STATUS – 9.2.2024 –

It didn’t get me.

Just about done dealing with my second bout with COVID, for the second time ever, for the second time this year. That’s a lot. While the first bout left me with a lot of potential health issues (of which I’m doing a lot to hopefully fix [B12 shots, cardiologist, neurologist]), this time wasn’t as bad, in that I knew what to expect. The brain fog was real, the shortness of breath, the headaches, the sneezing out your nose so badly you think brain matter is mixed in there, none of that was new.

Still sucked to go through, but I was forgiving of myself. I knew that when the fatigue hit, and I couldn’t stand, or think, or talk to my sons, that it was okay.

I haven’t written anything in nearly two weeks and I’m okay.

Do you realize how big that is?

PROJECT UPDATE:

#AMQUERYING – Now that I’m alive, I can get back to pitching Projects GREY and NESS. I sent two out, before I collapsed completely, and had some other agents waiting to go. GREY is almost at its limit of 35 rejections before I think I’m going to pull it from rotation. It has nothing to do with the concept of the story, but maybe in the way I’m telling it. I did start writing it over 5 years ago. I’ve improved, changed, as a writer, so maybe it needs another draft to fix it. NESS is doing fine. Gotta keep sending it out.

CLOUD – Transferred all my chapters from the notebook into a Word Doc. (Talked about that decision here.) This one is going on pause while I move on to edits of project…

BIANCA – It’s been over two months. I’ve received back nearly all the notes from my beta readers. It’s time to make the final changes in the fifth draft. (Yes. That’s why.) A lot of the notes have been, strangely, overwhelmingly positive.

It’s scary. It doesn’t give me any clear, definitive paths to follow to how to fix the book. My thought process is, outside of making sure there’s no easy-to-catch grammar mistakes, is to emphasize the themes and values I want the story to revolve around. Bring them more to the surface. If they’re subtle, make them un-subtle.

The goal is to get this pitch ready by October. No time to waste.

CURRENTLY LISTENING: Does Little V do sick metal covers of songs? Yes.

Are some of those songs boss fights from Japanese video games? Yes.

Are some of those songs also by the Venga Boys? Also, yes, and those are his best ones, in my opinion.

Check this one out and tell you don’t feel like calling up some friends to go explore the back alleys of your neighborhood.

CURRENTLY READING: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Consider this research. I think this works as a comp title for Project BIANCA, so I’m checking it out. About 35 pages in and so far its fine. Waiting for the moment.