2/16/2019, No New Fic This Week · 8:44pm Feb 16th, 2019
You know what the big problem with having something done way before the due date is? Having all that extra time before the next due date rolls around to waste time doing whatever whimsical bullshit tickles your fancy. This week, it was less procrastination and more a combination of writer's block, indecision, and my work situation. See, I'm getting ready to change jobs, and this week I was a bit busy scraping together my various licenses and certifications. Also, I attempted to do my taxes at the walk-in center at my local Walmart.
Don't try that.
Seriously, I wasted a total of six hours this week just waiting at a bench. The first day, there was nobody manning the stations. On the second, there was only one desk open, and it was this eighty-year-old woman who took two hours to get a single person done, then demanded I leave and make an appointment despite the fact that I was the only person there. So that sucked.
Anyway, as I watch the seconds tick by, I'm forced to admit to myself that there's no possible way that this fic will be done before tonight. I'm sorry to admit that, but it's the honest truth. First, I had to decide what to write. Not an incredibly easy task when you know you've only got a week to outline, draft, and edit, but possible. Unfortunately, none of my preconceived ideas have been fleshed out to the point where expanding on them feels natural. That, and they're almost all multi-chapter ideas.
About three days ago, I finally managed to nail down an idea. I even got it outlined in about ten minutes. The problem came when I actually got started on it. I hated the beginning, so I scrapped it and restarted the next day. Then, I wrote about 1,700 words that I actually felt good about. The problem is that it's all before the outline starts. So, at a modest estimation, I'm looking at about 12,000 more words to write before I can call this complete. There's no way that's getting done today—especially with D&D starting in 30 minutes.
That said, this story will be finished and posted by the end of this coming week.
Also, I know that I previously stated that my goal was to publish a story every week. That's going to remain my long-term goal, but I think, for now, that I'm going to knock it down to "one story every two weeks." At least until I get some speed back. Writing isn't coming as easily to me as it used to. Probably because of the aforementioned rust.
In the meantime, I do have a recent Hearts and Hooves Day fic that, inferring from the stats, most of you haven't read yet. Does that count?
Also, this stole most of my friday. Oops.