As I mentioned in a recent post, my schedule became rather loaded in the fall. I was teaching five writing classes between three campuses (again) while working on the first draft of my current WIP. I finished the first draft before my self-imposed deadline, but it's rough enough to warrant a full rewrite, which I've been working on since.

My schedule has not exactly eased up, which accounts for my absence on this blog. However, I'll be stopping back every now and then to drop some updates before I dash off again. 

Since my latest project steps more fully into the horror genre, dropping the side-helping of sci-fi that Deathform embraced, I've been stacking my bookshelves--physical and digital--with horror novels I might have missed. My current homework is to read the entire backlog of HWA Bram Stoker Award winning novels. Though I have a long way to go, there are some standouts so far, such as John Langan's The Fisherman, Joyce Carol Oates' Zombie, and Joe Hill's NOS4A2 (nominated, but not a winner, if you want to get technical). 

I'm currently reading through Charlee Jacobs' Dread in the Beast, which is, to say the least, an intense ride. Unless it somehow comes to an abrupt halt, I see it making my all-time personal favorites list. I particularly appreciate the way the horror is grounded by historical references, so that even as the depravity mounts, we see that it is no more outlandish than the atrocities human beings have committed against each other for millennia.

In brief: I like this book so far.

Another note: I probably won't continue with individual Advice for Writers posts any time soon, but I'll share anything that comes to mind in these updates. For starters, here's something I've had on my mind for the past several months:

It's easy to get frustrated when you're juggling competing priorities, but that's no excuse to give up. And if you can make the space for your passion, the frustrations will clear up, and you'll be left knowing that you worked your butt off and have something to show for it. So, if you find yourself in that situation, let yourself rest when you need to, but get back at it as soon as you can.

Okay. That's all for today. Keep writing, friends. And don't forget to read.