Just got in off the road from GDC, just about to roll out to AuthorCon, but I’ll talk about both of those later. In the meantime, here’s an update on my current writing projects…
- Just finished my second short of the year, a non horror ghost story called “Letters To The Dead”. It’s with readers now and I am looking forward to feedback.
- I should have two stories hitting next month: “Used Sleep” in Space and Time, and “Paws” in Black Cat Weekly.
- I have six stories out for submission, plus another two I am looking for the right market to sub to. Another story has been pulled from the submission rotation because upon due consideration, it seemed likely that the underlying themes might get misread in a way at odds with my intent.
- I have one completed novel on sub with a publisher and with agents. I am also waiting to hear back from a publisher on a second novel pitch, featuring my recurring Reb Palache character.
- I owe one anthology a story that is mostly complete. I have been asked by another editor to send a story along. Beyond that I have eight stories in partial stages of completion, which I intend to wrap up this year.
- My non fiction book The Video Game Writer’s Guide To Surviving an Industry That Hates You, has a release date. I should be getting proofs shortly, and I had a great chat with my editor while at GDC. I will be announcing the release date and preorder links as soon as the cover art is ready.
- I have two unannounced projects in progress. More details soon, I hope.
- My card game, Squatches and Scotches, is under review by multiple publishers. I look forward to hearing back, hopefully with good news.
- And I am keeping up my ongoing twice a week LinkedIn posts on game narrative, for reasons I will go into another time.
This….feels like a lot, especially on top of a writing based day job that I enjoy immensely. Some folks want to know how I can do it. Some folks think I am lying.
I am not lying.
The secret is twofold. One, many of these projects have evolved over time. I am not writing all the things every night. These are carefully prioritized and sequenced to ensure things are actually getting knocked out as needed.
Two, a steady application of words every night goes a long way towards creating substantial output. I have had my 10000 word days and even a 20000 word day or two. But I find hitting a hard minimum of 500 words per, with room to do more if my muse is feeling randy, ends up producing more than you would think.
Throw in the facts that my romantic partner lives in Albany, my cats have gone on to The Great Comfy Couch In The Sky, and I fell out of the television habit in 2016, and I generally have plenty of time to write every night.
Your mileage may of course vary. But this is what I’ve got.