I meant to send this out last week, but after I set up the headings for each section… I never came back to it. Oops? Time just got away from me as I was trying to figure out a routine that will actually work for me. Hopefully for longer than 2-3 days. I’m trying out something this week and although I’m still tweaking things a bit, it just might work(of course, I usually say that about every routine I try and the next day finds me doing something different). So, I’m now going to include what I got done in the last 2 weeks.
Writing
I have gotten quite a few words written in the last couple weeks. For each of the seven projects I picked for this month, I’ve written at least one day on them. And I’m sharing the last line written for each.
Dear History
I’ve only worked on this one this week and wrote 858 words. I expect word count to be slower on this project, as at the moment, it’s letters between (mainly) two of the characters. There will be journal entries as well, but both of those things I find take longer to write than actual narrative.
I only wish there was one true right answer to this problem. I do not know if I will ever find one, though.
From Thomas Cohen’s journal, February 1861
In the Moonlight
I wrote 899 words on this one just this week. I had written this story several years ago but when I was reading through it to start edits, I realized there were a lot of things I wanted to change, so I decided a full rewrite was in order. I’m still early in that, I’m only on Chapter 2 right now.
I shook my head. "That's..." I was going to say nonsense, but we had ended up back here, hadn't we? Working in this house, apparently like several of my ancestors had.
Small Town Murder Romance
I worked on this one 4 days last week and just about every day this week and added 3287 words. This one was actually inspired by a romantic mystery(think it might have been marketed as cozy, but as there was sex in it, not really), that I got really annoyed with. And I couldn’t help thinking, ‘this might be better if there were actually queer characters in it’. So, I decided to write a series with those queer characters falling in love as they solve a series of murders. This first one focuses on Gabi(who is nonbinary) and Cam(a trans man), who has come to town looking for the truth behind his cousin’s death.
Gabi pressed zir lips together and looked away from him. Great, he'd barely gotten zir to get lunch with him, and he was already ruining things.
Triple Play
I’ve only worked on this one day, but I wrote over 1100 words on it. This is the second book in my Baseball Boys series(I may change the series title, but for now that’s still what I’m calling it), and it focuses on Rhys(catcher), Alfie(third baseman), and one other character(who did appear briefly in the first book, but there’s only a small handful of people who have seen that yet).
"I wonder why," Alfie bit out. "Can we go, please? I've only managed snatches of sleep since I left Caracas. That was two days ago."
Supposedly Super
I only worked on this one day and wrote 636 words. This story started as a Story a Day prompt back in 2020 that I decided to flesh out into a novel, but I’ve struggled with it a good bit. Still, I keep coming back to it. The first draft may end up more novella length, and maybe these stories will just be shorter ones. I’ll have to see how it turns out in the end.
Between his usual patrols and the extra training he'd been doing with Ivy, there hadn't been a chance. But, really, that meant there hadn't been the chance to dirty it, either. So, what was there to worry about anyway?
Here You Come Again
This is another one I’ve worked on just about every day this week, and did work on it every day last week. This is the second in a series following cousins who inherited their grandparents’ bookstore. The first one focused on Mateo and zeir new neighbor, Kelvin. This one features Maire and her ex, Eavan. I’ve written 5612 words in the last 2 weeks.
Well, shit. There went that vote of confidence.
Ghost Files
I worked on this twice last week, adding 820 words. This is another one that was inspired by a Story a Day prompt(don’t remember which year though), and that I’ve struggled with. Thought at first it would be a romance(featuring a ghost), instead it became a cozy mystery. Even when I think I’m going to set it aside, I keep coming back to it.
As Dev passed through the door, I felt the tug to follow him. And since I couldn't smell one of the most delicious scents in the world, let alone taste it, I didn't fight against it.
Reading
The Sunbearer Trials
I really loved Aiden Thomas’s Cemetery Boys, and this book did not disappoint either. One of the things I really liked about it was that being trans/nonbinary was simply accepted in this world. They even had gender confirmation ceremonies when someone realized their gender was different than what was assigned. And the fact there were multiple trans characters, the one nonbinary character who was an asshole didn’t feel like a problem. Whereas if they’d been the only one, I might have felt differently. I seriously want so many more books like this(and not just YA, I’d love to have ones like this in Adult as well). And I can’t wait for the next book to see how the adventure ends.
Crafting
I’ve designed and finished 2 cross stitch pieces recently. One was just me being silly, really. The other one has lyrics from a worship song with meaning to me as a nonbinary person who still believes in God but doesn’t always feel welcome in church.
Oh Deer
Restoration
Story
I originally wrote Mermaid’s Jewel to post on Kindle Vella, but I decided to go back and rewrite it and make it even more episodic and ensemble-y. Each episode will focus on a different character, and their stories will likely all intertwine. A lot of the original material will work its way in, but I’ll also be writing a lot more between those. This is the first of those new episodes.
Isaac stepped through the door of the tavern, looking around. He couldn't see the person he was meant to meet here this day, though. Nothing unusual in that, Isaac reminded himself. They often did not show up until after Isaac, as if making sure he would truly be here.
As if Isaac had ever skipped out on a meeting with them.
The interior of the tavern was dim, so Isaac gave his eyes another moment to adjust before walking further inside. Most of the tables were occupied. A lot of men drinking, a few playing cards. And the only women in the establishment the ones serving the men.
Isaac went right up to the bar to order his own mug of ale. He pitched his voice low as he spoke to the bartender, only enough words to get what he wished for and exchange coins. Then, he turned and moved between the tables, careful not to disturb any of the current occupants of said tables. Nothing to bring too much attention on himself.
A daily struggle when he felt like he did nothing but stand out.
By the time Isaac reached the only empty table he'd seen on his first perusal of the room, well, it was no longer empty.
"I did not see you arrive," he told his new companion.
"That is just the way I like it, young master Drake."
Those words, the name Isaac had taken for himself, should not send such a shiver through him. Hearing it still did that every time, though. He took the still unoccupied seat at the other side of the table, even though it left his back exposed to the rest of the room. At least they were still in the shadows.
Isaac took off the tricorn hat and set it on the table in front of him. He brushed back a wisp of brown hair that had come loose from the tight queue.
He didn't touch his ale. Not yet. He had done business with them before and knew it always went better if he had a clear head.
"You said you had information for me."
"That I do. What are you willing to give me for it?"
They had laughed him off the first time he had offered coin in exchange for the information. It had taken time for him to discover what their exchange rate was. He got information for more information.
Isaac slid a sheet sealed with wax across the table to them. "I have found three locations where precious cargo is being shipped out, and more is brought in from other lands." It twisted his stomach to speak of it that way, but he knew they had to be careful. You never knew who might be listening. "Guards are posted, but my source says they are rather lax in their duties. It would not take too much effort for cargo to come up missing."
His companion smiled, if an expression that sly could be called something so innocent. "Very well," they said. They slid their own paper across the table. "The Mermaid's Jewel's planned route. The captain's plans may change, but it does not happen often. You'll find your quarry there."
"How did you come upon this?"
They stood and fastened a cloak over their shoulders. "That, young Master Drake, is beyond the price of your purchase."
***
Isaac stood on the dock and watched as the crew started pitching ropes and tying off to keep the ship anchored. At least Isaac thought that was their intention. Unless it was only to show off to the crowd gathering on the shore. Judging by what Isaac had heard since arriving in the local village, and the two stops he'd made previously just hours too late, and the flamboyant way the entire crew dressed, it wouldn't surprise him at all.
That was definitely the Mermaid's Jewel out there. If everything Isaac had heard about it was true, that was where Isaac's quarry would be. All Isaac had to do was wait.
Isaac was used to waiting. The job often required it, and this show wasn't exactly hard to watch. At least the other people on deck weren't watching him.
Isaac always did whatever possible to blend in. Right now his brown hair was combed and tied back, like almost all the other men. Though some had started wearing it short. Isaac may have to consider cutting his. He could not afford to stand out.
He pressed his tricorn hat down on his head, making sure no stray wind took it away. A simple waistcoat overlaid a white linen shirt. Isaac had paired that with dark, fitted breeches and riding boots. Most of the other men in town seemed to favor low-heeled shoes, but Isaac had been riding, so there was a good excuse for the difference.
That was what Isaac would tell any who asked, and not that it offered a little more height.
The crowd dissipated as the show on the ship's deck seemed to end. Isaac caught a flash of long red hair before a dress swished around the corner of the ship and the deck emptied. Isaac blinked.
Was that a woman on board that ship? Come to think of it, there had been more than one figure up there that hadn't seemed quite masculine.Isaac had talked to many sailors, and not one of them would sail with even a single woman on board. Thought it was bad luck.
Isaac had never sailed anywhere. Horses were a fine mode of transportation. Most of Isaac's jobs were finished with a day or two ride, anyway. Few runaways, from the law or their families, went all that far. Home was too much of a comfort for most.
It never had been to Isaac, but he wasn't like most in more than one way.
This was the longest job Isaac had ever taken on. At least Lord Montrose had sworn to pay Isaac each week until it was finished. Isaac would be able to pay for food and housing until long after the job was done. That was one worry Isaac could leave behind.
Since no one seemed to plan to leave the ship soon, Isaac followed two other villagers to the nearest tavern. Isaac could grab a mug of ale while waiting. It would likely be where the crew came once they did leave the ship. Then, Isaac's quarry would be easy to grab. It just meant waiting a little while longer. He could manage that. Not a problem.
Even if Isaac had been on this quarry's trail for more than a fortnight already. Only a little longer, and it would be done. Isaac could afford a mug of ale in the meantime.
Choosing a table in the tavern to continue to keep watch on the Mermaid's Jewel, Isaac ordered that ale, and some roasted mutton to go with it. Then, he settled in to wait.
I love the pictures of the cross stitch