Reshaping
I have been busy over the past week, so busy that this post keeps being delayed. On the one hand, I have a pile to do this month. On the other, I’m trying to take a break and catch my breath, before I dive into the next project.
My first task was to tidy up the Apocalypse Blog. As it was, it wasn’t easy for a new reader to catch up because the posts were in order from newest to oldest. I had put in links so that a reader could step from one post to the next, but finding a post in the middle still wasn’t easy.
So, once it was finished, I managed to find the right code to reverse the post order. The website now reads from start to finish, including the category/chapter links. Hopefully that will help make it more readable!
I also put a front page on the website, so I can navigate visitors to the right places. Eventually, it will have a happy little blurb on it – I’m still working on that part.
It’ll also have links to the e-book versions of the blog. I still have to figure out what I need to do for that – how many e-books to do, what formats, how to convert it. Luckily, I know of a handy e-reading forum that is chock-full of handy information about that, plus a writer friend who sometimes self-publishes her work, so I think I can get that figured out.
It’s coming along! Looking good so far, and moving towards being all tidied up.
It makes me sad. On the one hand, I’m glad to have finally finished. I have this complete entity now, an entire Thing that I can hold in my hand and say ‘I did it’. On the other hand, I miss writing it every day. It’s weird not typing on the train, or carrying my netbook to work every day so I can use up my commute to get a few hundred words down. It’s weird letting the threads of the story go and trusting it to the minds and imaginations of my readers.
I have promised not to stop entirely, both to my precious readers and to myself. I have ideas for short stories about the cast of AB, spotlights on the parts Faith didn’t get to see. When Jersey joined the Wolverines. Bree and the Pride. Masterson’s family. Maybe people we haven’t met yet – I have a couple of ideas percolating that might work.
I have been asked to do a sequel. I’m still reeling in the aftermath of the first one! At the same time, it’s incredibly flattering to be asked. I’m not going to say ‘no’ off the bat, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted. There might even be a germ of an idea lurking in the back of my brain.
Not this year. I have so much lined up, new projects to start and old ones I want to resurrect. And I need time to pull a proper plan together. I don’t know if I can do a sequel, but it’s definitely a maybe.
In the meantime, AB is just about tidied up. Work is going well – they just gave me an award for my efforts during September, when I had to take over the team leader role early! And a juicy bonus. Working full-time might be a huge drain on my time, but I’d by lying if I said it wasn’t worth it!
Starwalker is due to start next month. I’m pulling the planning together – I’ll post more about that soon. I didn’t get any feedback on the website, so I shall assume it’s perfect for now.
I guess I should set out my goals for the year soon too. I’ll get to it! Hang in there, my happy readers. It’s a shiny new year and there’s lots to fill it with.
Mary says:
Ahhhh, mention of a sequel. *glowing*
My bribe must’ve worked. I guess I should start seeking out a good blogfic to fulfill my end of the bargain, eh?
January 7th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Mel says:
Yes!
I’m not promising anything. But I’m not ruling it out either. Lots of ‘ifs’ in there. Still, you can hope. 😉
January 7th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Apocalypse Blog Shorts : : Adventures in Text says:
[…] have been pondering the idea of doing short stories in the Apocalypse Blog world for a while now. I’m definitely not ready to let go of that […]
January 12th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Mary says:
I am fulfilling my end of the bargain (ha!). I found a great e-fiction story at http://vjchambers.com/breathless.html. I am on the 14th episode and loving it!
January 20th, 2010 at 5:08 am
Mel says:
Uh oh. I sense ‘doom’ in my future. 😉
Thanks for the link, though – I’ll definitely check it out!
January 20th, 2010 at 6:03 pm