I figured it was probably time for another general update because, for once, I’m in a strange little period where a lot is happening while I’m also waiting for a lot to happen.
Author-wise, I’ve already submitted a whole bunch of work into the Rippaverse, which means there isn’t much for me to do with those projects at the moment except wait for everything to push through the process. Anyone who knows me knows that waiting patiently is obviously my greatest skill, so naturally I’ve responded by finding several other things to work on.
Some of those projects have been sitting on my list for a while. One of them apparently just decided to exist last week.
Because that’s how authors work sometimes.
What I’m Writing Next
One of the projects I absolutely need to finish is my writing craft book, Carrow’s Craft. This is something I’ve wanted to put together for people who are trying to get into writing and need some help figuring out how to actually make the book they have rattling around inside their head.
I want it to cover the craft side of writing, but I also want to venture into the business side of being an author. Writing a good book is one skill. Figuring out what the hell you’re supposed to do with that book afterward is an entirely different one.
Publishing can have some fairly treacherous waters, especially when you’re new and don’t know what you don’t know yet. I’ve spent years working as a writer, editor, and on the publishing side of the industry, so I’d like to take some of what I’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—and turn it into something useful for other writers.
Then there is Blood in the Rain.
I started this book way back in 2023, wrote a couple of chapters, and then proceeded to do what authors occasionally do best: work on practically everything except the manuscript they said they were going to finish.
There isn’t even a particularly good excuse for it.
Whose fault is that?
Mine.
If there is something I genuinely want to accomplish, I tend to make the time for it. I haven’t made the time for Blood in the Rain, which means I have to own that rather than pretending the universe has somehow conspired to keep me from writing it. It is still a book I want to finish, though, so it is officially back on the list.
And Then Black Shepherds Happened
Of course, having two projects that I already need to work on apparently wasn’t enough.
Last week, an idea popped into my head for a dark fantasy story called Black Shepherds. I started drafting it Monday, and I’m actually pretty excited about where this one might go.
It has a slightly different flavor from a lot of what I’ve been writing recently, and I think my brain needed that. Sometimes stepping into a completely different story gives me enough distance from everything else to recharge creatively. Instead of forcing myself to keep hammering away at the same kinds of projects, I can play somewhere new for a while and hopefully come back to everything else with a little more energy.
Will starting another project make my existing pile of unfinished projects smaller?
Absolutely not.
Did that stop me?
Also absolutely not.
The Frozen Shoulder Saga
On the personal side, I can’t remember whether I’ve written about this already, and I’m currently too lazy to go back through my own posts and check.
After going through the two surgeries related to my breast cancer, I developed frozen shoulder. If you have never experienced frozen shoulder, I can confidently say that I do not recommend adding it to your bucket list.
The good news is that I am now past the freezing stage, which was the particularly painful part of the process. I’m currently working through physical therapy and trying to regain my mobility.
In fact, as I dictate this article, I’m doing my PT exercises with the other hand. We’re multitasking over here.
I’ve been told that recovering from frozen shoulder can take anywhere from about six months to two years, so this is going to be another one of those things where consistency matters more than trying to rush through it. I’m doing the therapy, working on the mobility, and giving my shoulder the time it needs to do what it has to do.
More broadly, I’m finally getting back to focusing on my overall health again. After spending so much time dealing with surgeries, recovery, restrictions, and everything that came with them, I’m at a point where I can start dedicating more time and effort toward taking care of myself again.
That has been nice.
I Also Have a Plan B Now
There has also been a pretty significant career development happening in the background.
I’ve started working with a business acceleration firm where I help business owners find ways to improve their companies and, ultimately, make more money. I’m one of the specialists people can work with, and so far it has been both an educational and rewarding experience.
One of the things I enjoy most about the work is getting to interact with people from completely different industries and walks of life. Every business has its own problems, personalities, goals, and opportunities, which means there is always something new to learn. At the same time, I get to take the things I’ve learned throughout my own career about business, systems, leadership, publishing, and operations and use them to help someone else build something better.
I’m looking forward to doing a lot more with this group going forward.
And before anyone gets worried, no, I’m not giving up writing.
If you know anything about publishing, though, you probably know that income from writing isn’t exactly famous for being predictable. Having another professional lane that I genuinely enjoy—and that lets me use a completely different collection of skills—isn’t a bad thing.
So, for the moment, this is Plan B.
Plan A is still making up imaginary people and ruining their lives for entertainment.
So, What’s Next?
For the first time in a while, I feel like I have some room to explore again.
There are projects already moving through the publishing process. Carrow’s Craft needs to become the writing resource I’ve been imagining. Blood in the Rain has been patiently waiting since 2023 for me to finally get my act together. Black Shepherds showed up uninvited and immediately demanded attention.
Meanwhile, I’m working through physical therapy, rebuilding my health, and developing another side of my career that has very little to do with fictional worlds and quite a lot to do with helping real people build better businesses.
It’s a strange collection of things to have happening at once, but that seems to be fairly normal for me.
For now, I’m going to keep writing, keep doing the PT, keep learning, and see where all of this goes.
Preferably while finishing at least one of the books I’ve already started.