Weekly Update: 7 / 7 / 2013

Alright, so I'm going to start doing a weekly update on Sundays to keep you guys, well, updated on how my story progress is coming along. I'm tired of just posting blogs every now and again whenever a new story or a new chapter comes out. I will still do that, but I'll also do this. It's a win-win!

So first of all, the new Star-Crossed chapter is finished. Well, the rough draft is finished. Once my editor gets back in town and takes a look at it, I'll edit it some more, and then we'll see. Most chapters that are out right now only saw one round of editing, but some really important stuff happens in this one, so it might take more. I'll let you all in on the chapter title. Here it is: Change is Coming.

Exciting, right?

On to Brave New World. I took a break from writing chapter two, in which Twilight arrives in Druthi, to do this blog post. So the fact that I had to take a break from it to do this means that I am actively working on it. I hope I can keep up the standard that you all have come to expect of me (well, from the first chapter, anyway).

Malaise... ugh. It won't die, because I won't let it, but I might put it on hiatus. Not sure yet.

I'm also working on a on-shot called House of Cards that involves changelings. It's clocking in at about 10,000 words right now, but I expect it to be at least 15,000 by the time I'm done.

Alright, updates are out of the way. Now onto some more personal stuff. WARNING! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT MY INSECURITY AND NEUROSES WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING, FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS PART NOW!

This is the section in my weekly updates where I'm going to share my thoughts on some things. Mostly myself, but possibly also other things. If you guys don;t want to hear about this anymore after this, please let me know in the comments that I'm wasting your time. Trust me, it won't hurt my feelings.

I just read Hard Reset, by Eakin, for the first time earlier today. It was amazing. The characterization of Twilight, the dark humor in her thoughts even as the worst things happen around her, and the last (real) chapter, were all incredible feats of writing.

It made me feel absolutely shitty about myself.

I know it shouldn't. In everything else in my life, I've pretty much accepted that there will be people better than me at it. Whether it be playing the violin, playing videogames, or even working at my job, there will always be someone doing it better than I am, and that's okay. It doesn't bother me when it comes to those things.

But it sure as hell bothers me when it comes to writing.

I think it's because no one else that I know IRL is really a writer. It's something that I have to myself, and that makes me feel good. And don't get me wrong, I love the great stories I read, but they make me feel like I will never be able to write something that good. I'm not trying to sob, or complain, that's just how I feel.

But maybe that's a good thing. As long as I don't let it discourage me from writing completely, maybe I can channel it into my own writing. I wasn't planning on writing anything today, but after reading Hard Reset, I stared at a wall feeling inadequate for about ten minutes, and then I started writing chapter 2 of Brave New World. If I can channel that feeling into an attempt to make myself better at writing, then it can only be good.

So, until next time, bye!

P.S. Feel free to share your own personal thoughts and the like in the comments. I will respond, but we can't spark conversation without that first comment.