Update and Some Chapter Progress · 2:31pm Feb 23rd, 2023
Firstly, I'd like to apologize to everyone who had expected Chapter 13 to come soon after the blog post in December. I had hoped to finish the chapter some time in January. That didn't happen. This is partially because three characters I had intended to serve a simple, short purpose became three characters with much more complexity and dialogue time than I originally planned... and partially because I was sick.
In November, during the week of Thanksgiving, I contracted Covid-19 from a family member. I'm fully vaccinated, so the symptoms, while unpleasant, lasted less than a week, and amounted mostly to muscle aches and fairly mild fatigue.
Going into December, however, I began to suffer from more serious fatigue and loss of ability to focus throughout the day (a couple symptoms of so-called "Long Covid"). I also developed a severe atopic dermatitis flare-up. For those who are unfamiliar with the condition, atopic dermatitis, commonly called eczema, is an inflammation of the skin.
In my case, it was across >95% of my body. I do not exaggerate. I was not able to concentrate on writing, or much of anything, for most of January, thanks to this and the continual fatigue. I was able to see a dermatologist earlier this month, and the prescribed treatment has knocked out the flare-up pretty handily. Eczema can be a life-long companion, unfortunately, but it's currently minor enough that it isn't affecting my day-to-day activities as it was for more than a month. Furthermore, the fatigue is improving. I'm combating the lingering tiredness with tea and coffee.
Yes, as outlandish as it may seem, you can, in fact, enjoy both.
Finally, I have managed to surmount a particularly stubborn bit of writer's block, and have written a small portion of Chapter 13. I won't give an ETA, because I know better, but the important thing for me is that I'm working on it again, for the first time in the better part of two months. That feels good.
That is all. Thanks for reading my story, and for anyone new to little blue apocalypse horse's adventure, welcome to the show! I've worked on To Bellenast for longer than most of you probably have been on this site (2017 was only when I first published it).
I'm slow--exceptionally so--but I shall finish Crystal Dew's story. She means a lot to me, and I won't abandon her before she gets her dream workshop.
Dont worry take your time:)