Update and the Macabre

[jpskewedthrone]

OK, first the macabre. While driving to work the other day (one of the 3 hour legs) I noticed a small truck again with something sticking out of the bed. Many somethings. I thought they were sticks or the handles of rakes. As I caught up and got ready to pass them, I realized that the "dirt" I'd also seen streaking the back of the truck was, in fact . . . blood. And the many somethings? The legs of deer. Yes, the bed of the truck was loaded with deer carcasses. I didn't check them out all that carefully, but I did have a few reactions:

1) Only in Pennsylvania, and
2) I realized that, in all honesty, I did not think this was incredibly bizarre. A little bizarre, but it didn't really surprise me.

I've been in PA too long.

And now for the update. After the con and the subsequent "catchup" that followed at work, I managed to get a few hours to write this week. I finished chapter 13 and got about 8 pages into chapter 14, which I considered nothing short of a miracle considering the little amount of time I had for writing. In any case, here's the wordage update. I figure there are 3 more chapters and an epilogue, so I'm still holding out for finishing the novel by the end of the year. Not by WFC (other authors who I will not mention the names of have deadline of WFC; I expect to bring home a mounted head from the con), but by the end of the year. We'll see. I've decided life does not want me to finish this year, so perhaps it will throw something else in my way.

88,425 / 100,000 (88.4%)

The Vacant Throne

Comments

[authorm.livejournal.com]

Only in PA indeed! EWW!

And I'm up to 63%....I might pass you yet! But you know what, I take no joy in that if that means you're struggling. :(


Writing takes time. Lots of time. I hope you get some more soon!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I couldn't decide whether it was the end result of a hunting trip OR if it was a roadcrew picking up roadkill. After all, someone has to pick up those carcasses. In either case, it wasn't exactly pretty. And the mental image of all of those legs/feet sticking up in the air. . . .

Anyway, I'm certainly not struggling in the sense that I don't know what to write or am blocked, it's just the time issue. I've got essentially 6 classes I'm teaching (instead of the usual 4) and now that it's close to the release of book 2 I've got some cons and signings planned.

So yes, writing takes time. Lots of time. Time I'm not finding at the moment. But of course, don't let me hold you back. Pass me! Wave flags as you whiz by! I'm not under a time pressure/deadline issue, except a personal one. Nothing contractual.

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, PA the place where you still give kids the school day off on the starts of Doe and Buck season.

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

They had to have been hunters. Because the whole joke with PA is that they never ever pick up their dead deer. Unless this was an unauthorized deer scavenging expedition...but I can't imagine going out of your way to collect rancid roadkill, so I'm back again to they had to have been hunters.