Jeremy Simmons

Even though I had Chapter 12 ready to publish Friday night, I got a little overwhelmed because my wonderful wife was leaving for a trip to Nashville for a few days. This is the first time I've been this long without her, so I fell apart for a bit there.
          
          She doesn't come back for a couple days, so I gotta pull myself together and prove that I can handle things without her! I've mowed the lawn, made a big vat of spaghetti for the kids, kept on top of the dishes, and folded three loads of laundry, and I've only just started. It is a three-day weekend, so I'm off work and the kids don't have school today. I  need to motivate myself to get some writing done so I don't fall behind!
          
          Round two of the tournament is kicking of in this chapter; I'm trying to pick up the pace so I can meet my goal in progressing the story. I've already passed the point where my old script ended, so everything moving forward is built off a bare-bones outline and my memory, so there's going to be a lot of improvising and even more revising once this book is completed.
          
          Thank you for being patient with me and coming along on this ride. I hope to keep you entertained to the best of my ability as I continue to improve!

I was never sure how to handle a tournament arc, but I've been intent on including one ever since I first started working on this story over a decade ago. It wasn't easy, since there are so many expectations and established tropes; I actually ended up with writer's block because I was so afraid of messing it up back when I was writing this story as a webcomic script.
          
          But in the end I decided to disregard what other writers have done and focus on doing my own thing. I expect I'll make plenty of blunders as I try to find a pace that works for me, so I hope you'll bear with me. But I want anyone who reads this to see my story, not just be reminded of others.
          
          Hopefully I'll be back to a regular pace again: I had a week-long vacation to the beach, which interrupted my normal writing pattern.
          
          If you want regular updates on how it's going, please check out my twitter @james72487.

To anyone who reads this: hello! I hope you are doing well during these trying times, and that your days are full of happiness.
          
          I wanted to share an update since I haven't been active recently, for myself as well as for you. When I finished publishing the first book in Eight of Hearts, I chose to stop publishing "weekly" chapters and focus instead on editing what I'd already published. My ultimate goal is to make my work available in a physical printed form (which benefits from being ad free!), but to do that I knew there was still a lot more to be done. It would be impractical for me to continue creating more content while trying to refine what I had already made, especially since I can only work on it during my 20 minute lunch breaks at work.
          
          With my circumstances, and with my extended silence, it might seem I've become overwhelmed from the outside. But I've honestly progressed much faster than I anticipated, and am nearly halfway done with my editing process. These changes will be minimal, focusing on pacing and detail, as well as grammar and spelling. But I believe they are essential to make reading this book a more enjoyable and fluid experience. All editing is being done on my private manuscript, so what has been published already will remain intact. I am not sure yet if I will make those changes available in the Wattpad version, or if I would be better off keeping them restricted to the physical version. Regardless, the story will continue on Wattpad once I finish my editing, with my goal to finish before the year is out.
          
          My enthusiasm/optimism has never been higher, and I wanted to share that with you all. To those who have been waiting for the next book: thank you so much for your support. I will make every effort to bring that to you as soon as I am able. To everyone who reads what I write: you are the reason I do this. Thank you.

When the stars align, and I get enough sleep, and have a good day at work that doesn't leave me exhausted, my writing flows naturally. I feel confident in the words that I pen, and my own ability to tell a story.
          
          Unfortunately those days are hard to come by. As a result, my confidence is shaky, and my writing is rushed and imperfect. I'm just trying to get the story told, rather than actually telling it as it needs to be.
          
          I feel frustrated as I go to bed each night. Frustrated that I didn't have time to add in the detail and polish that I know the story needs. Sometimes I just want to give up so I don't have to face the overwhelming fact that one person will never be enough to accomplish the goal I set for myself.
          
          But I love this story too much to give up. I love each character for the complexity and depth that I know them to have. It's going to be a long and difficult journey for me, but I will continue no matter what pace I have to set.
          
          For all that follow and support me, thank you. If you ever have a suggestion, or advice, or criticism, please share it with me. I do plan on revising whenever and wherever I can to make a more coherent story. I know it's not easy to follow three different story arcs at the same time. I do have plans in mind to make it easier.
          
          Those rare occasions where I am so inspired that I type with the same flourish as a pianist keep me going. It's just so damn fun.

Between work, virus drama, home schooling, and unyielding need for sleep, I'm having more and more trouble finding time to get my writing in.
          It's downright maddening to have a surge of inspiration in the middle of a work shift when I know I'm just going to collapse when I get home, check the kids schoolwork, help with dinner, put the kids down for bed, then watch anime with my wife.
          
          I'm so happy to have this kind of problem. I know so many others are still out of work and desperate for something to do.