but I want to lay out the foundation of the story itself first.  Not to mention there are a bunch of other narratives (e.g. episodes of Futurama and TNG, Doctor Who, Oxenfree, Chrono Trigger, and others) that must be mentioned, too.

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My BFF had her baby today, which is also my parent’s anniversary.  She was so worried she’d have her on the 14th, which is a very shitty person’s birthday, and her dad was being a total troll about it *rolls eyes* so yeah, today is definitely a better day.

You know…I should really take notes about what I want to write here because I’ll think of it as I’m writing the stuff above, but by the time I get to this part whoosh it’s gone.  So, uh, no house yet, and now my complex has sent out rent renewal notices, and we need to figure out what to do.  My Taurus cautioness wants to renew in case we don’t find a house, because even though this apartment sucks, it’s better than being homeless and/or living in a car.  I’m not sure exactly when they need to know, and I don’t want to tell them we’re looking to move in case they try to not let us renew at all (I’m paranoid).  It would cost $1800 a month if we just renew for six months, so that’s a complete and utter fuck that.  Honestly, I’ll just break the lease.  We’ve been here for ten years, and…there are problems.  I’m not going to go into them here…yet.  I’ll have a lot to say once we move out, but I’d rather be discreet for now.

I’m getting my second Pfizer this Friday.  I expect to be nearly dead, so I’m glad this update is this week and not next.

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<–The State of the Writer: 5/30/21         The State of the Writer: 6/27/21–>