Last Updated on October 28, 2020 by ThoughtsStained
Hello, lovelies!
Thanks for tuning into another installment of Novels and Narrations, where I interview myself (*shrugs* it works) about how my writing is going, what progress I’ve made in the past month and how things are going!

How did your October goals go?
Honestly, writing has kinda stalemated this month, as my day job has absolutely kicked my ass. It’s my first time dealing with our busy season, as I’ve only been working here for almost a year, but damn if it isn’t truly a very busy season! Because of that and trying to stay on top of editorial work, writing has sort of taken a backseat. But, I’m also waiting on feedback for BLOOD PRICE from my editor, so it’s okay!
That sucks. How are you handling that?
Honestly? I say it’s okay, but I’ve definitely noticed a drop in my mood, since I haven’t had time to create. Writing is such a core part of me and not being able to do it for large stints at a time definitely affects that (I mean, the upcoming election and state of the world and having anxiety and depression during normal times also plays a factor, but still). I miss it.
Hmm…think you’ll try to do NaNoWriMo, then?
I actually hope to do it as part of editing BLOOD PRICE! I feel I am so close with that novel and I am really itching to incorporate some new ideas and level it up more, so I plan to work on editing, instead of working on a new draft of something (maybe next year, I’ll do a new draft). But my main goal is to finish a new draft and query it by the end of this year, so in the next two months. I’ve…even talked to my boss about taking some time off work in December, to work on my novel (!!). I’m not sure how much time, yet, but I need it. And I deserve to put writing first, for a change.
That’s exciting–I hope it works out for you! What is the focus of your edits going to be?
Making sure the worldbuilding is really fleshed out, exposition balancing, watching for repetition and checking that how I’ve presented the world is the inclusive way I want it to be. Plus, a few other minor tweaks–and, whatever my editor’s feedback is!
Oof, good luck. And about that fantasy romance…
Oh, don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about that. I think that’ll be my next project! Like I mentioned before, I got quite a bit mapped out and I already have the opening scene in my head, which is honestly all I need, to get the ball rolling. Now, I just need the more challenging stuff, like time…


I really liked the fake interview style, so I’m going to stick with it. Is it weird to interview myself? Yes. Knowing me, is that also oddly on brand? Also yes.
What about you? Do you write? What projects are you working on? Let me know in the comments, because I want to support more writers!! Also, if you follow any bloggers who post about writing, would you mind linking them below? I really need to find more of them!
Cheers.
Hi Nicole! I do write–a lot, in fact, I’m a little bit addicted. I’m working on a fanfiction (which is quickly becoming longer than most of my original work), a supernatural dark academia mystery that started as a fluffy romance and getting ready to write a gothic fantasy for NaNoWriMo. I hope your boss does give you that time off, because you’re right, you really do deserve it. β€οΈ
Hi, Elka! It’s always great to hear from you! <3 Yasss, fanfiction that turns into massive works are always so amazing and freeing. Have you started your gothic fantasy for NaNo!? I am very intrigued in that. Thank you, I hope so, too!!
Gosh, how did your interviewer know how to ask such good question? π (it’s a great format)
Hope you get your editorial feedback back for BLOOD PRICE soon so you can go all-out on edits! I have somehow been tugged back into NaNoWriMo even though I wasn’t going to do it this year (an 11 year habit is hard to break I guess). I’ll be continuing THE BEAUTIFUL DECAY, the sequel to my first novel! I think it’ll go okay, since for the first time in a long old time, I’m not ML and have no additional NaNo responsibilities.
Will we get updates on BLOOD PRICE as the month goes on?
I dunno, she’s uncannily good at coming up with questions for me to easily answer. π π
Thank you!! I think I am getting them back this week, so I’m both super excited and SUPER terrified! I might jump into NaNo late, but I want it to be super lowkey if I do. I hope it goes well for you, though!! Oooh, that TITLE. How has NaNo been so far?
Maybe! I just need to make sure my butt gets into gear once I have the edits! <3