Okay, well, it’s been a while since I’ve added anything to this blog, so I’ve decided it’s time for an update.

The biggest thing going on right now is that I am working on my third novel. I planned to start it not long after Not Dressed was released, but I needed time to think over the new story for a while, how I wanted to structure it, and you know, let everything congeal for a while.

Then the coronavirus lock downs happened and I was in a bit of a rut, not having much inspiration to write. Eventually, I did get over it, and I’ve been plugging away. Currently, I’m at roughly 26,000 words with a target of 90,000 to 95,000 for the first draft.

This new novel will be a bit different than my previous novels.

Before I explain what’s different, I should note that this novel will be set in the same universe as Not Dressed and Not Famous—though if you follow this blog you know that already.

So, what makes it different? Well, both my previous novels took place over the course of several months. But, the bulk of my new novel will be taking place over the course of four days. This has presented some unique challenges for me in the planning stage, as I have to plan the events of the novel in smaller time segments. Previously, it was easy to fast forward through trivial periods of time in the story, but in this new novel I can’t do that. Virtually every period of the day needs something to happen, and that action has to contribute to the overall plot somehow.

So, it’s a bit of a learning experience. So far I’m happy with what I have done, but there’s a lot more to add. Lately, I’ve found myself tweaking the same scenes over and over, rather than writing new ones, which told me I need to step away from writing for a while and wait to be properly inspired again.

While I’m not writing as much as the moment, I am thinking about the characters, their backstories and other traits. So, while maybe I’m not adding to my word count, the process is still moving forward. It took me 7 years to complete Not Famous and there were times that I didn’t touch it for months, so a little break from actual writing doesn’t concern me. Some of my best ideas have come while I’m not writing at all.