It’s the last week of the quarter, so it’s time for me to review my goals and see how I did.

• Finish my first draft of Arena of Night. I need some time away from Corruption of Blood to do my alpha read, so I might as well keep the writing train going with my fourth novel in the series.

I didn’t accomplish this. I’ll go into what’s going on with me after I get through my goals.

• Alpha read Corruption of Blood. I still want to publish it this year, so I need to get it going. Once I have my next draft done, I’ll do this.

I’m about 20% through this.

• Create my e-mail list sign in sheet.

I’m not sure why I’m struggling with this so much, but this still isn’t done.

• Figure out what should be in my monthly newsletter for my e-mail list.

I’ve been researching this and I have the beginnings of a plan. I have signed up for several author e-mail lists and like some of what I’m seeing and not liking some other things. I will get this going once I have my sign up figured out.

• Finish A Clash of Kings.

Completed.

• Finish Wit’ch Storm.

I read The Way of Kings and am about half way through Elantris by Brandon Sanderson instead, so I’m calling that a win.

• Post an article every week on my web page.

I did this!

• Include a video every month in my postings.

I had to go back and check, but I did this, too.

I did four of the seven, which is actually better than I thought, but not nearly what I was hoping for.

The big reason for this is I have been suffering from a major bout of depression. This was a particularly bad episode for me, the I’m not sure I’m going to last the day kind. For those who haven’t experienced this type of mental pain, it’s like my brain decided to shackle my body into a soundless room, showed me silent films of other people’s funerals, and whispered how my death would make the world a better place. For four months.

Fortunately, I’ve been seeing a really good therapist and have had a ton of support from my friends and family. I wouldn’t have made it through if it wasn’t for each and every one of them, even the ones who had no idea what was going on in my head. I’m feeling much better, now, so I’m starting to get back to the things I used to love. Like many mental illnesses, depression robs you of your personality. For me, the remission is allowing me to get back into doing things with my family, collecting art, and (of course) writing.

For this quarter, I hope to get the following done:

1. Finish my first draft of Arena of Night. I’ll really need this completed so I can work on prepping for writing the hitherto untitled Book 5 come November.
2. Alpha read Corruption of Blood. I still want to publish it this year, so I need to get it going. I’m still looking for beta readers, so if you’re interested, let me know in the comments.
3. Create my e-mail list sign in sheet.
4. Write my introduction letters, automate the responder, and plan out the next few months newsletters.
5. Finish reading Elantris.
6. Finish reading Wit’ch Storm.
7. Post an article every week on my web page.
8. Include a video every month in my postings.
9. Begin preparing for National Novel Writing Month.

That’s a lot. If I get 7 out of 9 of these done, I’ll be satisfied. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you next Sunday.