So. Here we are, like five months on from my so-called brief hiatus. Oy, right?

I was holding out, hoping for some material to post along with a new status update. For a host of reasons, that material hasn’t…well, materialized. Ha. I keep trying and throwing stuff out. Even my attempts at flash fiction are pretty putrid.

My creativity has been basically eliminated due to stress and exhaustion. I made the ridiculously stupid choice to continue working a second job after the summer was over, in addition to my regular sub job and the five classes. This January, that kind of snowballed into the worst week in recent history. My mother was diagnosed with pneumonia, so I had the responsibility of taking on her fifth grade class for six days, plus grad classes, and my other job. And babysitting. And studying for my Praxis Core exam. So I didn’t get home until after 8 every night–just ugh.

Anyway. That’s over. I survived. I also passed my Praxis Math test, which was a huge hurdle to overcome. I am hoping that my stress will get under control, and I’ll feel more into writing.

As always, I’m here. I’m trying. I’ll be back. I’m sure the muse will show up if I just keep hacking at it.

One of the reasons I haven’t checked in is I hate adding new posts and bothering you guys without giving you new material, but I also don’t like a ton of time to pass without giving some sort of notice I’m still alive and in this.

At the beginning of November, I had hoped that I would be able to participate in NaNoWriMo and get some of Bittersweet done. That just…never materialized. I managed straight A’s this semester, but I also gave myself a brand-new stress condition — hives.  Between papers, work, and itching myself into oblivion, I’ve just been worn out. Even the last week, with school over, the run up to the holidays was crazy. I’m the only single non parent in my family, so the extra errands fall to me.

However–and I know I’ve said this before–but next semester is looking up. I’m only taking three classes, and my tuition is less due to that fact, which means my refund will go a lot further. I’m actually going to be in the position to pay off my credit cards for the first time since I got my first card at the age of 20. Plus, I was offered a better position with better pay at the school where I work. If everything goes the way it should, it will be the first time in nearly three years that I’ll feel okay. And not so stressed about money and my job situation. A lot of my creative energy has been sapped, particularly over the last year and half due to stress.

I had hoped I would be able to pull together a short Christmas story for you guys, but I wasn’t able to find the time. That being said, I am still hopeful one of the two short stories I’m working on will be ready by New Year’s Day, which still makes it okay for a holiday story 😛 And by that time, I should have a good handle on how the time away from work and school is recharging my brain.

Still here. Just tired. 😛

It was never my intention to disappear after my last post, I promise. I wanted to continue with flash fiction and whatnot, but well…things never go to plan for me. You guys know my health has been crap the last two years and graduate classes have been crazy this semester. I’ve got a full course load, and one of those classes is a major 45 page research paper, 25 pages of which is due next Thursday. And now I’ve been stuck with an allergic reaction that my doctor is like shrugging me about the cause.

I am working Bittersweet for NaNoWriMo, and if this next week goes as well as I hope it does, I should be back on track to get back to flash fictions.

I’m still here. I just need real life to settle its ass down. Next semester is looking up: I’m not taking online classes, so there’s going to be extra money so I don’t need to pick up so many extra hours at my second job. I’m also only taking three classes with no big major research projects. I really really hope I can get my schedule back on track.

I love you guys and missing posting so much!

Flash fiction is up! It is not part of the medieval series, mostly because I can’t figure out who the bad guy is and I probably should know that soon 😛

Flash Fiction 8: An Unexpected Visit

I added Bittersweet, Chapter Eight tonight. The story is officially on hiatus as I remarked last week. I’ll keep you dated with how things unfold and when it will be returning.

Apologies for skipping last week’s flash fiction. My niece had her birthday party on Saturday, and I was also having an allergic reaction to my contacts which made eyes sensitive to the computer light. All is fixed and we’ll be back this week 🙂

Hey! So no updates today, but I wanted to make a few announcements separate from the updates.  As most of you know, I’m a graduate student studying American History and pursuing my teaching certification while I work as both a substitute and a tutor at Huntington Learning Center.

As part of the teaching program and NJ state requirements, I have to pass the Praxis Core in order to even get into the program and student teach.  Reading and Writing, naturally, went well. Math has been a disaster. I’ve taken it twice and failed it. That happened for the second time on Monday. In order to reach my deadline of January 31 to take and pass it again, I have to really focus on preparing and study math a lot more in depth than I have up until now.  I’m pretty annoyed with my life, but I have to do what’s necessary.

So writing, as always, takes a back seat. I hope to continue with Flash Fiction, and to be honest, I may skip some weeks so I can take that hour or two to work on Bittersweet.

After next week, and Chapter Eight, Bittersweet is going on hiatus for about a month to allow me to conserve chapters I have and keep building a buffer zone. I’m going to work on Bittersweet again for my NaNoWriMo project so I can finish it finally.

And then, to be honest, the next time I start posting a full-length project, I’m actually going to wait until it’s fully written. Then I can post a few times a week. I don’t think anyone is really served well by piece meal updates. Storylines feel like they’re being dragged out constantly when really they’re just over a few chapters and you wouldn’t notice the time if you were reading in a book.

I appreciate those of you who are coming back week after week for both Bittersweet and A King’s Command, the flash fiction series. To be honest, I’m using Flash Fiction to workshop ideas and I may end up taking the series and reworking it a bit once it’s complete to flesh it out and make it a traditional novel from the site. The difference is that I just post at the end of the hour rather than waiting, rereading a few times, sending it to Cora, reviewing her suggestions, etc. It’s messier, and sometimes drives me crazy but it’s a good writing exercise.

Love you guys, see you tomorrow for the update!

I updated with a Flash Fiction for the medieval series, Flash Fiction #7: Truths Revealed. I also added Bittersweet, Chapter Six last Thursday, but  forgot to blog it here.

I’ll see you guys on Thursday, possibly with some announcements.

Hey! So in addition to the Flash Fiction, I posted a short ficlet I had started a few months ago and never finished. It takes place in the summer of 2014, shortly after Jake came home.

The Flash Fiction is not a continuation of the medieval series — I took a short break 🙂

Flash Fiction #6: Lost Boys & Cast Me Gently

Not much to say here — I’ve posted Bittersweet, Chapter Five. I’ve started my semester at school and so far I’m able to kind of develop a decent routine. We’ll see if it’s still working a week or two from now.  Love you guys! See you on Saturday!

It’s unlikely you’ll get another surprise flash fiction this week  — I work tonight and tomorrow 4-8, and I also have a sub job tomorrow from 8-3, and then work again on Saturday 9-1. But definitely Saturday night 🙂

Hey! So my evening plans were cancelled and I had a few ideas in my head for next scenes in my Flash Fiction series, so I just…decided to set my timer and I wrote this in 40 mins. I’m having a lot of fun writing these, and even the though the series is a continuation, I’m really pantsing it in a way I haven’t done in years. I didn’t know I was going to write the last line until I wrote it. So… Flash Fiction #5: Changing Tides. Enjoy!