It's been a couple of months since the last chapter, so I thought that it was time to update. Originally I thought that Chapter 18 was going to write itself, because I knew exactly what was going to happen. It would be a matter of carving out time to write. That was it.
Number one, the holidays intervened, and January has been socially eventful, so I haven't had much time.
Second, and more importantly, by posting as I go, I don't leave myself room for error. Once I post a section, I'm stuck with it. If someone acts out of character, or a moment doesn't live up to my expectations, I can't go back and fix it. There are continuity issues. I was writing at a good clip, and then when I re-read the chapter halfway drafted, it just wasn't working. When I re-read it this past weekend, I liked it. How do I know when something is done? Instinct, I guess. Deciding is hard.
Third, even though this is an anonymous story and I don't get any kid of compensation or ego gratification from it, I like the puzzle and the challenge of building it. I think I'm in love with my characters. There are times (not often) when I dream about them. It's enough that I don't want to force a scene just to finish a chapter. Sometimes, I need to let these guys have breathing room, and let their actions sink in.
The next month is going to be busy for me. I know the story that I want to tell in Chapter 18, but I'm not totally sure of how to tell it. I'll figure it out, but it takes time.
When will it come out? It could be 96 hours. It could be March; that's probably a better estimate, but I can't predict. I almost never know.
The comments and e-mails occasionally remind me to buckle down, but I'm learning to write as I do this, and one thing I'm learning is that I can't rush the finished product. Meanwhile, thanks for your patience. I know that I have readers, and I don't take that for granted.
