As always, I’d like to begin this week’s progress report by thanking all of you awesome people who’ve followed, liked and/or commented on my blog!

Days Until Beginning the Third Draft (February 11): 9

No stats this week, since I’m not directly working on my manuscript.

Short Story Progress

So, I could make a lame excuse and tell you that I’ve had a cold for the past week and spent most of my down time in bed. But even so, this short story really isn’t getting off the ground for me. I really, really want to do it, but I just don’t know if I’ve got it in me this time around. Time will tell.

Break TBR List Progress

I finished Oleander House by Ally Blue and I just adored it. I would’ve immediately picked up the next in the series if I hadn’t already committed to my first ARC of 2018, Spanking the Boss by Hunter Frost, which I also managed to finish this week.

Let me just gush for a second and tell you, I was apprehensive about the Spanking the Boss. For one thing, that title. I normally don’t read books with such blatant titles. For another, if you check it out on Amazon or Goodreads, you can see the very 50-Shades-esque cover. But I can honestly say, I was wrong. This was a delightful little novella that left me wanting so much more.

Thoughts On Leaving My Book Alone

Still going very well this time around. I just ordered the print manuscript for the second draft of my book this morning, as I am less than ten days from beginning another round of self-editing. Other than that, I’ve left it strictly alone.

Goals for the Coming Week

With respect to the short story, I’m going to go ahead and back off of making word-count goals for it. Something about it is really giving me trouble and I’m not going to push myself right before I start back on my book. If it happens, it happens. If not, I still need to maintain my focus and energy for the book.

With regard to my TBR list, I have two new ARC reads, Family Ties: A Bartlett Boys Novel by Poppy Dennison and Bite Me by Beth Bolden (not yet on Amazon). They’re both due about halfway through February, but I’ll go ahead and begin on them now.

Note to self

It’s okay to admit you bit off more than you could chew. It’s okay to let go of things. Just don’t let go of your book. The most important thing right now in your creative/personal life is moving forward with your book. Don’t ever forget it.