I’m trying to give myself a break about not writing as much as I could last week, but it’s hard. There were so many years of my life where I didn’t write a single word, so I feel down on myself when I don’t write as much as I want to. Plus, there’s so much I have left to write, I feel.
Based on the stats for last week, at least it wasn’t a disaster.
Writing statistics for the week ending 26 July 2025:
Words: 3,219
Days writing: 4 of 7.
Days revising or planning: 2 of 7 for 150 minutes.
Daily Writing Goals Met (500+ words or 30 minutes of planning/revisions): 6 of 7 days.
Part of the delay in getting as much words out as I did was because I was still in the process of outlining my next book in The Yank Striker series. I finally got a good rough outline of that book (known here for now as The Yank Striker 3) and began the first draft of it over the weekend. It’s great to explore where DJ is at in his quest for soccer greatness and what twists and turns remain in the way. I also want to make sure this book gets released mid next year, so I know I’d have to get a rough draft completed before the year is out. That would be an ambitious goal, but not something impossible if I make it my priority goal above any other projects I have going on.
And there are more than a few other projects, with varying deadlines (or lack of them).
- The Fool Part 2 (working title, naturally): I am 7,800-plus words into the first draft. For narrative reasons (which I don’t want to reveal because it’s too close to a massive spoiler) but I want to wait until July 2026 before I wrap up the rough draft. You’ll have to speculate why that is the case, but if I’m going to drop a slight hint towards why, note the fact the main character of The Holy Fool, Sonny Turner, is thirty-two years old during the events of the book (set in 2008). I’ll let you do the math and deducting.
- There is the Kayfabe Stories trilogy I’m interested in putting forward. I’m more than 50,00 words into the first draft of the first book and I have a little more to go through before wrapping it up. Part of the reason I don’t have a specific release date for this project is two-fold. First, I’m not sure if I want to release each book in the trilogy as it is done or whether I want to get them all done and then start releasing them. Second, I’m not sure if I want to just release it myself (self-publishing) or do it through an outside publisher.
- Then, I have two books, both of which I would base in Iowa like a good Iowa author would do. Basically, they would be a blend of modern sci-fi and urban fantasy, depending on how you interpreted the projects. Right now, I wouldn’t even guess at their timetables, but I’d like them to be done within the next couple of years.
Regardless of all that, all you writers make sure you are at work and producing some words. Time is money and life, fam, as the English would say. And everyone keep safe, even though it’s not always easy.
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