What I’ve Done
A month ago, I posted my first ever progress update, and I’m happy to say that I’ve kept pace with the goals I set for myself in that post. My middle grade sci-fi novel has a working title: A BOY FROM NORRU.
At this point, I’ve finished the pre-draft plotting, and I’ve written over 11k words of the story. This means that, when you include the content I created for this website, I wrote about half of my typical output last month. Which is phenomenal, considering most of my attention recently I’ve spent on my move to Austin.
So, so, so much work goes into moving. Obviously, there’s the big stuff, like actually moving yourself and your items. But then there’s the smaller stuff that you don’t consider ahead of time, like learning what days trash collection comes through your neighborhood. Each of those smaller tasks creates a small headache. And those little headaches add up to one big migraine.
But as with most ventures worth undertaking, the reward doesn’t come without the effort.
By the time this article goes live, I will have lived here in ATX for a week! And despite all the painstaking details of pulling up my roots and replanting, I can’t wait to see what the future brings. I’m almost completely settled in, anyway. There are only a few more things I need to finalize.
What I’m Doing
With any luck, I’ll have shifts scheduled at a new job within the next week. I’m moving forward with some opportunities to this end, and I like my odds. More importantly, I like the places to which I’ve applied. Assuming all goes well, I will feel a legitimate passion for my day job, and I’ll grow as a person while I do it. Both are privileges that will not go unnoticed.
In terms of writing, I plan on spending the next month continuing to write the first draft of A BOY FROM NORRU, along with my normal blog posts. Of course, I don’t know that I can expect to meet my previous average of 30-40k words per month any time soon, what with the other responsibilities I’ve taken on. But with a new lifestyle comes a new norm. And word count goals are only helpful so much as they bring inspiration and discipline. Not when they discourage me.
I’m still keeping up with the queries I sent out for MIRI MEDERA, INTERPLANAR POTION-MAKER. And I’ve received several form rejections from literary agents, each one a badge of honor. Candidly, I will say that A BOY FROM NORRU is much more high-concept and commercial so far. Which, as an unpublished author, means I may have more luck pitching it to agents. Not to say that I’ve given up on Miri; quite the contrary. I’ll make sure she has her time in the spotlight.
Wrapping Up
In short, I moved, and I’m writing. The latter will be true for as long as I’m alive, so I suppose it doesn’t warrant reiterating. In the next month, I intend on finding a decent flow between housework, my day job, and my stories. Oh, and I’m gonna enjoy the city. Can’t forget that.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read a bit about my current endeavors.
– AJG
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