I think I used to be a writer at some point. Yikes. It has not been the most productive summer. I'm behind on book four of the Damulis series, tentatively titled Blood Falls.

I hope the Chronicles of the Oddlot are keeping you entertained. A new episode will be out shortly.

I have an idea for an essay on being a writer kicking around in my head.

I'm also teaching over the summer, and getting ready to do a live performance of The Brass Lantern. https://lift-theater.org/the-brass-la...
If you're local, the live reading and performance will be Sunday July 22, at 2 PM.

So, I'm busy, but not that busy. Regardless, it's not an excuse. So what's keeping me from writing? Me. I haven't buckled down and made myself write. I've written four novels, three of which are published. (The unpublished follows a band of adventurers in the kingdom of Feal. I'll go back to it someday.) The only way I did this was to sit down every day and write five pages until the novel is done (somewhere around 75,000 words). I can turn out a first draft in a couple of months.

Keep in mind when I say I'll write five pages a day, I'm not saying they're five good pages every day. In order to write, I have to not worry about creating something "good" to start with. Rather, I just have to produce something. I don't worry about quality during the creation process. I trust myself and my editing friends to work out the rough spots after the draft is done.

The problem lately is I haven't been disciplined enough. That's what it really comes down to. I am having some motivational issues, too, to be honest. Writing a novel is work I enjoy, but it is work and I am looking for it to pay off. Thus, I'm contemplating how much further I want the series to go and in what form.

Book four might be delayed even after I buckle down and write it, as I contemplate shopping it around to agents (and then on to publishing houses). While I've eschewed the traditional route thus far, I might test the waters. Being independent has allowed me to call the shots and to turn out novels quickly, but man, there are a lot of shots to call. I’m trained as a writer, not as a small businessman, a social media guru, and marketing expert, which is what I also have to be if I stay independent.

If you enjoy the adventures of Damulis, more are forthcoming. Don't worry about that. If you would be so kind, stop by my Amazon page and leave a review of the novels if you liked them. As an independent writer, I live and die on digital word-of-mouth. More reviews will allow my book to be ranked higher. Also, I need a certain number of reviews to qualify for different programs that will help me advertise more and get on certain reading lists. If you can help me out, and enough others do, I can stay independent and turn out novels more quickly.

Anyway, I didn't mean to turn this post into an essay. Thank you for reading, and for your support.

My novels: amazon.com/author/ctavis