I don’t know if it’s the weather changes or the fact that this week has been so busy and we went to Boston yesterday (Atsuko Okatsuka FTW!!! Woooo!), or if it’s because I wrote yesterday when I typically take an art day, or that I’ve been hyper-focusing doodling and on Etsy shop stuff lately and going down the LLC/craft-business/small biz bookkeeping rabbit hole, or the fact that NEXT week will be even BUSIER, but my brain is FRIED. KAPUT. TOTAL STATIC.
I hit 14k yesterday, which is INSANE given I just started writing the novel on October 1st. I’m about 1k away from the word count goal post for the end of Act 1, and I’ve still got a bit to go, so it’ll probably wrap up a little closer to 16-17k, if I had to guess. It feels like there’s 3k left to go. OH! But I forgot that I wrote 2k on future scenes, so ACTUALLY, I’m at 12k aiming for 15k, so I’m SPOT ON schedule! I knew it felt like 3k to go.
Well, that feels nice to realize.
I’ve also got to remember to pick up the kiddos at a certain time, because Thing 1 is getting his hair trimmed, and I missed the window for a decent pickup time at Hannaford’s, so we’ll have to swing by a grocery store on the way home (OR NOT), and apparently my folks are having guests visit which I 100% forgot about, AND **AND** the guys are coming to install the library ladder, which is 100% a sentence I never thought I’d get to say, but I’m JAZZED. Will definitely post photos after they’re done.
Also I need to get cushions for the window seats in the wee library…
*bzzt* *bzzt* **ERROR 404: Brain Not Found**
So to be kind to myself, I’m giving myself the day off from writing. I know my brain’s not functioning where I’d need it to be to stay on topic, so I’ll focus on some other, chill stuff that I need to get through. I’m probably also stuck in that wait-mode where I know I have something coming up (ladder guys/pick up kiddos) that I don’t want to forget or be late to, so it’s all my brain’s focusing on. Also, I haven’t eaten great today, so that may not be helping. Also, too much coffeeeeeeeee….not helping enough…
But-! I did get some real life, oh-my-gosh-it’s-on-paper mail: Extra Soft Animals’ paper newsletter, which is so freaking charming! Check them out at https://www.extrasoftanimal.com !
Ah! And it’s official, I’ve got a story coming out in Phantom Worlds: The Cellar Door Issue #6 :
When an old flame walks back into Zach’s life and gifts him the key to the tattooed door on her stomach, Zach takes the opportunity to slip into the alternate world inside her that smells like sugar and spice. But all is not beautiful inside his heartbroken ex. Something stalks her psychological halls, and given the chance, it’ll make sure Zach never breaks her heart again. “My Love Will Consume You” is a story about settling for less than you deserve, dangerous candy (this is becoming a theme, isn’t it?1), the sugar and spice girls are apparently made of, and the old adage–“when people tell you who they are, believe them.”
Pre-order Phantom Worlds here!
1 To read another candy-related horror short story I’ve written, check out “Candyland” in Apex Magazine #125.