Progress Report: Summer 2021

Anyone who’s read my blog posts chronologically will notice a lapse. This is because I’ve been working lots and typing little. However, the summer scurrying has eased and I was able to grab a day to throw this together.

Consider it a journal entry for the first six months of 2021.

The Novel-in-Progress

Chapter twelve was finished in mid-July, marking the approximate completion of one third of the NIP. One third of draft three finished! There were cookies to celebrate (alas, they were devoured before I could arrange them for a photograph). Overall the first months of 2021 have been quite productive, by my standards, with nine chapters written and lots of research done.

Current focus has turned away from the NIP for now, as you’ll read below. I’m not sure when I’ll return to it: hours at my job always increase in the fall (good news for my bank account), and if I start classes in September that’ll use up all of my computer spoons.

Oh well. Winter is a better time for storytelling anyway…

The Life

…has been lifey (yes, I know ‘lifey’ isn’t a word, but it’s quicker to write than ‘full of contradictions and inspiration and improvements and pain episodes and my cousin’s wedding (congrats M!) which was wonderful and also reminded me of my romantically hopeless situation’).

Healthwise, my posture and muscle tone have improved greatly under the guidance of my physiotherapist, but no long-term remedies for my misaligned bits have been proposed. I’m on a waiting list for a surgeon in Toronto, and if I’m lucky I’ll see them before the end of the year.

I’ve read a lot of books and articles, especially on disability and justice and writing.

I started a painting of a scissor-tailed flycatcher which hasn’t been touched since February (when your dexterity is limited, hobbies fall to the bottom of the priority list), but I still intend to finish it.

Sock toys were no longer a thing until suddenly, last week, I finished a donkey that had been waiting around in a basket. My bag full of sock toys is overflowing. Should I try selling them, or just give them away to people with grandkids?

The Future

Uncertain. Potential for more schooling as an English language teacher or digital marketing specialist. Many more questions need to be asked, though, regarding job opportunities and the nature of the work, so I may not be able to start any classes until January. If that’s the case, I’ll be able to work on the NIP and this blog after all.

I might be getting published. A query I sent recently was well received, and if the article I wrote gets similar approval…stay tuned!

As always, more writing to follow.