I know, I know this website is like, defunct these days. I have been struggling to maintain a work-life balance, as they say, and discovered that the ‘work’ part of the equation is way out of whack. First, a little over three years ago I took a programming position that was much more challenging than I’ve ever handled and that, my friends has literally killed my side writing. I used to finish my ‘day’ job then head out to the coffee shop to type for a couple hours before heading home, plus add a day on Saturday or Sunday and I could easily hit ten thousand words a week.

I've pretty much pulled out of social media and stayed offline these past few months. I plan to stay off of social media for, oh, ever? I spent too much time there and it was a distraction I feel I can no longer afford. Yeah, I Marie Kondo-ed that shit, as it was no longer bringing me joy. There is a lot going on for me right now, unfortunately dear reader (or maybe, 'fortunately'?), I'm not one to air my personal stuff out in the yard, so to speak, and I will not be elaborating. Health wise I'm fine, I am making progress every day as I get some of my life back.

I am still alive, just checking in. Not a lot of writing things are going on. I am writing, but slowly and that kind of sucks right now. Talk to me in a year and I'll be more forthcoming with where I was at right now. 

Last week was a good week of writing. I wrote only on TZC:6 and feel I am back in the groove with it and should finish it next month.  My goal is to write 3500 words a week on it or  500 a day, which seems low and achievable. Now that I have the major plot points ironed out to my satisfaction (at least until I over think them and want to re-write again!) I am making progress again.  As it stands, the book is at a little over 70 thousand words, between 60 and 70% done, if using my previous works as a bench mark.

Whoa, seems like I lost a month of my life there, so much going on! Most of it was writing related.

First up I have added a whopping 31,000+ words in the form of 5 chapters to Shiners. They start here with chapter 16. Enjoy!

I haven't yet gotten all of Shiners up and ready like I planned, just through chapter 15 as of tonight.  It has been a hellacious work/home chores week. Stuff is getting done in my 'real' life, so I suppose that is something, writing has taken a turn for the worse though, I've only written a few thousand words this week, though I bet I get in three thousand tomorrow, which will be good. 

I've had a ten thousand word week. First in a long time. Actually closer to 12 thousand words down on 'Shine On' and <gasp> The Lost City of Brass. Truth be told though LCoB was more editing than new content. Still, I'll take it, dare I get 40 thousand words in October? I hope so, I want 50 thousand (as I usually get) in November and if I make those goals I should finish up TZC6 and Shine On, that would be nice. 

I have been writing on 'Shiner On' a lot lately and noticed I have not posted most of Shiners to the website for your reading pleasure, this is something I will rectify in the days to come. I've posted chapters 4-10 today and plan to have the rest of it posted by the end of the month.

The new posts to Shiners start here with Chapter 4.

I am still kicking, reading a lot, writing a little, mostly on 'Shine On'. 

Pfff! The best laid plans, eh? I feel so fatigued lately. Not tired, fatigued, a sort of tiredness that has sunk into my bones that I just can’t shake off. And I’m doing less and less as the weeks go by. Retirement? Fuck that, I’m like 20 years away from that ‘relief’ and I suspect if I were to ‘retire’ I wouldn’t be long for this world.  “Did you hear about ‘Clodi’? Yeah, dude retired and two weeks later suffered a massive coronary and died.” That would be my retirement. Work 40 years, die after a two-week vacation.