Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

A storm of writing amidst windswept plans.

It feels like April has blown through my life like a whirlwind and combined with a squall of ill health, has left behind scattered parts of plans like a dropped set of crayons – some bits in better and usable shape than others.

So, what are the bits that didn’t get anywhere?

Trying to make sure I have a solid way to offset expenses

I did have an opportunity which did not work out, and while of course that’s quite often the case, there is an expenditure of time and energy.  To look on the positive side, given that I had no industry experience, to make the final stage in a very long interview process (9 virtual interviews, a self-video interview, and a case study exercise/presentation) was a great achievement in itself and the process has given me good practice at interview, case study exercises, etc.  If nothing else, it’s forced me to really examine my professional work wardrobe, given both organisations I’ve worked for most recently were comfortable with smart casual dress unless directed otherwise for clients.

However, spending the time and energy on this opportunity meant less time and energy for actually getting the set-up of my own business done and pursuing other opportunities.  It’s not all a loss on the opportunity front – one company is keeping my CV on record for future projects and there are other irons in the fire – but it has underlined to me that I really do need to spend some time in May focusing on completing those set-up tasks and activities, and securing some work that pays.

Memory Monday

So, some of you who follow my tumblr may already be aware that I’ve been trying to publish a ‘Memory Monday’ link every Monday which highlights an old story formally published that particular week.  It is an unashamed marketing ploy to drive traffic to my website, and a relatively easy one as I don’t have to write anything new and can simply highlight something from the 378 stories in my back catalogue.

Could I actually remember to post the Memory Monday link on a Monday through April?  OK, so one week was delayed due to illness rather than my just simply forgetting, but more often than not I’d think in the morning ‘oh, I have to post up the link’ and then completely forget about it.  I’m going to set a phone reminder for me to do it through May.

Poetry

My muse got completely squashed into nothingness because my time and energy went elsewhere.  That’s a disappointment to me as I’d been enjoying writing poetry again.

So, if those are the bits which didn’t get very far or went a little wonky, what went mostly right?

April Rough Trade Challenge

My 911 fic went reasonably OK.  There are elements of it which I’m not happy with and will likely rewrite.  The first two parts I think are too generic and unoriginal following more along the lines of the fanon formula/trope of Buck struggling with his relationship with Maddie and Chimney.  I’m not sure the tense works beyond the first part either.  Plus by Part 3 I realised I needed to strengthen the universe link (the 911 fic is set in the same universe as Distant Stars).  I managed to get Part 4 done, but got completely stuck on Part 5.  I’m posting the last part I got written up this evening and then I’m planning to do nothing with it until later in the year.  Still, it stands at just over 40,000 words written in draft so I’m going to call it one of the more successful endeavours of April.

Q2 Big Moxie: Fusion/Crossover

Part of the reason I got stuck with the RT challenge was because when I was sick, I ended up binging Downton Abbey, fell in love with the complicated puzzle that is Thomas Barrow, and a subsequent Downton Abbey/The Sentinel story idea flew into my head and wouldn’t leave until I’d written it.

It needs a good second draft, but the full story is written and that’s around 25,000 words.  It feels a little odd to have my Q2 story done in the first month of the quarter, but it should free me up to focus on my May projects.

It isn’t the story I originally had planned for the Q2 Big Moxie so depending on how those May projects go, I may end up writing the original one after all.

Overall, then, while I may not have published very much in April, it has been a good month of writing nevertheless.

Looking forward…

Writing-wise I have my original novel and A Jump to the Left to focus on through May, however, I want to give myself more room to breathe than I ended up with in April doing the challenge. 

I don’t want my writing to become a chore, so I am relaxing the apron strings and I will write just anything I want to write and not feel I have to restrict myself to those projects.  In this way, I’m hoping for a return of my poetry muse.

Of course, I do have to keep some time and energy for the business set-up and we have a family holiday in the middle of May which will be a lovely time away.

Overall, then I’m happy enough with April’s achievements, even if I’m looking forward to tackling May and seeing what I can get done this month.