Despite All That 2020 has Thrown at Us

The pumpkins and witches and goblins are out. That means it’s the end of October 2020. What progress can I report? Well, a lot and not a lot. But it’s 2020, so that has to be okay. And when I looked back at it, October was a productive month in despite all that 2020 has thrown at us and the world.

a fall leaves decorated harvest basket full of gourds and kale and potatoes and pumpkins--despite all that 202 has thrown at us we have had a productive month

Life Goes On

This month my back-up computer died a permanent death. The toilet started running. And my yard improvement project increased my water bill zoomed to the ceiling. Oh, right, and we have cars that need fixed or service and a dog that got injured. (No worries—he’s healing.) Just usual life stuff that normally would be a mild-to-moderate irritant. In 2020—well, I took a deep breath and am addressing each issue as I can. 

Making

an illustration of a checklist with most of the boxes checked off and a few with a red ex--despite all that 2020 has thrown at us we keep going

Last month after I finished the rough draft of If I Should Die, the second book of the Fellowship Dystopia series, I let the story “rest.” That means I didn’t look at it and tried not to think about it for four weeks.

I studied front and back matter for books. Planned how I’d revise that material in my own books. And I worked on revising the blurb for If I Should Die.

Then, I picked up the rough draft of If I Should Die at the beginning of this month. I spent three weeks re-reading it and creating an in-depth revision outline and manuscript notes. The outline and notes use most of the techniques I describe in my Re-visioning your book series of posts with one addition. I used Margie Lawson’s EDITS system. If you’re a writer and you don’t know Margie or the EDITS system, I suggest you check out her website. It’s stellar.

This week I started the first revision of If I Should Die. How many revisions will there be? Hopefully, only two. But only time will tell. If you would like to be a beta reader for this story (read an unedited story and offer suggestions for improvement) email me at Lynette at lynettemburrows dot com with Beta in the subject line.

Managing

I learned more about running ads on Amazon and applied some of those lessons. 

My Sweet Milestone Giveaway ended. I contacted the winners and got the prizes out—well, almost all the prizes out. Huge congratulations to Cindy, Suzanne, and Alexis. (More emails going out today.)

If you get my newsletter (Yes, it’s late—AGAIN), you’ll get a short video of antics of my youngest Yorkie that made me laugh. 

Home

Briefly, and using mask and social distancing, I celebrated one of my grandson’s birthday. And I spent a few hours with two grandsons my son and daughter-in-law celebrated their anniversary.

I transported my husband to a doctor’s appointment where he got his flu shot. I got my flu shot.

We had our first snow of the winter. In October… might be a rough winter. Well, perhaps it will make self-guaranteeing easier.

Throw in some meal making, laundry, housecleaning, and some television watching, and you’ve got a snapshot of my life. Not very exciting.

And I voted. Nope. I won’t say what party or persons I voted for. What I’ve witnessed over the past few years is that most attempts at political discussions devolve into heated name-calling and anger and ruined relationships. 

What’s Next?

photo down a blacktop road into a small town on a foggy night despite everything that 2020 ha thrown at us we turn on the lights and keep going.

Looking forward this year has been much like looking down the foggy road ahead. But in November, the month of Gobblers…

I’ll work on the revision of If I Should Die for the next two months. Polish the blurb. And I’ll start making notes for the next book in the series. 

We’ll have a Thanksgiving Day like I’ve never experienced. My husband’s risks make it mandatory that we eat alone. But gratitude will still be a sizeable portion of that day. Despite the rough patches, we’ve a lot of reasons to be grateful.

I hope you’ve had a wonderful month despite all that 2020 has thrown at us. Let me know one good thing about your month below, won’t you?

2 comments

  1. Hmmm… one good thing? I started writing again after being stalled (again) for several weeks.

    We’re also doing Thanksgiving alone for the first time. Our daughter’s going to her partner’s family’s, and my parents don’t want to risk traveling.

    I’m glad Margie Lawson’s EDITS system worked for you. I tried it, and it was actually harmful to my writing (made it sheer drudgery). Loved her Empowering Character Emotions, though. And I’m glad to hear you’re making progress, despite everything!

    1. That’s excellent news, Jennette. So glad you’re writing again. Sorry about Thanksgiving.

      I appreciate that you tried Margie’s EDITS method. Nothing works for everyone. But trying different things is how you grow as a writer. Good for you.

      Thanks for sharing.

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