Ron322

Heat index of 112 for the last 2 weeks of August in Tampa were diabolical. When it decided to rain, I felt like someone that went muffdiving; I said what I said.

I managed to get past that hurdle that I ran into in writing chapter 8 of FireFrei. It took some good thought and it boiled down to remembering the overarching theme of the story — brotherhood. The FireButt band isn’t some ragtag group of dudes just doing things and fighting monsters in the city— they treat each other as good brothers, watching each others’ backs because they understand that what’s going on is more than just any single one of them.

There’s a saying that the individual is never bigger than the collective and that is, in turn, something that you are reminded of in small or great ways in this story. There is death, sadness, unity, a sense of solidarity and brotherly love for each other at the very root of it. The setup to conclude this story is almost done. Re-reading some details of chapter 5 helped me have the perfect setup (in my mind, at least) for the next book because when looking back, I found a perfect opportunity for a plot twist that works, makes sense and will present a better sense of drama for the next entry. Once I finish this chapter, it’s editing time and focus on the art aspect.

Drafts will be close to finishing its 12 chapters that I set out to do to start it off. Now it comes down to having ideas for the art. It’s the one writing project where I put zero thought into the artwork aspect. It will be more challenging, especially in knowing that the way this story is written is different from my previous work. I’ve never put myself in a strict, monthly deadline when it comes to writing a chapter, regardless of size. On the upside, it’s helped me keep my mind active in terms of writing and creating, moreso than when I was on my 20s. Upon fulfilling the 12 month session for it, there will be a pause so I can transfer to my Mac, edit and create art for it. As for how big this batch will be will heavily depend on what happens post-editing.