This month was much more fruitful than I expected. With the gremlins home on summer break, I expected to get much less done. Instead, I finished Act I and II of Annwyn, started editing again, and even have a potential agency internship on the horizon.
Current project: Secrets of Annwyn
Monthly word count: 37,677
This year's word count, to date: 135,255
Tentative July TBR:
Out There Screaming, a horror anthology edited by Jordan Peele
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman (ARC)
May was full of work, from writing to keeping gremlins alive to ensuring the Colorado Gold Conference was updated and running smoothly. I even started going to a physical therapist for my jaw, neck, and shoulder pain, and it's all starting to improve.
I ended up tossing my last draft of Annwyn, after realizing I was following the wrong character. Since switching POVs and creating a scaffolding outline, it's been much more fulfilling. I'm nearly finished with Act I.
Current project: Secrets of Annwyn
Monthly word count: 30,486
Tentative June TBR:
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima (ARC)
The West Passage by Jared Pechaček (ARC)
Out There Screaming, a horror anthology edited by Jordan Peele
This month was a little crazy, with my TMJ recovery journey and all the volunteer work I've been doing for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Colorado Gold Conference. Despite my mountain of extra duties, I had a fruitful month. I finished Act I of Secrets of Annywn and have a solid outline in place for the rest of the novel. It's all coming together.
Current project: Secrets of Annwyn
Monthly word count: 23,528
Tentative May TBR:
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (a reread)
Three top-secret books for a contest I'm judging
This month was exhausting. While I was able to write every day, I was often distracted by a lot of personal growth that should ultimately make my prose stronger and my characters more nuanced and interesting.
Current project: Secrets of Annwyn
Monthly word count: 10,031
Tentative April TBR:
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin (ARC)
This month has brought forth many changes. I have pivoted from editing to writing full-time, and it's been quite liberating to give all my energy to a passionate project. Expect more news soon.
Current project: Secrets of Annwyn, draft one (officially)
Monthly word count: 22,796
March TBR:
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Writing
- Revise and query After Wendy
- Get Annwyn's world and magic system into a workable state
- Start drafting the horror/mystery collaboration, title TBA
- Finish one manuscript
- Write every day
Career
- Finish all client edits by February 29
- Seek out agency internships
Reading
- Read 12 books for fun
- Read at least 24 books total, including ARCs, research, and work-related titles
- Put together buddy reads
Lifestyle
- Say "no" more
- Set boundaries
- Spend more time with the people I love
- Remove people from my life who either don't appreciate me or no longer bring me joy
- Treat myself to small adventures every two weeks
- Go on a date once a month
- Workout five times a week
- Reset my diet, paying particular attention to macros
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Minimize social media time
- Explore new music
- Go on more spur-of-the-moment adventures
Quick Recap
It's been a roller coaster of a year, but I have plenty to be thankful for and a hell of a lot to look back on. It's been a reflective year full of changes. While I didn't fulfill my writing goals, I grew a lot and found that I'm done catering to other people. This year was spent ruminating on the past, looking toward the future, being transparent and open, refusing to compromise who I am for someone else's comfort, and determining who and what is truly worthy of my time.
This year, I tackled a lot of trauma and self-doubt. I changed career paths (from editing to pursuing an internship at a literary agency). I said "no" more often, putting my needs above my desire to be liked and respected by those who hardly show gratitude for all I do. I also happened upon my best friend in a critique group. 2023 was a solid year—the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. I couldn't end on a better note, really.
Favorites of 2023
Reads published in 2023: Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney and Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
Read published before 2023: City Song by Oliver Blakemore
Indie read: Beyond the Bounds of Time by J.P. McDonald
Yet-to-be-released read: Eldritch Punks by Oliver Blakemore
TV drama: The Queen's Gambit
TV crime/thriller: Inside Man
Teen series: Heartstopper
TV comedy: The Office
Rewatches: The OA and Peep Show
Teen-centric movie: Metal Lords
R-rated movie: Nope
TV Special: A Whole Lifetime
Most played artist on Spotify: The Story So Far
Lipstick Covered Magnet has been nominated for three awards:
- Writing the Future We Need: Mental Health Representation
- Best Use of Tropes
- Side Character MVP
I have no idea who nominated my book, but it's an honor to know that someone enjoyed my book enough to throw it into the ring. If you've read my book and would like to cast your vote, you may do so here: 2023 Indie Ink Awards
Here are my annual Christmas watches, listed in no particular order:
- Krampus
- 8-Bit Christmas
- "Seasonal Beatings" - Peep Show
- A Christmas Story
- Gremlins
- Christmas Vacation
- Violent Night
- "Christmas" - Friday Night Dinner
- Elf
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- Home Alone
- Edward Scissorhands
- Klaus
July has been nuts! With the family vacation behind me, and my son's best friend moving away this week, it's been a hectic and emotional roller coaster.
Yet I still finished the Secrets of Annwyn scaffolding outline and prologue. Given how long Annwyn has taken up real estate in my head, it's freeing to finally get it down on paper. With over 60,000 words in character and plot development, and another 40,000 words in false starts, I'm on track and falling in love with writing again.
After Wendy is coming along. Transcription-style revisions are murder, but I'm trekking along and making it shine. If all goes well, I'll have a polished first act by the Colorado Gold Conference in September.
The kids go back to school on August 14, and I can't wait to have more time to write and create.
On the docket for August: writing 15,000 words of Annwyn; revising chapters eight through ten of After Wendy; editing; judging RMFW's anthology submissions; and perfecting my pitch for Colorado Gold.
Favorite Universal Studios Attraction: Hogsmeade Village
Favorite Re-Watch: Peep Show
August TBR:
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Eldritch Punks by Oliver Blakemore
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
