"So Xili, why the ***** are you taking so long with this latest story?"

Believe me, it's annoying me as well. I'm ansy to get things going and start writing. Heck, maybe if people really like the works, take some commissions for short stories or maybe set up a tip jar or SOMETHING. Knowing that I might be able to do that is uplifting. Anyway, the problems, pretty much in order of magnitude:

1) WORK

The ETERNAL thorn in my side. The problem is for the longest time I was the ONLY software engineer / delivery manager on the team. I BASICALLY had to do three jobs at once especially on days the boss is out. Couple that with a big project that had a hard deadline at the end of September to stabilize and a October launch date, and I was basically working my tail off stressing out.

We finally hired a new developer, and I've been training said employee up. The deployment is on track, and everything is FINALLY looking good. The hope is I'd finally get some time to 'let down' and not be so stressed out as soon as the training is over.

2) Down with Deus ex machine

Given that Senuvan Chronicles is meant to be a continuing saga of intertwining stories, I'm trying desperately to avoid a "Oh, that's convenient that it happened that way" moments. The START of the story that sets up the background really IS the most important. It's setting a lot of context that's tying two or three sets of lore carefully together. It's also tying a lot of characters from different places together and trying to explain it in a way the reader knows what's going on, but just enough to not have them start thinking for the characters.

If everyone must know, this first part has been rewritten about 5 or 6 times now. The initial proof reads just didn't 'feel' right on the older drafts. This one is coming together nicely though.

If this story was standalone, life would've been so much easier O_O.

3) General feeling of self worth

Truth of the matter.... been stressed and depressed lately. So in general, my feeling of "is this worthy of posting" was coming short of ALL my personal expectations. I'm awaiting things that I'm excited to see for inspiration, but still hoping to get everything out to the public anyway. If nothing else than to get some feedback on how well or not I'm doing with the stories and IF I should open up to commissions in the end.

That's my spotty story and I'm sticking to it. Special thanks for Stampy and VDO for the inspiration... winghugs