I intended to post last week. But the first day of school turned into a fiasco where I’d sent my son to school on a bus he wasn’t supposed to ride, on a day when there wasn’t even a session for preschool. To compound my stress, I missed getting my husband to the bus stop on time, which made him late for work. He ended up picking up my slack by caring for our son while I went to work, but I don’t handle screwing up very well, and it cost him a vacation day he hadn’t planned on taking. *sigh*
But I should focus on the positive things, right? Like seeing my parents over the weekend, watching the eclipse with my husband while gorging myself on delicious food, and taking my kids to the state fair for my daughter’s birthday where they spent three hours riding every ride they met the height requirements for.
It’s been a busy time at the Town’s End, so I decided to schedule my post in advance to make sure it got out there.
Writing has been productive lately. I made an absolutely horrible, terrible, really good decision to remove certain elements from the second book, Isto. I do so in the name of reducing complexity, minimizing the mental load, and not alienating readers who don’t have the same amount of story knowledge about my world as I do. It sucks.
Some of you might wonder, what are these certain elements that you’re going to remove? Glad you asked! I’m getting rid of references to Han and Tegan, their lives/deaths, and how they related to the war. If that means anything to you, then you’ve probably read the first book. If it doesn’t, well, you’re better off not knowing. It’s not necessary to the second book. I realize that now. And gosh darn it, do I hate it.
Good news is that I’ve already finished rewriting the first two chapters. And by the time this post goes live, I should have chapter five rewritten as well. At least that’s the goal I set with my accountability partner. Oh, and speaking of her, she got engaged. (Yay!) And she had a birthday. (Yay!) And she really liked my chapter 15, which is saying something because she doesn’t particularly enjoy reading epic high fantasy. (Yay!)
After I finish taking out Han and Tegan, I should be able to return to killing that one character I mentioned a long time ago. Perhaps there’s a subconscious part of me that’s avoiding it? Hmmm.
Is life getting busy for you again? Have you ever had to take out something that was important to the character, but not the story? Do you typically schedule your blog posts in advance?
Hi Loni. It sounds like you have much to be happy about regarding your family and writing. I used to schedule ahead. Now I don’t really. I think I am choosing to focus more on my writing. Life is certainly getting busier for me as well with the kids back in school. We have just begun activities and I am adjusting to the changes. I wish every success finds you 🙂
Sorry about the fiasco, but it all worked out.
I’ve not had to take much out. I’m such a bare bones writer, I’m usually trying to add stuff.
I usually schedule my posts the day before. Two days early if I’m really on top of things.
I took huge chunks like that out of the first two books in my series. They were too long anyway.
Yikes on the first day of school fiasco! That photo of your kids is adorable! I bet your daughter had a wonderful birthday. 🙂
Yeah, I schedule all my blog posts in advance. I write them over the weekend and then I don’t have to think about them as they publish.
What a first day nightmare. Glad it got sorted.
Oh gosh. That was a first day nightmare.
And is there a chance you can use that information later in another book or side story? I know I’d be interested in reading it.
Life has gotten busy in ways I had not predicted. It’s been new weird added onto all the new things with my daughter and I’m still not sure if I’m coming or going lately.
I’ve had to cut stuff, but I usually toss it into my side story file to hopefully use again someday.
Finally, yes, I schedule almost all of my blog posts. I’ve just been horrible about writing them more than once a month.
Sorry about the first day of school fiasco! That would stress me out beyond belief!
I usually write my blog posts the day before they post. I guess that counts? Usually I forget and think, “oh yeah, I should write that” then scramble to get it done before the day is over.
Oh man, I’ve had those days. Those days are hard. But yes! You want to focus on all the positive, which, let’s face it, we typically get more of.
Yay to all the productive writing!
“I don’t handle screwing up very well”
I think that’s the most relateable thing I’ve read in a long, long time. >_< I'm glad everything worked out all right in the end, but I too have trouble dealing with that sort of thing.
As for having to cut things, yeah, been there. More than once I've had to cut something I put in just because it was cool, or because it was from my original concept for the story and didn't fit with what the story evolved into. But it can be a good sign – if you have to cut something, it can mean that you know the story better, so you can recognize what doesn't need to be there. And it sounds like that's where you're at, so yay. ^_^
I tend to schedule everything in advance in fear of missing out on something important.
Having an accountability partner sounds like a really great idea to keep oneself focused (and congrats to her on her engagement and birthday). Wow, I think I would have needed a very large pitcher of margaritas after that day you had with the bus snafu. 🙁
Nothing like a surprise vacation day for the spouse, eh? Glad you’re being writefully productive. No such luck here. I’m spending time writing, but the progress just isn’t there. School here starts in about a week. We’ll see how it works out.
Everyone’s lives are filled with good, bad, expected, and unexpected. That’s what makes life interesting whether it be a real life or a fictional one. I don’t guess I’d want it any other way–although mostly good stuff would be preferable.
I’ve been very bad about blog stuff lately. And I really don’t have all that much happening in my life since I got back from vacation. There is no good excuse for my lack of blogging activity. We all probably have a lot to be thankful for in our lives.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
OH, boy. I’ve had those days. We all do. Good on you focusing on the positive. That is an adorable photo of the kids. 🙂 And happy to hear the writing (editing) is going well.
I rarely ever schedule posts but, often, that leads to a lot of stress so there’s something to be said for scheduling.
I always schedule blog posts in advance. I’ll get that writing done at all costs, and the creative stuff always slides. Now that I’m only posting twice a week on my editing blog, that’s freed up more time to post true-life stuff on my GoFundMe. I never would have pegged myself as someone who would blog a book, but it turns out that’s about the only way I can amass enough material to have to later revise into a proper book.