In which Arcie realizes that it is nearly 14 months since posting a story.

I'm slow.

Like many, I usually have multiple stories rolling around my head wanting out and new ideas constantly popping up. And while the new always seem more interesting, I know they too will be made less interesting, for the same reason, before being written. Realizing this, I've spent most of the time over the last year working on my 2009 Halloween entry.

I'm slow but I'm kind of, maybe steady.

Right now, I am creating around a chapter a month, with a goal of each being between 2000 and 2500 words. Currently midway through chapter 11 (+prologue) with three more chapters and an epilogue to go. This makes it bigger than anything I've written and therefore scarier. I worry about putting in the effort and not generating interest, it's easy to be distracted by thoughts about potential kudos and comments or the lack thereof. Should I post it in bulk, chapter at a time, groups of 3 chapters (prologue and epilogue separate)? A completely meaningless distraction until it is actually complete. And when complete, should I see about seeking editors/proof readers? But then I realize I probably won't. Even while recognizing it would make for a better story, I've always felt crappy when burdening a volunteer with the task.

Yet I wonder if the magic in this world, magic that started with a failed story before I ever finished anything, in a world meant for another character, makes any sense. Another reason to run it by someone else. Still...wheels on the bus go round and round.

I'm slow, maybe steady, but easily distracted by shiny objects.

Beyond the amazing and wonderful worlds, characters, scenes that pop into my head but refuse to squeeze out of my fingers, there is research to dwell upon. The story that I am working on has led me into paths along which I checked out Delphi, Celtic invasions of Greece, distillation, self defence, Easter European mythology, the Prague Spring, and the American Civil War. In many ways, these forays with Wikipedia and Google are my top reward from writing. I don't search to become an expert, but its enjoyable to play with my curiosity.

I'm slow, maybe steady, easily distracted, but with intended targets.

If my writingmobile continues to zoom along on its square wheels, the only story I will post in 2012 is my 2009 Halloween entry. But once that is done, I plan to write the final story of the Manny and Maude series, which is mapped out. Then I continue to hope to return to Drake and his adventures, though I worry that the audience shrinks the more often you visit a character. I know what needs to happen next, to make the thing after that work, but the transformational aspect is in the past and the resolution is in the barely seen future. Still I plan to re-edit the current stories to see if I can reclaim Drake's voice and write Chosen. Then there is cutesy, deadly Sascha, who has the same problem, probably more-so. I know Sascha's next story, but the last left him in a happy place and I don't know if I will taken him away from that.

Beyond that, I would like to come up with some short stories. And I have two other worlds with maps, history, characters, and stories that I really want to explore. Then the dribs and drabs that I play with, while not expecting them to go anywhere.

I'm slow, maybe steady, easily distracted, but with intended targets and should really go to bed.