tales-of-a-fledgling-author

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

12/02

I did it.

At 1:43am I finished the third draft of my book.

And now I'm torn between wanting to scream/cry with joy and sleep for a week.

I always seem to finish drafts between midnight and 3am, something about the quiet of darkness. (Or when my yelly gamer husband goes to bed lol)

But its done! Finally.

Now comes the cursory edit, the print & red pen edit, then the upload of the edits into the digital copy and the distribution of beta copies for another batch read.

After that -- well. I'll burn that bridge when I get there. For now, it's complete and that's enough.

429 Pages. 136k words.

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

11/14

Well. It's two weeks into November. I'm now lead of not one but TWO gaming community Discords on top of my full workload. Because I'm a masochist apparently.

And because I'm a dumbass, I volunteered to give a physical copy of my third draft to someone when I see them in just over two weeks. With 26 chapters still unedited. Fuck me.

Side note, the ADHD meds seem to be helping HUGELY with my quality of life and focus. So small victory? Now to see at my next doctors appointment whether they've affected my blood pressure.

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

11/01

November!

How did it happen so quickly? How are we already 11 months into 2024 and HOW is Christmas in less than 60 days?

Haven't gotten to do any writing yet. Work is a nightmare so I'm still only at 9/35 chapters complete on the third draft. I HAVE however started looking at Canadian publishers who might fit my book type and I have a few prospective ones selected.

Now I just have to finish the damn book. (Cue thousand yard stare)

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

10/24

Day 2 of ADHD Meds (That's right, your girl got diagnosed and medicated!) and all I have to say is REGULAR PEOPLE FUNCTION LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME??

What. The. Hell. How unfair.

On another note, I've gotten so much done, despite only getting 2hrs sleep overnight (known side effect, it's okay, I'm okay)

I've programmed a Zapier integration to send data from a Google Form to a Discord channel, which was fun and frustrating because programming is a nightmare, but I made it work and I'm so proud. I hadn't touched Zapier in almost 2 years and managed to figure it out. /happy dance

Work is finally getting easier. Menial tasks are now easier to complete. Gym time is more in sync and easier to do without getting lost and distracted and bored.

Time to direct the psycho focus (lol) toward editing and get this third draft done!

Wish me luck <3

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

10/21

Late post. The fledgling author has been busy with life, work and trying to compensate my sleep debt. No matter how much I sleep, I am still tired and the brain wants to work even less per day.

ADHD phone call tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

After a long holiday weekend and several long weeks of work, I'm stuck on editing. Chapter 8 so far, but Chapter 35 feels so far away.

Til next time <3

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

10/12

It's late after Thanksgiving dinner. I'm snuggled on the couch with the dog asleep at my side, a soft rom-com movie on tv and my laptop while I work on my third draft.

Lonely Planet is the movie, about a struggling writer, and I don't think it could be anymore apropos as I sit here tackling the third draft of my book.

I'm excited to get this draft done. Excited and nervous to start the massive beast that is publishing. I feel like a broken record and a terrified child at the same time. I've always dreamed of completing a book, and it's somehow almost within reach.

Someday.

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

10/02

October now. Spooky season abounds.

Doctor's appointments, work, family life, love life. So many facets to manage all at once, and my ADHD does me *no* favours. I'm at my wits end with it so I've finally started the process toward a diagnosis.

I'm scared to medicate because I've heard so many horror stories of people just no longer being themselves and becoming shells of who they once were. I still want to be me, just more focused, less voices and mental noise so I can put my drive to work and actually accomplish the things I want to do.

My year end goals are mostly self work. Physical fitness, finishing my third draft of my novel before starting the excursion into editing and publishing, and just overall self improvement. A lot of that gets harder when I'm fighting myself on a daily basis so here's hoping things get better and that I can get help so I can resume my life.

Apparently this blog is more like self therapy than life updates?

Writing wise, I'm enjoying bullet editing. I think I will definitely print this version once I'm done with it before I seek betas. One thing I've had to learn painfully is not to have betas who are other writers, as they try and tell you how they think you should write it, versus supporting you in writing YOUR story.

Here's hoping my third group is the final group and that I can find a publisher who supports my dream for WIPD and helps me bring it to life.

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

09/30

Last day of September tips the balance into official fall and spooky season. October here we come.

After a full day of work, a long walk with the dog and a tiring gym session, I'm finally in a mental headspace to bullet edit my third draft, but every time I open the doc I'm struck with a helpless feeling of 'God is it ever going to be over?'

Am I ever going to be able to hold a finished copy in my hands and say 'I did it. This is mine and its finally real' ?

Tenuous hope.

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

My audio book platform! A work in progress just like me, but looking to get it back in order and finish reading the Picture of Dorian Gray!

[tales-of-a-fledgling-author]

Introductions

I guess this is the best way to start as I've never run a blog before.

I'm an almost thirty something aspiring author, as the blog title would suggest. No kids, and I live in a two bedroom apartment with my husband and our beautiful pup Piper.

I love to cook and bake. I run an audio book Patreon, currently reading The Portrait of Dorian Gray. I love all forms of art, and both reading and collecting books. My shelves are my pride and joy and I'm writing a book!

It's been a few years in the making now, but after suffering through two drafts, it's getting close. I have no idea what this will be about so far, but I guess I'll find out as I go.

Welcome to the journey!