Revisions, Red Ink, and a Near Return to Big Chief Tablets
February was busy. Productive. Slightly chaotic.
And yes, there were tears.
Apparently word processing software can reduce a fully grown author to staring-at-the-ceiling despair. Who knew? (Me. Now I know.)
Writing Stats for February 2026
New words written: 967
Which feels suspiciously like I blinked and accidentally typed a chapter.
However…
Editing hours: 37 hours and 12 minutes
Planning hours for a super secret new project: 10 hours and 15 minutes
So while the word count was low, the brain miles were high. And honestly, editing draft six of anything counts as endurance training.
What I Worked On in February
Revising Run Around
Run Around, book two in the Running with Friends series, is officially on draft number six.
Six.
At this point, I know these characters better than I know my grocery list. Reading the same lines over and over creates a special kind of déjà vu no one asks for—but it’s also where the magic happens. Tightening. Layering. Making sure the emotional beats land exactly where they should.
I do think my writing improves in revision. At least, I hope it does. You’ll be the final judge of that.
Writing the Bonus Story: Stick Around
The bonus story now has a name: Stick Around.
It went to the editor. It came back. And that is where the meltdown occurred.
Somehow, the formatting imploded. Text boxes appeared. Edits multiplied. It looked like the document had gone through a small electrical storm.
If I could go back to writing on a Big Chief tablet, I might have seriously considered it. (Yes, you can still buy them on Amazon. No, I am not ruling it out.)
I believe the chaos is now under control. But I may have to re-edit portions to make sure everything is truly fixed. Another round of edits is coming back soon, so we are all collectively crossing our fingers that the software behaves itself.
Because I really am out of hair to pull.
What’s Next for the Series
Originally, March was going to be full steam ahead on book three of Running with Friends.
And then…
Detour.
I’ve been outlining a super secret collaborative project with some fellow writers. It’s something I have never tried before, and I am both excited and slightly wide-eyed about it.
More details soon—once I know it’s truly happening and not just living in my overenthusiastic imagination.
March Writing Plans
March will focus on:
- Outlining book three in the Running with Friends series
- Finalizing edits for Stick Around
- Continuing development on the secret project
And if the word processor misbehaves again, I will be rearranging my office to accommodate a large stack of Big Chief tablets and a box of freshly sharpened #2 pencils.
You’ve been warned.