I did a much better job tracking my time this month. Not perfect, but enough to actually see where the hours went.
The word count, on the other hand… well. Let’s just say it’s humbling.
But this was a heavy editing and prep month, and sometimes that is exactly what the work requires. Not every month is about drafting shiny new words. Sometimes it is about making the existing ones better.
And as much as I love drafting, this kind of progress matters too.
Writing Stats for April 2026
New words written: 1,081
Time recorded: 36 hours and 9 minutes
What I Worked On in April
Editing. So much editing.
The secret project took the bulk of my time, and I am still smiling about it. Working with other authors has been such a fun and eye-opening experience. It is stretching me in ways I did not expect, which is probably a very good thing.
I also spent time on Run Around and Stick Around (the bonus story), tightening scenes and getting everything one step closer to ready. And If you are new to the series, you can start with Turn Around before Book Two arrives in June.
But the real win this month?
I outlined Book Three in the Running with Friends series.
And when I say I am excited about this one, I mean I am actively having to sit on my hands to keep from diving in early. The characters are loud. The story is ready. It is going to be so much fun to write.
May Writing Plans
Summer always shifts my routine. It used to be all about school breaks and kid schedules. Now it is weddings, birthday celebrations, and yes… the Indy 500.
May and June are shaping up to be prime drafting time for Book Three. I am planning to lean into that momentum and see how far I can go.
I will be sharing the title and more details soon.
And the secret project? It continues to surprise me in the best ways. I have a feeling I will be able to share more about that before too long.
Stay tuned.