I can just smell that Spring around the corner – It’s on the wind.
Chicago, other than being the (arguably) best band that ever played music anywhere at any time, also released some (tons of) songs that actually sound good, too! This legendary turn of the century band headed by the legendary Bill Champlin delivers some of the complex emotions that both give purpose and enthusiasm to their music in a way so few bands have been able to execute at all, let alone consistently.
Anyway, with my “boomer music” obsession aside, let’s talk about how things are going.
The Life of the Lord Knight Captain – Art by Engawa (Thank you!)
Madness within the Short Story Abyss!
Don’t get me wrong – I love writing short stories.
The brief form of the narratives allow me to test many concepts, styles, and aesthetics in rapid succession: it’s the fast turn-around iteration and optimize strategy of the literary world.
One moment you’re writing about people fighting over the last chicken tender in a pit filled with centipedes…
The next you’re describing a wonderful lifted train platform constructed with more glass and skylights than brick and steel.
It’s the little things, and the little things build up to make the big things.
With that said… have you ever been drawn and quartered?
Like, just tied up in all sorts of unpleasant places across your body, and then they’re all tugged at once?
“Excruciating” would be an understatement, and while I don’t mean to diminish the severity of this execution method out of respect for my medieval era friends that “endured” it, I feel like I’m going through a comparable experience right now.
You know me. Always too ambitious: always flying too close to the sun as I taunt my father below.
Well, the wax has begun to melt, and I can feel my wings coming apart.
Usually I’ll go with maybe two or three projects at a time: right now I’m actively courting about five or six, and it’s maddening to juggle across all my other responsibilities.
With that said, I’m doing “OK” and am not in present danger of falling asleep at the wheel or starting a revolution against the Czars or anything like that.
Truth be told, it’s the kind of stretching that feels invigorating. The sting of the wax isn’t demotivating, it’s empowering.
Definitely a strange feeling: exiting your comfort zone.
Look forward to a lot of different new things on the horizon – some are truly multi-year projects, but I think the payoff will be more than worth it.
This is also my sort of off-the-cuff and pretentious way of saying I don’t really have much to show for talkable progress today.
Tens of thousands of words? Yes.
In projects that I’m ready to show you? No.
So with that said, here’s what’s going on:
Writing
- Xbook 2 (very close to done, rough draft has been complete: now I’m just getting it up to my standard.
- Xbook Short Story (part of this abyss I’m fighting my way out of: this short story presents one of the most outstandingly difficult tonal challenges I’ve ever encountered as an author. It’s funny and irreverent like most of the books, but it deals with a severely traumatic, emotional situation. Look forward to it and thank Xbook’s Publishing House: Butterdragons, for the opportunity to make this real.)
- Substation 7 Short Story (Haha yeah… I’m still writing this one. I’m a bad boy and I can’t be trusted with my own personal deadlines unless someone locks me in solitary confinement)
- A certain unexpected project that will probably end up as a web serial – I bet you won’t guess the main character… but you know her.
- The game project With you Forever. Expect the chilling, thrilling demo sometime this Summer.
- Nocturna League Season 3 (About 1/4th done. These things are so huge but I guess that’s part of the appeal. You’ll get lots of comfy little adventures and then one big crazy one to enjoy.)
- Old thing that might become new thing that I won’t talk about in detail because I don’t want you to get your hopes up – a publisher approached me on this one. We’re still talking it out so it might not happen.
- The way cool short story about an awesome heist executed on Towerne – Can this haphazard crew get the relic and get out without being (1,000,000 potential cool deaths) first?!
Planning
- Courts Divided Book 5 – Yes finally. 50% done.
- Xbook 3 – 90% done as I see it. For those of you who are Ketairne fans I have a pretty sweet surprise shoved in there for you. Also for sure going to be my most awkwardly sexy book yet. I’m going to get some emails about this one.
- Nocturna League Season 3 – Even though I’m still writing it, there’s a lot of surprises I overlooked with a few of the characters. It all makes sense, but the implications are challenging: 70% done.
- Kill Bloodstain – this one really came in quite hot – like one of those stereotypical “whoa heckin epic author moments?!” Truth be told most of the stuff for this one just popped up naturally. I’d just walk around somewhere and go “wait a second…” and pull out my notebook like the psychopath I am and start scribbling. 80% complete.
Yeah, so that’s a lot of projects. Maybe I’ll die before I finish them all.
Haha just kidding. Even if I do die I’ll write by possessing hapless communication major students and forcing them to log into my doc accounts so I can keep going. I simply cannot be stopped unless I give up – and I won’t give up.
Featured Art of the Month: “Swab Duty” by Franibear
Awesome color choice on this one: I like the fish sailor in the background – I guess he’s canon now… anyone got a good name?
Parting
As always, you can reach me with your questions, comments, and fan creations at kell@kellinkston.com. I always read my emails and I’ll make certain you receive a reply as soon as I can get the time and wherewithal to do so.
Until next time, be sure you die as a doer, lest you be a mere dreamer.
Warm Affirmations,
Kell Inkston
Caffeine! The Bedrock of Modern Society and the pure essence of victory! – Onward and Inkward!
(“Lil K” by Jujizka)
Coffee... WRITING!... COFFEE!! 