Hiatus Ends · 2:25pm Oct 1st, 2018
Blog Number 44: Last Lap Edition
There's no point denying it any longer: Yes, I'm still writing. My self-imposed hiatus is officially at an end. It never really started, to be honest. Much as I wanted to take a break, after yesterday and what led up to it, I have to admit I can't.
I've spent nearly all this hiatus trying to write anyway. So why didn't I just admit it?
Because I had my heart set on my novel project: The one resolution I set myself this year was to end 2018 with at least one completed novel, the crown jewel of my whole writing enterprise, and my ultimate goal. Even as I was turning out shorter works here and there, I didn't want to officially call it a return to form because, as far as I was concerned, anything less than a novel "didn't count".
I'm not saying that's a sane mindset, not in hindsight, but it was also the reason I kept radio silence for a couple of months. I really didn't want to come back at all until I'd solved this one issue.
But now the true problem is unavoidable. For nearly seven years, I've almost entirely tried to solve any and all writing issues by myself - up to and including editing my own work - and the resultant perfectionism and stress is just getting ridiculous. My last blog post, and the subsequent comments, have made me realize I can't carry on with business as usual.
What's worse, the debut novel I was attempting has barely budged an inch, because I started mentally editing it even while I was writing it, until it got to a point I refused to put a word down unless it felt absolutely perfect. A strategy that worked manageably well for short stories wrecked me for this novel, and I'm not wasting another three months trying to run a race and tie my shoelaces at the same time.
So it ends here. What I'm going to do that's different is this:
1. Finish the first draft without getting perfectionist jitters over it.
2. Look for and recruit at least one other person to give it a check-up.
3. Only then start editing it, bearing in mind the comments from last blog post.
4. Publish it only once I feel I've done sufficient editing to iron out the worst creases.
One way or another, this is getting done. Procrastination, perfectionism, and isolationism be damned. If I happen to write a few side projects on the go, so be it. No point devaluing what I write, because that's clearly not helping.
So as of today, I'm "officially" saying Impossible Numbers is back in business.
Lastly, but most important of all: I'd like to say a big thank you to the people who helped me out when I was at my wit's end. Your advice has been a wake-up call, and I was a fool not to seek it out sooner. For now, I've got a few things my end to take care of, but hopefully all this silly self-imposed drama of mine is over and done with for good, and this month marks a new and better beginning. Time enough for me to start using that advice.
Until next time, Impossible Numbers out.
I also should've really done this in Blog Number 43. At the time, my heart wasn't in it and I thought I'd add them to the post later. Putting them here instead.
Statistics
List of Reviews
A double-whammy actually. And they went over remarkably well! 
- Fic recs, September 3rd: New Character Tags, Season 6 edition! (Stinging the Trail)
- Fic recs, September 3rd: New Character Tags, Season 6 edition! (The Icing on the Hearth's Warming Cake)
Fics Accepted By Equestria DailyNothing new to report at the moment. EDIT Wednesday 3rd October 2018: Remembered I did submit Diminished one month ago, as one last old-time "outside chance" before I consider submitting more recent works.
New Stories?:
Calendar Chaos. It was done on the spur of the moment, originally for a flashfic contest before it spiralled out of control (the fic, that is, not the contest). It was featured regardless, which was one reason I ended up posting the last blog entry; I simply couldn't fathom why this quick little piece shot up so fast while other stuff I'd laboured on hadn't.
New Updates:
N/A
Story Count: 79.
15 in 2018.
26 in 2017.
16 in 2016.
2 in 2015.
0 in 2014.
8 in 2013.
9 in 2012.
3 in 2011.
My Total Story View Count: Rendered obsolete due to new site changes.
Age: 2,484 days, or 354 weeks and 6 days.
Working: 19 days in December 2011, 2x366 days for 2012 and 2016 leap years, 4x365 days for 2013 and 2014 and 2015 and 2017, and 273 days for 2018 so far combined.
My Follower Count: 204.
My Followed Count: 164. I'm definitely gonna have to give this a boost.
Here's hoping the altered approach works out well.
4946408
Definitely. While I'm not expecting miracles, I am hoping things start turning around from hereon out. Thanks for the comment.
This all sounds quite good. :)
Welcome back!
Welcome back!!
Oh and I've definitely experienced the phenomenon of the quick little story that overshadows something you actually spend time and emotional capital on. One of my "biggest" stories was conceived and brought forth in a weekend; the other was maybe a week and a half. Contrast with my ongoing novel, which has done all right for itself, but which hasn't quite paid me back yet for the 3 years I've sunk into to.
Welcome back officially, and best of luck with the novel!
Good to see you again!