I can't believe that we are settling in to our new routine. Either the human mind is incredibly adaptive or we have all simply accepted our insanity. Here in Michigan we have been under a stay at home order since the middle of March -- nearing the six week mark. It just got extended until May 15th. Personally, while I understand it and endorse it I would be utterly mad if it wasn't affecting me. My family goes through strange days where things feel normal for a while and then someone will end up breaking down. Early on I was handling it poorly. I think I've mostly settled into an at least even-keeled attitude over the past few weeks.
My writing is still a victim in all of this. I tend to write every other day. Sometimes the inspiration just isn't there and I can't force it. Yesterday I sat down to write but there was too much else going on around here and I only got about 400 words out, and most of those will need to be re-written. I'm around 22,000 words into the 2nd draft of Maestra.
It is going to be good, once done. I will be happy to set it free unto the world. After that, I will be glad to be done with this fantasy/horror universe that I created for a while. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with these first two novels and I think readers will be surprised at the twisting linkage between the two. Maestra isn't so much a sequel as simply taking place in the same universe and utilizing some of the same characters to bring closure to their arcs. Writing this story has wrenched my heart and I have a lot of negative emotions from my experience of the world around me while writing Maestra. Again, the work is good. It's fresh, original, and a bit epic in scope compared to The Morbid Fascinations of David Bennett -- but everything going on around me has soured me on the pure horror genre for the time being.
I have no doubt that I will return to writing horror in a year or two. I have several stories outlined and ready to go.
My next project will be science fiction. It will be bleak, dark (quite literally,) and actually include a bit of hope -- which my horror writing lacks. Basically, writing so much darkness while going through such a dark time in the history of human-kind, isn't good for my mental health. When the sun comes out from behind the corona (pun intended,) and I can once more interact with friends without a screen between us, I will return to writing horror.
So, with any luck, draft two of Maestra will wrap by the end of June at the pace that I am working on. I am planning to take my time with edits and any additional re-writes. So if it is out by September or October I will be happy. Maybe next year there will even be some book signings in my future.
Hope everyone is staying safe and keeping their loved ones as near as possible. Take care.
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