14 April

I’m fully moved. In the new house, old one closed out. Still loads of boxes lying about, but we’re getting there. Wish my ME didn’t make things hurt quite so much.

I received my first story acceptance of the year yesterday. Much joy. And a story I sweated blood over when writing it.

Now I’m trying to see a way to complete the novella challenge that I’m part of. 2 weeks in, 4 to go, and 0 words written. I came in with a strong start, but the story refused to go in the direction needed and for the challenge I’m involved in I neither wanted to force it, nor run in the direction it has turned. It gets to sit on a back burner again, and later in the year I will write the sweet coming of age story that it is striving to be.

Secondly I turned up a flash story I’d enjoyed and wrote it out from 400 words to about 1600. It gave me some very useful ideas, but the alt-earth noir just didn’t feel fresh enough to run with.

So, now I’m on my third attempt. I’ve written a sketch for the intro, and half of the 1st reversal. I’m trying to get things clear in my head, so that I can hit the ground next week with 3 weeks to write 18k+ words.

I have survived the move.

I will overcome the ME.

I will write this novella by the deadline date.