It's a new month!

It's November!

I was going to open with "happy November" but my general anxiety over the election is preventing me from getting there. So instead, I decided to open with a fact. It is indeed November.

And there are a lot of happy moments to be had.

For one, I get to write with y'all TODAY at 2:45pm CST. (We switched over from CDT, FYI! Might want to double check a time converter.) We'll also finally be chatting about our book club pick, HOW TO WRITE A MYSTERY.

Not only that, but we have three other streams to look forward to this month. (See attached calendar! I've learned my lesson from last month and am just going to put the days and update y'all about times as soon as possible bahaha.)

I'm happy because I thought I was going to feel that ache and missing from the Old Challenge, but I actually don't at all! Having the 100KQ4 truly has filled that gap in a way I could've only hoped before the challenge started. It's been so much fun to see our little graph inch up over time (even if I am still personally under the par line lol.)

I'm happy because it feels like Thor is acclimating well! Here he is finally settling in to every animal's favorite pet bed (the one under my desk):

I imagine he’ll be there at some point when we write together later today!

It’s also time for a now-annual writing retreat tradition with some authortube friends! I’m so excited. :) I actually leave this Friday, flights are all booked and set, and it’s going to be a blast. My “main project” will actually be pivoting back to finish A Closet Full of Cauldrons. It’s so close being finished so I can send it to beta readers. So, so, so close. I think I’ll use the retreat and no-streams as a “break” from 100KQ4 just so I can finish it off.

(As an aside, this is the one downside of big community events. It's so silly, because I'm the one who set this whole thing up too, lolol. I had such confidence I'd be done with ACFoC before October 1st, and then so confident I could finish it within the first couple weeks, and then life just has that funny capability of getting in your way. I got on a new medication, started therapy, and it’s all for very good reason, but man has it been a bit of a struggle to just get this last bit done. Had I not moved my focus to the 100KQ4, I think I would have stayed on track to finish. But alas! This has been such a blast that what's a few more weeks??)

All that to say, the retreat will be the final push I so desperately need!

This stream today will also be the perfect distraction. After that, I plan to keep my laptop closed, my phone turned over, and my nose deep in a book.

If you're in the U.S. and able to vote, I hope you have already or will!! Every vote matters.

I'll see y'all soon. Until then, sending you all the good vibes. I hope the writing flows.