My big hopes for the month failed to deliver the word counts I was looking for. It wasn’t a loss. More like a win I didn’t expect.

Status

The Wizard’s Next
I managed to get a nice bump. The story is about 1/4 done. The plot lines are still sorting themselves out but I proved the concept. Finding the right time of day, arranging the day’s activities around writing, and making writing play time instead of work time pays off. I still need practice to get it smoothed out again, but it’s there.

The Wizard’s Butler
Podium notified me this morning that the audiobook is on sale all month on Audible. I suspect most of you have it but on the off chance you wanted to grab a copy, this would be a good time to do it.

What Am I Reading

Everything I read was next-in-the-series stuff last month. I went back to the beginning of the year, but only found authors I’ve already recommended here or in the newsletter.

So I’ll recommend a series that I’ve been following for years.

Mackey Chandler has a pair of intertwined series, April and Family Law. I’ve recommended them before. This month, the next Family Law book – A Stranger At the Door (book 9) – made it to my reader. I felt right at home even though I’ve visited that universe for over a year.

The story starts with Lee Anderson and her adopted father Gordon as they recover from a family tragedy. Then things get weird. Lots of “Earth people are crazy” hijinks. Lots of political maneuvering on micro and macro levels. Lots of science in the fiction, some of which is a little suspect, but I’m good with that so long as it’s consistent.

And Chandler tells a complex story in simple, clear prose. He threads the needle between too much and too little wonderfully. Even if you don’t like science fiction, you might like this.

But don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

I’m still here. Still struggling to get some momentum going, but I’m invigorated by the last month’s efforts. No, I didn’t finish it. I knew that was doomed going in. But finding that the writing is fun again, and often frictionless when I find the write collection of tasks, has made me sit up and pay attention.

I’m setting out this month to expand and improve on the work I started in September. Not just on the story but on my writing practice. Being more mindful of it, more purposeful in its pursuit, can only yield some more satisfying results.

I hope for you as well as for me.

I’ll just have to keep plugging away.

Until next month, safe voyage.

I’ve started Nate-oWriMo. Spent the morning doing word sprints. Got side tracked this afternoon so I’m a bit behind. This may be the month that sparks fly.

Status

The Wizard’s Next
I have something of a handle on the story. It’s still about as solid as handful of water but at least my hand is pretty wet. I’m optimistic about the coming few weeks.

Everything Else
Nope. Nothing to see here. Someday I hope there will be.

What Am I Reading?

Not enough. That became clear when I got my last two stat reports on reading time. Only half my normal amount. Mostly because of a video game.

In spite of that I just found what might be my favorite space opera of the year. Certainly of the summer. I sacrificed most of the day on book 1 and dove head first into book 2 before I realized what I was doing. That cost me afternoon writing time, but the story just wouldn’t let go.

Joe Durham’s Ensign, Year 1 grabbed me by the nose and dragged me into the world of Montgomery Hale, an orphaned station mechanic trading food for equipment repairs. When the fleet’s flagship stopped … well, let’s just say hijinks ensued. Pip would have been proud, I think.

There’s a lot to dislike about the character. Headstrong. Driven by a past that won’t leave him alone. Desperate to attend the academy and become a fleet officer. Sounds kinda familiar. The academy part, not the desperation.

It’s a good story. I’m looking forward to seeing how Durham manages the second year when some of Monty’s secrets begin to catch up with him.

But, as always, maybe grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

I originally called it Nathan’s Novel Writing Month to match the old NaNoWriMo, but Evan offered up Nate-oWriMo. I think it sounds better and lacks the negative connotations that other one carries.

The last couple of weeks have consisted of me playing Fallout New Vegas and telling myself stories that don’t match the lore. Violent, often frustrating. A windows game playing on Linux through the magic of interface layers. It was already known for crashing a lot. It did.

The important thing: I got tired of building something only I could see and only within the limitations of a rather old, somewhat clunky video game that didn’t allow much in the way of building. I wanted to build something I could share. By which, I meant writing the next book. Taking the various pieces and parts I’d half imagined and put them onto the page to see how they fit. If they fit.

I can’t really do that piecemeal. It’s too much to keep track of over time. I have to binge it. I learned that lesson on the last few books. Striving for regular production resulted in a story that felt more like a quilt than a blanket.

So September it Nate-oWriMo. The goal, a completed draft by month end.

Can I do it? I honestly don’t know. I’m off to a bit of a slow start and the motor needs to remember how to run, but I’m here for it.

We’ll see if it’s here for me.

Wish me luck.

Until next month, safe voyage.