We’ve moved into summer, officially. The period where we celebrate days when the temp only reaches 90F. Yet there’s some encouraging news this month.
Status
The Wizards Cat
The sprints didn’t last long, but something else happened. I just started writing spontaneously. Keeping the file open on the desktop. Yesterday I wrote for about an hour before I realized what I was doing. Felt good. Natural. Like maybe … no. I won’t jinx it.
Everything Else
Still on hold. I’ve had glimmers of Ishmael and Zoya stories peeking out around the edges. It will be good to get back together with them eventually.
What Am I Reading?
The most significant reading has been Paul Loomans’s I’ve Got Time. It’s not a book I’d recommend for entertainment but it has really helped me rebuilding my practice. It’s working (as evidenced by the recent writing) but it will take some (pardon the expression) time.
Book of the month? I spent a lot of time with Cássio Ferreira’s Hidden Class: Handyman series. It hit all the right buttons for me with a doofus turning his life around by playing in virtual reality. Fun, occasionally funny. A bit silly at times but I enjoyed the first three volumes.
It might not be your cup of joe, but maybe grab a sample and give it a try. You might like it.
About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing it on the 15th of the month. You don’t need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.
Looking Forward
Reading the Loomans book has helped me re-organize my daily routine by making it less about “getting things done” and more about “letting things happen.” Like the writing. Letting it happen instead of making a production of it.
I might have been over-thinking it. Trying to hard to make it happen. Loomans has me rethinking the way I organize everything. I’ve shuffled my morning around to minimize the distractions. Making the first couple of hours of the day flow comfortably instead of rushing, pushing to get things done as soon as possible so I can do whatever. The things I want to get done, get done. I still have my checklist but it’s a safety belt against ADHD instead of a rigid set of commands.
I feel like I can breathe again after much too long.
Will it work for awhile? Probably. I’m still working through the 7 lessons.
Will it last? Time will tell.
Until next month, crew, safe voyage.
– N
Sounds good! I’ve found myself doing some really fun things and I like where they’ve taken me. I’ve barely dipped into the process yet. Most of my experience has been making sure I take “breathers” because stuff comes to me to do “now” and I’m getting a peek at what can happen if I get into the conversion of rat to sheep. Meanwhile I’m not sure I’m “getting things done” but I’ve sure done some things that have been a lot of fun and exercised the brain!
I listened to a few podcasts recently where you mention Loomans in the show notes. Hearing you has helped me in my own walk.
Love you work! Thanks for the update. So excited for your shift and and potential of reading more of the stories that you craft. I love Ishmael so much and fell in love with The Wizzards Butler immediately too. Wishing you the best.
If you like Cássio Ferreira’s Hidden Class Handyman series, try the Pacifist series which explains the world. He’s also right another series that takes place in the game, book 1 is out in August. And if you read stuff on Royal Road, all his stuff goes there first before being published.
I wish there was a book 2 for Salt. There is so much of that journey left to be shared. Any hope?
We’re working on it. Tentatively titled “Iron”