I got the opening of the first scene of Lowborn 06 written, going with the new angle I’d come up with, and ran headlong into a snag.

I’ve been puzzling over it all day long, trying to figure out how to shelter my protags from a storm, while leaving the baddies exposed ( necessary to get me where I need to be )  Nothing was coming to me, so I went back to that content read and made it to the halfway point.

Then, I did the tracking for the Earth Day contest.  Made my post in the thread at Lit, giving the overall details.  Answered a few PMs and checked the scores on my latest stories.

I finally went back a minute or two ago, and started thinking about it again.  It hit me out of the blue only a few seconds later.  The perfect solution is actually inspired by “To Catch a Merchant Princess” *laugh*

Completely different circumstances, but a set piece I utilized in that story serves my purposes perfectly.  I even considered doing a little tie-in, as they happen in the same general time frame, but while the set piece will be very similar, the one in MP is near a forest, and the one here will be in an endless sea of prairie grass on the Great Plains of my world.

Anyway, I was just so tickled that I had to come crow *laugh*  I’m off to actually write the thing now.

Lowborn is flowing nicely, so I’m moving forward.  I’ll probably switch back off to SOTM 18 before the day is out, but that will depend upon if this chapter really takes off and runs.

I’m about 1/3 of the way through that content read, and I’m going to make sure I finish that by Monday at the latest.  One thing you learn quickly when you’re writing is to take on these reads when someone asks and you have time.  The tit-for-tat can prove invaluable when you need something of your own looked over by another set of eyes.

Still feeling good and writing away.  On top of what I’m mentioning here, I’m still scribbling a few words of that story in my third name here and there.  It’s going to be the longest thing I’ve ever written in that name.  Hope the relentless sex is enough for the regular readers to overcome the length, as they’re used to two Lit pages as almost an unbroken rule *laugh*

Okay, time for a bit of a relaxation break, then back to Lowborn.  I think y’all are going to like the young Mindblind, Raven, and the rest of the motley crew that populates this story.  Hope to get it out there for you to read soon.

The first scene — about a thousand words — are done on Ch. 18 of SOTM.  I’m going to take some time out to do a content read for another author, and then take a look at where I left off on Lowborn to see if I’m ready to dive into that.

Still waiting for word from Roust that he’s back up and running.  I’ll try to keep you updated on his status, as it’s critical to getting the next chapter of SOTM posted.

Started on Ch. 18 of SOTM this morning.  Just a little beginning of  a scene to get the file established so far, but it is moving.  Probably finish at least this scene a little later today.

I think I’m going to pick up on Lowborn after that, though.  Have to see if it’s flowing for me.  As I’ve said before, I’d really like to finish this one and start posting it.  That’s going to be a month worth of having my name out there, even if I post two chapters a week ( which I’m seriously considering )

Got a little caught up in writing a story in my third name *laugh*  It’s still not done, but I’m going to work on either the edit of SOTM 16 tonight, or finish that scene in 17 so I can start on 18 — I promise.

Until Roust is back up and running, I’m not likely to post anything, anyway.  I don’t do all that bad, but Roust catches just enough that I sit and stare at, wondering how in the hell I made a mistake so stupid without catching it in my final reads and grammar checks.

I’d planned to do all sorts of things during this week of vacation.  Clean out the back bedroom.  Replace the faucet on the kitchen sink.

All I’ve done is write and edit.

I’m sure you’re all terribly dissapointed to hear that 😉

EDIT: ( A little later )  See, I promised!  SOTM 17 is now actually complete, as opposed to my oops proclamation earlier.  I’ll be diving into the edit of Ch. 16 next, then get started on 18.

EDIT: ( Again, a little later still ) The edit of Ch. 16 is finished.  It’s ready to send off to Roust as soon as he’s back up and running.  As with the previous two releases, it will go into the queue at Lit on the Monday following the approval of a final draft, aiming for a Thursday night at midnight release.  I’ll be sure to post here when I’ve put it in the queue.