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!

Here are this week’s stats:

Word Count for Chapters Edited This Week: 6,316

Last Chapter of Fourth Draft Completed: 15

Chapters To Go (subject to change): 10

Days Until July 15th Goal Date: 30

Thoughts?

So, a little recap. Mom came through her surgery and is doing VERY well, even better than I expected. Her last surgery was a bit rougher on her and I was expecting that level of pain and tiredness. Nope. Lola Baisden is a force of nature who cannot be stopped. I should’ve known.

That said, I still took over a week off to focus on looking after her and working the day job. The last thing I wanted to do was burn myself out during this final self-edit, so I planned accordingly. And somehow, thankfully, things have gone according to plan (knocks feverishly on wood).

With my trip and mom’s surgery behind me, the next big thing on my plate is the professional edit coming up next month…try saying that and not experiencing a heavy wave of adrenaline! But because I worked so hard before my trip and mom’s surgery, I can go back to my normal schedule of taking Sundays off, working on a few chapters during the week and then my weekly progress report. I’m so grateful that I planned this the way I did so I can relax into a more balanced, normal schedule leading into the professional edit.

Goals For The Coming Week

In the next week, I’d like to self-edit Chapters 16, 17 and 18. I also need to finish an ARC, Catch Me by Beth Bolden. As I ease back into my normal writing and reading routine, I’m going to baby-step back into reading more regularly.

Note To Self

We can do this. We really can. Keep moving, Baisden, slow and steady.