Good progress this week - I've almost finished chapter 8 ("The Dark Path") and am looking forward to chapter 9 (title still to be determined, but possibly "Togidubnos"). I've almost finished the "recycling" stretch and am now into new material, which goes more slowly but can include bits I hadn't thought of before. That can be exciting.
The weather continues mild (for January) and dry, with some sunny mornings. This pleases my orange cat Ruay, who like to chase squirrels, but not in the snow.
I finished Chapter 6, and have almost finished chapter 7, bar a little polishing. There's been a lot of "recycling" again, as I mentioned last week, because these chapters are mirroring Neirin's "Dark Path" experiences from The Ash Spear. The difference, however, is that this time Gwernin will be one of the three Master Bards who will prepare the mound chamber for Mael and spend part of his "three days in the dark" with him while he journeys in trance through the three realms. What Gwernin himself will encounter there is another story. Stay tuned for chapter 8!
The weather is finally returning to normal - highs in the 30s and 40s, lows in the teens and 20s - a pleasant change from our sub-zero weekend!
Wintry weather here this week, and worse in store, with four nights close to 0 deg. F. forecast. Brrr! My orange cat Ruay wants to be outside, but can't stay long. This results in him being restless and me distracted.
A cold gray morning today - should be good for writing... But I need coffee first. :)
In the meantime, one more holiday to celebrate here before the old year dies. Happy New Year, all! See you next year.
The weather has been mild for this time of year, but we may get a bit of snow tomorrow night. A sort-of-white Christmas? Maybe. In the meantime all seasonal good wishes to anyone who reads this. I am hoping to get back on my writing schedule next week, but we'll see!
Still plodding through chapter 4 ("The Third Man"). Gwernin is negotiating with his wife for permission to take his older son Ianto with him on his summer travels, and Neirin is showing signs of taking over the story (he does that). It will be interesting to see what happens when they all get to Ireland, but that will be a while yet.
Winter has settled in here in Denver - a little snow the last two nights, gone by late afternoon. We'll be celebrating Midwinter Saturday. I am looking forward to the days lengthening again.
The last three days have been mild, but we should be getting snow and colder weather again tomorrow. That should be good for writing.
Finally a little writing - chapter 3 is more or less finished at last. Now things should start moving, as Gwernin and company set off on a new adventure. The first part will be similar (but not identical) to the beginning of The Ash Spear - a sort of mirror, but twelve years later, involving the initiatory ritual called "the dark path". We'll be seeing Gwernin's friend Neirin again for the first time since that book. Hopefully he won't take over the entire story line, as he is prone to do!
Most of last week's snow has melted, but not all, because the weekend was very cold. It's definitely winter now. I'm looking forward to getting out of November - it's been a month with too many losses over the years.
A cold grey morning with snow predicted tonight. The last two days were mild and sunny - what we call "the warm before the storm" - but that's over. I spent part of them doing garden stuff - planting crocus bulbs before the ground freezes, coiling a hose, giving the rosemary plants a last couple of days of outdoor sun. Now it's time to stay indoors and try to write. I have at least been considering plot and plot problems from time to time. Now it's time to put words to them.
