Well, here we are. June 30th. End of the Month.

I figure today is a good day to reflect on what’s been a few months of just, absolute nonstop, inability to focus on the things I prefer to focus on. Like writing. Gaming. Life beyond just “prep for the next thing.”

Breaking my nose of course kicked off the few months. Then prepping the basement. Then freaking out over every last plumbing issue. You know the drill. Plus, needing a new computer! Oops. Oh right, to cap EVERYTHING off, my computer died and I had to get a new one. Great. Perfect. In theory, I could have gotten it repaired, but I’ll be honest, that thing probably got microwaved late last year when SERVPRO came out and ran their fans and the dehumidifiers. That motherboard almost certainly was on its deathbed from November until now.

So where does this leave me now as July starts tomorrow?

Well, a few key places.

1. I have to start my writing process over again. Like many a writer who lacks the full discipline as of yet, when I’m on, I’m ON. But when I’m off, it’s hard to turn back on. It’s mostly discipline, I need to start blocking off my mornings, and start writing again. It’s that simple.
   
   Now that the floor is done, the plumbing is solved, I’m sleeping in my basement, I’m drinking way more water and cutting out soda, and overall trying to get back into the groove, I can start my process. My PLAN is to start evaluating everything, giving a once over on my current draft, and start writing as early as Friday, July 3rd, though there’s a good chance I’ll really start the process on Monday.
   
2. Hobbying of course, is a thing I won’t give up. Warhammer is near and dear to my heart, both with my Warhammer 40k Orks, my Age of Sigmar Stormcast Dragon Army, and my Ironjawz in that game. I’m working on the new Armageddon Ork set, but while the creativity to paint (even if I’m terrible at it) may come to me easily right now, it will take a BIG back seat to my writing once the process starts. I’ll write for an hour or two and IF I have time before work in the morning, I’ll paint. Or I’ll save it for the evening.
   
3. Gaming. I love gaming. I play computer games, MMOs, single player, etc. What I don’t do, and haven’t done for years is let the gaming define my time. I used to in my 20s, and before, but nowadays, gaming is the excess.
   
   Did I write in the morning? Check. Do I have a few minutes before work, but not enough to hobby? Okay I’ll play a game.
   
   Did I write in the morning? Check. Did I work all day, and maybe I’m too tired to hobby, but don’t want to fall into the “I’m staring at youtube and falling asleep early” vortex? Okay, I’ll play a game.
   
   Is it the weekend and I have plans but not until later, or it’s after my plans and I’m back home? Now I’ll really play a game.
   
   Gaming is my extra hobby. I’ll log into Warcraft, or Guild Wars 2, I’ll continue my Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign, or go krump someone in a Warhammer Total War run when I either have done what I want to do in my other hobbies OR I’m tired OR have nothing else to do.
   

Now, there is an observation I’ve noticed. While I haven’t been writing, the creativity has not fled me, and it’s led to me dreaming up new worlds, new stories, new characters. As any writer can probably identify with, I am quick to latch on to those new ideas, see where they can go, and then neatly put them on a shelf ready to be looked at later.

You may see in the coming days or weeks new pages on my website, where I discuss some of these ideas in process. Make no mistake, Dragonsoul is my baby, my heart and soul when it comes to my writing projects, but I would be remiss if I did not entertain these other ideas in my spare time when the inspiration strikes. I may muse about them in future posts, but make no mistake, when the process starts as early as Friday, it will be all Dragonsoul when it comes to the writing time.

See you in July!