Like a lot of authors, I set a daily word count goal to help keep me on track with my various projects. It's an easy way to track progress and maintain accountability with everything else we have going on in our lives. The downside is that it can be very easy to let that pesky goal turn into a giant stick that you beat yourself with when life gets in the way and you just can't get the words down. At that point, writing turns into this thing you Have To Do, rather than something you WANT to do, and it can get even harder to get the words down. So we try to reward ourselves -- if I just hit my wc goal, then I can watch that show, read that book, go do something fun. It turns writing into a chore. How messed up is that? I write because I LOVE it, but there are days where I still find myself dangling a juicy carrot in front of my face to try and eke out just a few. More. Words.
I know some days are going to be like that. I know some days the words just don't want to come until we're as far away as possible from a dang keyboard (shower, anyone?) and then a whole-ass scene just pops into our brains. But I never wanted writing to turn into a chore. So I've flipped it. Instead of telling myself I have to get 500 more words before I can go do the fun thing, I tell myself I don't get to write until I've done the boring thing. Dishes, laundry, working out, something, *anything* to reset my brain so it realizes writing is the REWARD not the CHORE. It doesn't always work, but it's definitely helped change my overall attitude and sometimes that's enough.
On the writing side, I've broken 10K on my 4HU Depik Companion novel! This is usually the point where I start picking up speed, and I'm definitely having fun writing this one, so we'll see if I can meet my goal to have the draft finished by the end of the year. What's it about? Science Guild mindfuckery, the power of friendship, and one very pissed off catsassin.
If you want a sneak peak, you can pick up the Phoenix Initiative: First Missions and read Duck Me, which leads directly into my novel. Jeremiah Weed, a rubber duck, and a dropship pilot on her very first mission. What could possibly go wrong? While you're at it, read Casey Moores' Buff Orpington and the Sinister Scientist Bunnies. Yes, that's really the title, and yes, it's really that awesome. It twins with my story and helps set up some of the things you'll see in my Companion novel -- because Casey is the freaking BEST writing mentor ever. And then, read the rest of the stories, because they're all freaking amazeballs!
You can grab it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7YZCFCK/
On the Salvage side of the house, Kevin Steverson should be done with SB3 soon so I'll be able to officially turn it in. . . just as soon as I wrangle my back cover blurb into something not completely awful. Who knew they were so freaking hard? Argh! In the meantime, if you're looking to scratch your Salvage itch (okay, wow, that sounded way cooler in my head but I'm going to roll with it, you're welcome), check out David Alan Jones' latest book in the Coalition Series, Salvage Search, the follow up to Salvage Mind!
Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLR91ZWF/
The Coalition Series, by the way, is where the Salvage Bunny books now live. Book three is going to tie the Knights into Salvage System, so it was a smart move, both for sales and for series continuity. Did I mention I'm excited for you guys to read book three? All the excited right here!!
Anywho, I've got to go do some chores to earn my writing time. Until next week, folks!