Happy September, everyone! September is supposed to signal the start of autumn here in the US. Of course, that isn’t typically true for us here in the desert southwest. We have to wait at least another month for anything even approaching normal temperatures. Actually, this has been a record breaking summer for us here in Phoenix. Today marked our 100th day above 100 degrees IN A ROW in this area. So, we’re all melting. We’ve just accepted it at this point.
Anyway, let’s take a look at my August progress and see if I managed to get anything done amid the back to school chaos and the record shattering heat.
First up, Individual Projects
The Short Story Collection (actually known as In Trust We Fall) was the first project I focused on. This one is still on track for an October release! Preorders should open in September. I do still need to finish my final proofread, but that’s really the last major step before this thing goes live. I did start the proofread, but it’s not completely finished yet.
The Apocalypse Project was the second project I focused on in August and it continues to be on track.
Each of the little drafting boxes on this image represents 500 words, so as of today I’m at about 18,500 words. I managed to get quite a bit of the new scenes drafted out and I believe I’ve captured the voices for all the main characters. It’s coming along nicely. Toward the end of the month I did slow down on drafting a bit, but that was more for a lack of time than it was for a detachment from the vision of the project.
The rest of the projects remain in the same state they’ve been in since August started. I can only work on so many at a time!
Next up, Monthly Progress
My monthly progress pages are designed to help give me focus in a given month. In August I knew I needed to work on some of the publication things for In Trust We Fall (namely a proofread) but otherwise I wanted to dedicate all of my time to the Apocalypse Project.
I ditched my goal of making progress EVERY day and decide to just focus on forward momentum at all in the month. I didn’t want to stagnate, basically.
As I already stated, I didn’t finish the proof read. I think I forgot how much of my day is truly spent on pick up and drop off at schools. This helped me with my reading goal, which you’ll see in a minute, but it really hinders my writing and proof reading time. This happens every single year. I find my momentum eventually, I promise!
I made what I would count as progress on 14 of the 31 days in August.
I wrote a total of 14,022 words (628 on the blog and a staggering 4,957 on book reviews).
Speaking of book reviews …
Reading
Before I jump into the graphic, I want to explain a bit about those staggering numbers. A few things contributed to these being so high this month.
- I discovered a cute little local library near me. It’s been renovated in the years since we moved into this house and we hadn’t seen the new location. We popped in one day and it was ADORABLE. Plus, they can request books from all over the place if they don’t have it AND it’s like a two minute drive from my house. A LOT of these reads were library books this month.
- As I mentioned, I’m back in the car on pick up and drop off duty five days a week. The school is like a 20 minute drive from my house. That means for AT LEAST 40 minutes a day I’m alone in the car heading to or from the school. This is PRIME audiobook time. UNINTERRUPTED. I think I got through 9 audiobooks this month alone.
Anyway, enough build up. Let’s get to it.
I finished 17 books (about 187 pages per day) in August. That included 1 ARC for a book coming out in September, 2 review requests, 13 library books (told you), and an ebook I bought a long time ago and was ecstatic to make time for!
Here’s all the covers and ratings.
There was a lot to love in my August reads!
- If you’re a horror fan or want to be … Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey was a TREAT. This book was scary but also well written and balanced. TOTALLY recommend.
- Historical fiction fans who want well researched pieces but also want an element thrown in that is NOT realistic (in this case time travel) go with The Fallen Fruit.
- Historical fiction fans who want it all realistic … Lessons in Chemistry.
- Lastly, if you like mysteries that read cuter and not terrifying, try On Spine of Death (actually, that’s book 2. You should probably start with Buried in a Good Book).
Anyway, that was my August.
- 17 books read and reviewed
- Just over 14000 words written
- Progress made despite a busy schedule
I’ll take it! Here’s to a great September with HOPEFULLY cooler weather.
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