Breinthewild

*insert music reference here*

…since the last update. So we’re overdue!

The life: not too crazy. My state survived the summer without too much of it burning down (so far). Hurray. Fall has arrived and with it the delight of rain (not sarcasm by the way) which comes with hot tea and indoor activities–some of my favorite things.

The book: draft three!!! completed and sent out to more beta-readers (I guess they’re gamma-readers at this point) and… it needs more work. I knew this would be a frustrating part of the process but man. No blog post can prepare you for the absolute soul-crushing realization that something you’ve spent years of your life on isn’t quite ready yet. So after a few weeks to let the knees-skidding-on-asphalt feedback feeling fade (say that 5x fast) it’s once more into the void. At least I’m learning something? Hopefully? (I don’t even know any more).

The bitter part (bits of shattered glass sprinkled across the asphalt) is the possibility this might all be for nothing. As I’ve said before, writing a book is no guarantee of selling one–particularly when it comes to your first attempt. Is it worth it, even if all that effort never gets seen by those outside your circle? I hope the answer is yes. I believe the answer is yes. But in the middle of it all, working away in the wee hours before and after your shifts at work? Honestly, most of what I see is the disappointment. (Though from what I’ve read, this is excellent practice for the submission process, which appears to be a thin despairing path littered with the crumpled spines of would-be-bestsellers crushed under comments like: “not right for the list” and “what the hell are those commas doing” and the ever popular “we wish you the best.”)

The rest: when I’m not writing, I’ve been reading a lot, especially in the last few months. My goal was to read 50 books in 2021. Not sure if I’m going to make it but I think I’ll get close. I’ve made it about halfway through at this point and am planning an update listing a few of my faves soon.

That’s all for now. See ya!