Revamp
So I’ll be completely honest, I’m typing this post a 4+ hour training session, so my brain is absolute mush. Thankfully, I got a lot done this week, meaning I can rest and relax this weekend.
Firstly, I revamped a lot of the website. I color corrected so it’s easier to read, and I made images for the headers and logos for the series to make them look more professional. I also completed the mock ups for Ace of Wands, Ace of Swords, Ace of Cups, Ace of Pentacles, and The Fool. I contemplated the idea of paying a cover artist for them like I intend to pay for cover artists for Ridgewood Rattlers and Wolves and Rain, but I did the math. Assuming I low ball it and get a cover artist at $50 (which is criminally low for artists, and we do not underpay people in the house) that still means I’d spend almost $4,000 in cover art on the series over time. I don’t even want to try the math for industry standard (around $250). That might be an option one day, but it certainly isn’t right now.
Instead, I’ve got the cover self-made. I also looked at another writing program. It’s a one-time payment so I can get rid of my subscription service, and they have an anti-AI stance I appreciate, but they’re $140 upfront that I just don’t have. Fingers cross for next month, though!
In even better news, I got a lot done writing/editing this month between calls. I did several hard edits on Biker Blues, even adding several scenes that total in 4,500 words added to the word count. It’s not quite at the level of a second draft, but it’s closer. Once it’s at a third draft, I’ll look at finding Beta readers and an editor for it.
I got some writing done for Moonlight and Storms, but only around 1,300 words since I’m also hard editing Howls and Thunder to get it ready for Beta readers since this’ll be the third draft. I’ve also been busy writing Lucky. 7,500 words later, I’m about two scenes away from only having the last quarter remaining. Which then means I can leave it alone for a bit before the first hard edits to the second draft.
It’s a never ending flow, but that’s what I enjoy about writing like I do. I always have something to work on when I’m in the mood for something specific. I’ve even got a sports romance dancing around my skull right now, but I’m not entertaining that until I get Wolves and Rain or Ridgewood Rattlers finished.
As for this week, I’m hoping to finish Lucky completely and maybe get some more written for Moonlight and Storm or Ace of Swords since I haven’t touched anything in that series in a few weeks beyond transferring the information over to my new data center.
With all of that said, I’m spending the rest of today resting and relaxing. I’ve got a bunch of new songs queued up on my Spotify, and I think I’ll indulge in an audiobook if I can sneak a bath past the fish I call a toddler. Happy summer, and, coming from someone who only cares about basketball in terms of college-level women’s teams (Go Cardinals), fingers crossed for the Knicks and the Cyclones tonight!