Tao Writing & Life Update (7/21/2020)

I've been feeling a little stressed and tired.

My shoulders / neck have started acting up again, putting me in near constant pain. I'm not sure if it's the cold that refuses to go away, the sudden bout of chill (temperatures dropping down to like 2C at night) or just the old injury flaring up.

That's made me less happy about working, but I have a schedule to keep so I'm pecking away.

I now have like 3 major projects on the go:

- A Thousand Li 4 which I am the primary writer & editor. That's at 103k words and nearing the end now.

- and 2 co-author projects. One of which is in the copy/line edit stage and the second in the first read / fix plot problems stage.

I'm behind on both co-author projects and ATL 4.

I was scheduled to have a total of 6 books edited this year with my editor. At the moment, I've had 2 done with a 3rd incoming. Due to the deal I have with the editor, I pay for my editing spots upfront (which also gives me priority access to her when I need it to ensure work gets out on time or close enough).  

I should have 1 co-author project done in that timeframe, so that's 1 more edit. That puts me at 4. I should be able to write one more book and get it slotted in before the end of the year (Nov / Dec is when I figure I'll finished) and that puts me at 5.

Which leaves me with one extra slot... *sighs* I hate wasting money like that and while I've asked them if it's possible to adjust the $ to a reduced rate, it is doable but the amount saved isn't really a lot. 

I had planned for the SA 2nd Anthology to fill that slot I believe, but due to the fact I decided against doing it due to Covid-19 and my inability to add on more work, I am stuck with an extra slot. 

So, I'm debating what to do. I could try to speed up my writing to get even more work done.  That runs the risk of burnout. 

I could give them the nearly finished marketing book (basically a compilation of my business posts on marketing) and with some minor amendments, that'd be ready soon(ish). But, considering the posts are (a) free and (b) I don't intend to play marketing guru, it'd just be a waste of money. That's probably plan B.

Otherwise... *sighs* that's it really. I don't really have much plans for other work right now.  Like, I have a dozen partially started projects, but nothing anywhere near done. I've had a few ideas I want to explore, and I even wrote (and LOST - *sobs*) the details of one idea, but none of it is near done.

The only other thing I could do is write a quick AoB story. That'd only take about a week at full speed, which isn't so bad...

Anyway, that's the update. Lots of stress, but working on Second Expedition is coming along. We should see edits in mid-August and then release if we get edits done, probably Oct 1. 

I'll put the pre-order up once I get confirmation of timing from my editors & proofers.