Writer’s Shop Talk: Coping with Stalled Progress on ‘Reunion: Coda’

Late Morning, Thursday, November 14, 2024, Miami, Florida

Hi, Constant Readers.

It’s another warm, bright, humid day in South Florida as I prepare for another writing day in my new abode. Currently, the temperature is 82°F (28°C) under partly sunny conditions. With humidity at 54% and the wind blowing from the east-southeast at 11 MPH (18 Km/H), the heat index is 88°F (31°C). The forecast for today calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 83°F (28°C). In contrast to Madison, New Hampshire, where I lived for just over 10 months and experienced the full spectrum of seasonal weather, Miami’s climate is more summer-like than it resembles either fall or winter in New England. Considering that it’s 39°F (4°C) under sunny skies in Madison, I can guarantee that there aren’t any hotties in bikinis cavorting out on Huttwil Drive today.

On Writing and Storytelling: In the Doldrums Once Again

Yesterday was not one of my better writing days. I aimed to start crafting the first scene for Reunion: Coda’s Chapter 21, but when I sat down at my desk, opened the manuscript Word file, and tried to envision a good beginning for Scene One, my mind went blank. I lacked a clear concept for the new development, only a vague idea that it would be another scene set at Columbia University during Jim’s first day back at work after his harrowing encounter with Miguel’s fists. Perhaps it’s post-move fatigue and stress, or maybe I need some of my writing books on hand to provide prompts, but I couldn’t even outline the scene.

I’ve been diligently working on this novel since March 2023, and it has become the longest literary work I’ve written so far. The depth of the characters and the complexity of the plot have engrossed me, yet days like yesterday remind me of the inevitable valleys that come with the peaks in the writing process.

Yesterday, I made some progress by integrating the revised Chapter 20 into my Kindle Create app. It might seem like a small step, but it’s essential as this version will be uploaded to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. I can’t wait for the day when Reunion: Coda is finally complete and ready for you all.

Here’s where things stand with Reunion: Coda right now:

– Number of Chapters: 20, with one more in the planning stage

– Number of Pages: 462

– Word Count: 114,764

I’m committed to delivering a novel that meets both your expectations and mine. Thank you for your patience and support throughout this journey.