Kate Slayer

I realized there were two things blocking me - an uncertain outcome and a feeling like I had everything figured out.

The first issue of WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN ITS DONE really isn’t my concern. I trust that the universe will arrange a perfect situation so I can’t use that as an excuse anymore. I just have to focus on actually finishing something.

Ok but there’s the bigger problem that I didn’t realize was in my way all this time. When I get an idea, I see the whole thing, beginning to end. So at first I’m REALLY excited and then I start making it and lose steam because it doesn’t feel like a process of creating anymore, it feels like a checklist...so I just put it off and tell myself now is not the time for this, later, when I have a concrete reason to...

Well, what I’ve just recently discovered, by actually writing and doing my creative work, is that there is a reason - FUN! The process isn’t done the second I come up with the idea like I thought, it’s unfolding as I create it, evolving and that part is sooooo fun!

I think I’ve just been editing projects and evolving them for so long that I haven’t had that “first draft” experience in a long time, that experience of discovering a story piece by piece. But now that’s happening with a project 10+ years old and I’m realizing I can have fun bringing all these old projects to life instead of just feeling like I’m trying to catch up with myself.

I don’t know if anyone can relate to this or if I’m the only one that forgot the whole process is actually fun, but I’m really excited and you might be seeing more “new” projects come to life soon! I’m just going to follow my impulses about what’s fun to me, which right now is finishing one of my oldest projects, Sweet Dreams and...

I also have a book I wrote at 17 about this kid who sleeps through the apocalypse that I started working into a couple months ago that I forgot I was working on and I want to look at.

AND there’s this other idea my sis and I had years ago for kind of a “monster of the week” type tv show with this really fun cast that I really want to start writing!!

I laid my head down softly on his shoulder. He was still for a long moment and then his fingers stretched out the short distance from mine, brushed the tips of my fingers.”

I did things! Things were done! Productive things of a productive nature! And ahhhh my back hurts! 

Lol between my back hurts and thank heavens I think I’m getting old. Someone help me. 

Anyways! I basically spent the entire day reorganizing my scrivener with a million scattered notes for Sweet Dreams, made this beautiful list of all the things I want to edit in this draft and the next one, and ACTUALLY FINISHED THE OUTLINE AND IT’S PERFECT?? I am so shocked and excited by this. Really didn’t think it would be that easy. 

I also transcribed 6500 freakin’ handwritten words into my scrivener. If I’m gonna write by hand I really need to keep up with typing it cause OWWW and it took all day. 

In other news, thinking of renaming myself Kali. Just Kali, cause who needs a last name. And by thinking of I mean I’m totally doing it at some point soon. Could this be the ultimate pen name? I sure hope so, cause I’m running out of ideas. 

I think I actually did write a little while I was transcribing, but no actual wordcount to give. I shall be back to writing as normal tomorrow, with a new goal of 1500 words because I want to take days off of writing during the week. 

Also super excited for camp nano! I’m in a cabin! Things are happening! Words will be written! 

Also, also one more thing, hi hello, sorry this is so long but I’m thinking of doing a Book Bootcamp with the tagline “Whip Your WIP into shape!” because that just sounds so fun. 

It would basically be lessons and guides on structuring your story, making character arcs, actually getting the first draft down, crafting a compelling premise/adjusting your premise to be more compelling - just basically everything you would need to get your WIP from “this thing is all over the place and never going to be finished” to “ok, I am submitting this to an agent and I feel super confident about that”. 

So if you’re interested in that, let me know by interacting with this post somehow or message me or something. I’m gonna post about it again when I figure out more details but it’d be nice to see who’s interested. And who would read to the end of this very long post. 

Well, I haven’t really written in two days which is a little disappointing but I really needed a break. I have been feeling soooo drained, probably just too much time on the internet and not enough time actually being creative...

SO! I’ve got new goals. First off, both of my WIPs have their own tumblr. I now think that was a bad idea and want to move all my work to this one for simplicity.

I’ve decided Sweet Dreams will probably benefit more from traditional publishing. As much as it irks me to do this, I don’t see a way unless I can self-publish successfully with no self promotion. I just don’t care enough to do it properly. The fun part for me is making the story, not trying to get people to read it? I’m sure you guys can relate. I wish I cared more because it’s a great story and I feel I have to do right by it, however I might not be best suited to the job of actually “getting it out there”. Anyways, I might change my mind, the final final final last totally finished draft is optimistically 6 months out anyway. Realistically? Who knows. I’ve been writing the thing for 10 years so God only knows how long it’ll really take. BUT IM COMMITTED THIS TIME I SWEAR!

Please Hold I’m still going to move forward with the prototype, an interactive story, and post chapters as I finish them. After that, I believe I know enough code to make a text browser game out of it, and from there I guess I’ll have to teach myself 2D design or find someone to collaborate with. Too far down the line, who knows, but someday this will be a game and it will be fabulous.

I also realized I have a completed poetry book I’ve never done anything with, so I want to start posting poems from that and maybe self-publish the poetry book? Not sure how to do that exactly, but I shall try.

Anyway! Back to work tomorrow but this break has been nice. I finally relaxed and watched that movie with the Rock and a giant gorilla, wolf and alligator. It was terrible and amazing and I loved it. Now I have to binge watch every movie he’s in because Bachelorette isn’t on tonight 😭

Hope everyone else is writing up a storm and making great progress in their books! And if not, camp nano is right around the corner! ❤️ you all!!

Here’s the link if you’d like to join Write Club! https://discord.gg/WzCx3KN

Everyone is amazing and I’m enjoying connecting with you all so very much! I hope everyone had a great day and wrote lots of words! I know everyone who sprinted today kicked butt.

You guys ready for this?! Here’s the link!!

https://discord.gg/WzCx3KN

Please read the welcome message carefully, then head on over to Introduce Yourself so we can all get to know each other better! From there you’re free to explore and enjoy Write Club!

Anyone is welcome to join, so feel free to give this link out to other writers you think would be interested. There doesn’t seem to be a member limit for Discord, so spread the love!

Soooo excited to hang out with you all!!

If you’re new to discord, keep reading for a guide on how to get started:

I’m DONE!!!

Not with writing...with the discord. Well, with writing too. I wrote first thing this morning, got my 1000 words in and proceeded to spend the rest of today finishing the discord. You guys are gonna love it!!

So, it’s officially called Write Club and I’ll be releasing the link early tomorrow morning. I want to have a chance to interact with you guys on there when it first comes online and at this point I’m too brain fried to do so.

But starting tomorrow morning (I’m in Eastern time), Write Club is open!! I’ll post the link and make sure everyone who was interested is mentioned so you get it right in your notifications.

I didn’t write today!!

I was going to this morning but I had all these ideas for the Discord floating around and I had to get them out. Then I ended up working on that literally all day.

BUT - it’s almost done. Just one or two finishing touches and some reorganizing and it’s done! Sue me, I’m a perfectionist!

Hoping to finish that by tomorrow late afternoon/evening because I’m going to write in the morning tomorrow and not make the same mistake twice!!

I hope everyone else was able to get some writing in today, I haven’t seen many posts about it but I might’ve just missed it, so if you’re posting updates about Junowrimo feel free to tag me in the them!