Writing progress, and a request for help.

My wife has to work today, and I wound up with the house to myself. Yak Guy is stuck at a big transition point, but I hammered my way through it. It wound up taking about 1700 words, but he's at the place where I can move the story ahead. It's a good place to stop, because I need to think about the next section.

Yak Guy, Ted, finally met some people. He even met a girl he's infatuated with. I want him to react badly when he finds out she's slightly pregnant. Dealing with this is a large part of his journey. I also have to research her, because she is the Empress character from the tarot. I want to fit some of her lessons into the tale, but refuse to be handcuffed to all of it.

I suppose technically, Yak Guy is moving into Act II. This is always the toughest part for me. I'm usually pretty clear on the bookends, but the middle is like solving a puzzle. Add to that the idea that he has to meet the Major Arcana characters from the tarot, and this one is challenging. I hope it produces a worthwhile product.

I banged out a short story that I really like. Here's where I'm going to ask for help. My regulars know that I'm always trying something new. This is my first attempt at an epistolary style. This kind of story relies in part on documents, diaries, etc. I've always enjoyed that kind of story, and wanted to play with it myself.

There are a couple of spots where I have some doubts. I wonder if one or two of you might be willing to read it, and offer some critique. Those of you who are editors, or who have benefitted from actual editors would be most appreciated. I'm not looking for dozens of you, but even one might identify a problem I can't see.

Like I said, this is something new for me, and help would be appreciated. I already have email addresses for many of you, but won't force myself on you either. Did I mention that it's a short story, just over 5000 words.

I'm really enjoying writing short form stuff between novel sections. I never wanted to write two novels at once, but the short stuff seems to work as I hammer out the big project.

Later today, I'm going to look at another promotion of some kind. I've let my efforts languish, and sales have done the same. (Planetary Defense Command moved a few copies yesterday though. Thanks again Commander.)

I won't do another blog tour or anything too intensive, but maybe something to run in the background. Has anyone tried the Twitter ads yet? I have my doubts about them, but if you have something positive to say about them, I might try it.

Beyond that, I have some reading to do. I'm calling it a productive weekend. How did all of you fare?