Today I finished working on the rough draft for “The Lone Blue Strand” and then spent time outlining what will be the revision. I hope to take care of that first revised draft tomorrow. The challenge for this story is going to be keeping it within the 3,500 word limit that Penumbra stresses. I was able to do it with “Mechanicis Solis” and that was a story with a similar setting in a steampunk-driven world. For me, steampunk needs description to help ground the reader into the world. That’s difficult when you’re pressed for words, but the result can be beautiful, tight language if done correctly. Now, with “Mechanicis Solis” the story was a bit too steampunk-ish for Penumbra’s “gaslamp fantasy” themed issue last year, but the theme this time around is simply “Isolation.” And I think I’ve got that part nailed with this story.

I’ve got a number of goals I want to finish prior to the ending of the month, so it’s my hope that tomorrow we can kick it into high gear and get a lot written.

• Nonfiction: 279
• Planning and outlining: 809
• Short Fiction: 2400
• Novel Fiction: 000
• Salable words: 000

Total Fiction for Month: 30,743

Total Salable for Month: 7,290

Total Fiction for Challenge Year: 80,966

Total Salable for Challenge Year: 18,234