So, here is my first check back in since starting these reports. I didn’t quite meet the goals I wanted, but like I said weeks ago, if these get my writing more I will consider them a success. I have definitely been writing more and it feels good.

Short Fiction

As you can probably guess if you’ve been keeping track, I did not meet my deadline for finishing my short horror story “Shower Thoughts,” which was supposed to be done by March 31. Some life got in the way, as well as some bad habits with putting things off. Nevertheless, I have finally finished a first draft of the story last night. I’m pretty happy with how it has turned out. There is still that part of my brain that’s muttering that I’m a hack and it’s trash, but I’m not listening to that. If it sucks, at least sucking at something is the first step to being kind of okay at something, right? Either way, I’m setting aside the story for now. I’m not done with it, just this draft. I’ll come back to it later for refinement.

In other news, I’ve decided to enter a Flash Fiction contest, which you can check out here if you’re interested as well. I’ve never done anything like this before and this seemed like a perfect opportunity I should just go for [with a nice deadline to kick my butt into gear]. I probably won’t win, but what matters here is the attempt, as well as getting another story written. Submissions are due April 15, but can be no longer than 1000 words, so in terms of requirements I am confident I can finish something before then. I have already written nearly 500 words and feel pretty good about what I’ve come up with.

Novel

In terms of the Untitled fantasy novel I want to write, I’m not sure if I will be able to get a start on it before the deadline I set—not a start that will matter to me, at any rate. I’ve been taking more notes, but I’m rather stumped at getting a beginning in order. And figuring out what the plot is (the old one has been progressively dumped). Certain elements are coming together, I’m just not sure how I want the story to grow from there. Part of me thinks I should just dive in and see where the process itself takes me, but I want to stew on it a little more first.

That’s all for this entry. Wish me luck and thank you for reading!