I folded up my iPad, then stared across my desk at the writing cabin.
Percy the Space Chimp lay on the couch. “Dude? Why’d you stop?”
“I think I’m done for the day.”
“Come on. Last time we knocked it out of the park.”
“Not all days are like that.”
“You didn’t even get a whole chapter written.”
“Nope. Twelve-hundred words approximately. These transitions are getting tougher. Your ship moves around the galaxy, and the crew can do fun things while travelling, but I have to keep them fun. I’ve already explored the ship and explained some things, like science fiction has a habit of doing. I can’t keep explaining it.”
“I like the action bits better.”
“You would, but these are the sections that make fans love you. You and Leo had a big victory in the early parts.”
“Yeah, but the ladies punished us for it.”
“Don’t you think that makes sense?”
Lisa Burton, my robot assistant arrived wearing a silver bodysuit. She placed out some tea. “I noticed you logged off.”
“What are you wearing?” I asked.
“You’re into science fiction right now. Maybe robot girls wear this in space. I noticed you were writing about tea, so I brought you some. I don’t have Huloran tea, like in your book, but this can substitute. I’ll check the science fiction version of Amazon to see if I can get the real thing for your next session.”
Percy slid over to make room. “Leo and I downloaded some magazines and stuff, and now your author friend thinks we should be punished for it.”
“It isn’t the content, it’s the way you went about it. Things like spacewalks are dangerous and you didn’t share your plan with the others. I don’t know what you’re whining about. I kept getting tazed or magnetized in my stories. Besides, the girls gave you your precious comic books eventually.”
I sampled the tea, then leaned back in my chair. “I know the next half-dozen big events that are going to happen. Getting between the places takes more thought the way I work. Eventually, Leo is going to piece together a mystery you didn’t even know was there.”
“Why Leo? I mean, the dude’s a good friend, but I’m the one here helping you.”
“Because you’ve kind of become the main character. Leo needs a win, and it helps his character grow. I need to let the others shine a bit, too. Auburn fixed up that robot and he proved helpful. The Cici’s helped with those gangsters, and their hive mind is fun to write. I still need something big for Buffer. She hasn’t done much since she killed that guy back on Denmouth.”
“That was an accident. I’ll testify to that.”
“Relax. She has some abilities I haven’t explored yet, and deserves some sections devoted to her. Right now she’s kind of a broken toy.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“Yeah, but that’s the point. You come together in a kind of pseudo-family. I’d like to dwell on Buffer for a few days before you land the ship again. If this is going to reach trilogy length, you’re probably going to have to help me for a couple of years.”
Lisa leaned forward. “I think we should talk about your robots. I mean, they all look like robots.”
“Yeah, shouldn’t they?”
She pointed to herself. “Hello!”
“No. This isn’t a story about you trying to fit in. Besides, there’s no way I can get you out there without breaking all the canon of the stories you’ve already been in. I’m sure we’ll have you pose for some promotional posters and send you on a tour eventually.”
“What about the Hat stories? I could pop back into one of those.”
Percy sloshed his tea. “Don’t remind him. He’ll jump projects again, and where does that leave me?”
“You need to calm down, or I’ll give you a case of mange in the next chapter.”
“It’s just frustrating. That’s all.”
“Low word count frustrates me, too. After all these years, I’ve come to accept it.”
***
That was my flex day. I appreciate those banner days when they happen, but they’re the exception. Today didn’t amount to much, but I moved the story along.
Still more words than I have written. It’s awful when the daily grind gets in your way.
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It will flow again once I reach the next big event. There’s some spy workings going on there. I’ve stopped stressing a lot of this in the last couple of years. Writing is my fun time. The real world offers enough to stress about.
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Great job, Craig. I love the story and just hope you don’t have to give Percy a case of mange. 😃
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Maybe he’ll get with the program. Time will tell.
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Carl Hiaasen has already done a mangey monkey that throws its own poop bombs. Just sayin’. Give him brain farts or some form of neuro-muscular turrets that makes him touch his forbidden zone at the worst moments. “Hey, ladies,” he reached down, freed his nutsack. “‘Sup?”
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Well, that’s a thought. Percy is kind of sensitive about being ape and not a monkey. I won’t tell him where you live.
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Feel sorry for Percy, but that’s the job. Sometimes I think our characters plan ways to mess with us out of revenge for these types of days.
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Ha ha, so true.
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LOL. Percy’s pretty narcissistic. A little mange wouldn’t hurt him. The elements in the story sound like fun. Transition scenes are harder to write than action scenes–you’re making progress. Different scenes have different demands. You’re getting there. Sounds like a good day to me.
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I can see a time where they’ll just change locations, but the time is well spent developing their personal stories right now.
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I always love these posts. LOL!
Maybe it wasn’t as much as you’ve been doing on many of your writing sessions lately, but it was still a really great word count. Besides, you made progress with the story, and that’s what matters most at the end of the day.
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Yup. Moving the pegs counts. It’s more than I had before.
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Wow. Lisa’s feeling left out and Percy’s on the verge of a retaliatory case of mange. That’s a full day, big word count or not.
Seriously, take the win. Any words are words in the right direction.
This was a fun post, Craig.
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Thanks. It’s more than I had the day before, and it was a transition. Bigger sections are ahead of me.
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Give Percy the mange *snort*. That’s still a great word count – you increased the bottom line.
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Thanks, Teri.
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Sounds like good progress, Craig, especially dealing with the pesky monkey! Here’s to happy writing 💕🙂
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It was a good day. I’m not going to stress major progress in 2022.
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Hi Craig, not a bad day’s work. Every day can’t be a super day or there wouldn’t be any super days.
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When you say it like that, it makes perfect sense.
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Always to great to get any words down. Sounds like you are coming up with future ideas too. I already like the characters 🙂
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Thank you. It’s starting to come together nicely.
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I love that line from Percy, “Don’t remind him, he’ll switch projects again.” Had to laugh out loud at that one. 🙂 Great fun dialogue and some WIP progress!
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It could happen at any time, too. Right now this one is flowing well, but that won’t last.
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Love Lisa’s spunk. She cracks me up.
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I always like having Lisa around.
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