Author Journey (November 28, 2022)

I think this week has been the most frustrating yet… and that’s saying something. My time was chipped away from every angle, leaving next to nothing to work with. ‘Tis the season!
November 28, 2022
Hot Topic
Probably the best thing that happened last week occurred while I was on a three-day virtual training course for Power BI. It was supposed to be an advanced course, although I would dispute the validity of that term. There were a lot of virtual workshops which our course leader did first with everyone watching and then told us to do it. Well, I started when she did and finished before her. That left me with patches of free time, although I couldn’t do much or go anywhere, so I grabbed a pencil and my pad and did some sketching.
After three days, I have a preliminary sketch of the cover of RIP Tide and some character designs. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I like how it’s coming along. Doing more drawing was one of the things I wanted to do this year, but it fell by the wayside. I know I’m already doing lots of things, but it is a big part of who I am and I find the process very relaxing. So, disappointing course, nice doodling! Sadly, that sums up my week.

What have I been watching/reading?
One thing that I mentioned last week was how I have a number of books on loan from the library and my immediate goal is to read them all before Christmas. That way I can take a little break and come back at them in the New Year. As this is the only thing with a pressing deadline, that’s where my focus has gone. Even so, I only managed to read six volumes this week and squeezed in a single episode of anime. I don’t have a three day training course to contend with this week, so it should be better.
Anyhow, here’s what I posted last week.
The Executioner and Her Way of Life is about to get really good. If you’ve not seen it, please do so immediately.
I don’t know how Miko kept it together in this episode of Mieruko-chan. That scene on the subway was intense!
Everything is moving into place in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as we move into the final third of the series.
And the demons continue to steal the show in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen. If it’s not Daki, it’s Nezuko.
Rin found out about Ui and Hayato… My Wife is the Student Council President! just turned things up a notch!
It was another big week for Sankarea: Undying Love as we had another discussion post, an anime post, and a manga post. I never thought I would have this much to say about it after the first time I watched it, but it gets better and better.

Work in Progress
I didn’t write a word this week which was partly down to the training course, but also several real-life family events that all appeared at the same time. It’s frustrating, but there’s not a lot that I can do about it. I have to ride it out, make sure everyone is all right, and then jump back in as soon as I can. Hopefully, that’ll be today, but I have no idea with the way things are going. At least, I’m drawing again!

The Plan
By my calculations, I have eighteen books to read in twenty-four days. That’s entirely possible if everything goes smoothly. Of course, that’s not how things have been working of late, but that’s the goal. Everything else can wait a little while, although I would like to start chipping away at the writing again. I don’t want to slip out of the habit for too long.
Posts
- 2022 (Full Year)
- Author Journey – 48/52 (+1)
- Review Posts – 247/247
- Review Pages – 131/131
- Inktober – 5/5
- Specials – 0/2
- 2023 (Quarter One)
- Author Journey – 0/13
- 08:00 Posts – 69/78 (+1)
- 14:00 Posts – 46/52 (+1)
- 20:00 Posts – 39/39
- 2023 (Quarter Two)
- Author Journey – 0/13
- 08:00 Posts – 16/78
- 14:00 Posts – 17/52 (+3)
- 20:00 Posts – 3/39
- 2023 (Quarter Three)
- Author Journey – 0/13
- 08:00 Posts – 0/78
- 14:00 Posts – 1/52
- 20:00 Posts – 0/39
Bit of a slow down, but at least I have a big enough lead that I can handle weeks like this without too much concern.
Writing
- MSR (Paranormal Harem Rom-com)
- Chapters – 0
- Words – 0
- Valiant Lineage (Epic Dark Fantasy)
- Chapters – 0
- Words – 0
- Black Death (Post-Apocalyptic Shoujo AI)
- Chapters – 0
- Words – 0
- Asteroidea (Horror Science-fiction)
- Chapters – 0
- Words – 0
- Out of Time (Time-travel Murder Mystery)
- Chapters – 7
- Words – 7,423
- RIP Tide (Zombie Novella)
- Chapters – 17
- Words – 18,261
- Swap Isekai (Isekai)
- Chapters – 9
- Words – 10,146
- The Beach (Ecchi)
- Chapters – 35
- Words – 40,861
No progress…
Final Thoughts
So, it wasn’t a great week, but it also wasn’t a complete disaster. I’m still moving forward and I have nothing to worry about. Less real-life family events would be nice and I doubt there will be any more training courses until next year. Saying that, can you believe it’s almost December already? This year has flown by.
Think calm and happy thoughts. This is going to be a good week! Anyhow, thanks for reading.

