June was a hectic month, but a productive one. I revised two novels and drafted half of another. I did some painting. I didn’t keep up with the house, but a morning spent planning how to handle revision house this past month is poised to help me conquer some of the clutter. All in all, I got a lot done.

I’m exhausted.

And here comes July.

Camp NaNoWriMo. There are a few pitch contests I’d like to do. I have a few trips planned, some work, too. And I have to finish polish revisions on the two novels, send out some things to Beta readers, keep up with the gardens, oh, and I have two things I want to draft, plus revision house…

Here’s the thing.

I can do all of this. I’ve done it before. But everything feels more insurmountable in July for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one being that I have reverse SAD. I spend most of the summer unable to do the things that recharge my creativity the most. I love to be outside. I love to be in the woods, in the mountains, in the water. All of that is harder when the sun wants to murder me. I’ve had to think outside the box to schedule some activities that have proven themselves good for me, but don’t require me to be outside.

So, I contacted a CP and asked if she wouldn’t mind keeping track of me this month, checking in, making sure I’m feeling okay, keeping up, taking breaks when I need them, and recharging as necessary. I don’t usually take that step unless I feel I’m going to need the support, but I’m thinking I should probably do it more often.

Writing is such a solitary thing.

It’s nice to have friends to protect me from myself.

Million Word Madness Update

June’s tally with both revisions/rewrites: 171,999

(Yeah, yeah, it should have been 150,000 and I’ve still got more revising to do)

Total for the year so far: 584,548