Writing is fun. Or at least it should be for me. Why then, I wonder, does it feel so forced at times? I can only assume, that it has to do with the pressure around being successful with this. It seems to take the fun out of it. I do my best, to just focus on the joy/love/fun of writing when I’m doing it, but it’s always sort of there in the background. I would really like to come up with a way of blocking that shit out. The one obvious way to do that, would certainly be, to just make more money at it, but that’s not here yet. Certainly, if there was no pressure, and the money was coming in, then things would be somewhat different. Not totally of course, as there’s always some level of pressure, to maintain any level of success. But, at least there would be some sort of comfort zone or cushion to support you. That’s where I really need to be. With the third novel about to be finished. Here’s to hoping, I can write the last scene for it today. But once that’s out there, here’s to hoping, that I can achieve a certain level of success with a bit of marketing. I would prefer to just do the writing, but I think with only three novels out there, that it will take a bit of a push to get them selling. I really hope, that the zombie/apocalyptic genre will take off, like it’s supposed to. I’ll still need to do a cover for the book. Just a question of finding the right picture, and going from there. So, why not do a little brain storming this morning and see what I can come up with for the next scene I need to write. It’s basically a sequel scene. Chaz is had is little encounter in the Generals private lab regarding the freaks that he was transporting in the truck and abandoned in the graveyard. They put one of the zombies through the mutation process, and then applied the controlling drug to them. So, where to go with the sequel scene, showing Chaz’s reactions to the whole thing. I think, he should have a discussion with Alex, but without giving things away too much. Maybe over the radio … if they can, without giving too much of their plan for rescuing Christa away over the radio waves. It would have to be something like, where Chaz is wondering if maybe he should really rescue her or not. They would both have to make some compelling arguments one way or the other. It would be centered around balancing the life of one person (zombie/mutant/freak) vs stopping an entire war. Which seems like an easy situation, but then you can throw the whole “freak hugger” taking over the government, without giving Alex too much information …. or not. You could let him know more. I should check the chapter where they connect with Montgomery as a prisoner. Would Alex be swayed, if he knew what the shadow government had in mind? If he knew the vice president was being controlled by a third faction. Then what? Would Alex change his mind. Chaz has seen some things, that make him feel bad for Christa. The way patient zero was treated, the plans for imprisoning here indefinitely. Those things would sway Alex as well. What could Chaz say to Alex to make him reconsider. Maybe, get him to think about his family, if he still has a family living. Or perhaps, about the family he could have some day in a world that’s not controlled by freaks. That’s the way to go with it. Alex doesn’t know, if he still has any family living or dead. It’s been so long, since he’s seen them. But what about his chance for a family of his own. Get him thinking about that. Chaz could reflect somewhat his own family, and what they mean to him, and how much he’s lost. How maybe, he still hasn’t given up hope for them. Alex will want a family of his own someday. That would work, and maybe sway Alex a bit. But, it still will come back to their feelings not just for Christa, but as soldiers, what exactly are they fighting for. For a world where a whole species is enslaved? That’s not what their country is about. Do they want another civil war fought over that. There has to be a better way. The freak huggers will want to live in peace with the mutated zombies, but the people like the General will want to enslave and control them all. Alex and Chaz may believe, that there is a way to let them mutate, without enslaving them, or allowing them to take over. Which, is sort of the premise for the rest of your books really. That is letting them mutate without a controlling drug and taking over.

TIGERBLOOD: some DAILYMOOD: fighting to get the words out LOCATION: bayfield boat WORDSWRITTEN: 2000+ PUSHUPS: none TODO: write, go home, CPA reunion TV: friday night lights BOOK: none GAME: none EXERCISE: none WEIGHT: 170 BREAKFAST: bacon & eggs LUNCH: none DINNER: big ass salad SNACKS: 2 oranges, blueberries, 1 apple, almonds, raisins ALCOHOL: none BEDTIME: 12:00 AWAKE: 7:15