Early Afternoon, Saturday, October 5, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire
Hi, there.
As you can see, I’m writing my 1,705th blog post on WordPress later than usual. I woke up late – sometime after 9 AM on a sunny but cold Saturday morning. It’s now early afternoon, and even though temperatures rose a bit between then and now, it’s still chilly for this native of Florida in northern New England. It took me a long while to get going with breakfast – and the necessary cleanup afterward – so I am behind my daily schedule, even for the weekend variation.
I don’t have much news to report; this week was most unproductive regarding my novel-writing endeavors, so much so that if I can get energized after lunch I might start an outline for the first scene in Chapter 20. The move back to Miami – in less than two weeks – will make it impossible to finish Reunion: Coda before I leave New Hampshire; the new chapter is part of the novel’s climax, yes, but it’s nowhere near the conclusion, so the more I write here, the less I’ll have to write there to finish in time for a December release.
I feel like I’m plagued by two mental battles that are undermining my creativity: the hefty expenses of my return to Florida (just renting the truck sets me back over $1,300) have me tense, and despite my GoFundMe campaign gathering just enough to cover the U-Haul, further donations are sorely needed. On top of this, the sheer aggravation of having to move at all is gnawing at my creative flow.
Another aspect slowing down progress on my almost-finished novel Reunion: Coda, ironically close to completion, is a haunting question: “Why am I even writing a novel if those who know I’m a writer are aware that my novella, Reunion: A Story – the first part of the Reunion Duology – is available on Amazon across all their stores, including Europe, yet they don’t purchase a copy, not even to support a friend?” Becoming a writer has been my dream since childhood, and I’ve dedicated years to honing my craft. It’s something I believe I excel at, and everyone who’s read Reunion has enjoyed it, albeit to varying degrees.
I guess I shouldn’t be so fixated on book sales and royalties. Instead, I should take pride in having completed 19 chapters of a lengthy manuscript—a feat I’ve never achieved before—within a year and a half. I will finish Reunion: Coda, albeit not as quickly as I’d initially planned. This is partly due to some Reunion fans wanting more, but mainly because I cherish this story deeply. However, the lack of book sales for the existing novella and comments like “You’re not a real writer” have been somewhat disheartening.
I hope to return from my lunch break reenergized and with some inspiration from Calliope so I can get some work on the manuscript done. If I don’t…well, it’s Saturday afternoon and I won’t force the issue. But, honestly, I need to make some progress with the novel before October 18.
P.S. And please, consider buying either the Kindle or paperback edition of Reunion: A Story.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
4 responses to “Musings for an Autumn Saturday: A Late Start…and a Writer’s Concerns”
Whoever told you you aren’t a writer is misinformed. Or an asshole. Or a little bit of both.
Just my humble opinion.
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And egged on, I’m sure, by someone else.
I firmly believe, Denise, that what individual meant is “You’re not a financially successful writer.” Cos, as you know, some folks measure success solely through royalties and adaptation rights.
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Then most writers aren’t writers.
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That’s what I said!
Well, not using your exact words. But the general gist of them, anyway.
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