The Journal of Michael Merriam

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella


Getting out of the house and working was a smart idea. I finished the scene, leaving me one more scene and the dénouement to go. I'm looking at another 3000 words (and have upgraded the word meter accordingly). I'm just going to have to deal with the fact that I'm not going to finish it tonight. I might be able to finish the first draft tomorrow, if I push hard.

And as for Munkabeans Coffee and Sunshine Café in Hopkins: Reasonably adequate tasting coffee and reasonably adequate tasting food, for a reasonable price, but nothing special.

I think I'll hit the end of the first draft sometime late tomorrow or early on Wednesday, though I think I'm going to run a little over the 20K mark. Of course, by the time I rewrite and reach the final draft, who knows how big it will really be. Well, at least 20K, because that's what was called for.

Kudos to the wifey, careswen, who was understanding about my complete meltdown earlier today. I really wanted to have this first draft finished by tonight, but a million little things that needed my attention keep cropping up during the day, and the writing never got on track. She let me work this evening after dinner so the day wasn't a total wash for writing.

The fact that I was having a terrible vision day and kept bumbling into walls and doors and cat tails didn't help my mood, and when I dropped our best cold pack from the freezer to the floor and it hit with a splat and burst, sending white gel goo everywhere, frankly that almost ruined my whole day. Of course I was stupid and bent down to pick it up and then...

Well, if you guessed I hit the back of my head on the slowly closing freezer door, you would be correct.

Yeah, one of those days.

Tomorrow I plan to take the laptop to a coffeeshop, someplace away from all the distractions of the house, and write until I either finish the first draft or explode from espresso overload.

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

The idea was to be finished with the first draft at the end of the day today, and while I am within striking distance, I have a feeling that it isn't going to happen.

I'm going to go back downstairs and work on laundry, then I'm planning to settle in and get as close to finished as possible before I run out of steam. Hopefully I can finish the first draft tomorrow.


Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

More work on the novella done around housework. I think I'm pretty much over my illness.

The D&D game I was running is over (No more DMing for me for awhile). Our next DM is planning to introduce us to D&D 4th Edition, but until he's ready to start, we are filling in the schedule by having board game night this week. So I'm off to enjoy the company of friends, a plethora of board game choices, and a potluck taco bar dinner.

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

I have written. I am feeling better than yesterday. Off now to enjoy Korean food with friends.

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

Too sick today to make much progress on the story, but I did get the man-eating monster in the jail with them. There will a short, vicious fight where the werewolf is revealed, a couple of characters bite the dust, and the survivors have to look for a more defensible position. On the positive side, the group now has everything they need to kill the creature and call for rescue, if they can figure out how to use everything and not kill each other first.

Medicine and bed now.
Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella


I'm going to go make chicken and rice curry for dinner now.

I'm really smoking along on the novella this morning, so I don't want to step away for it for too long, but I do want to let you guys know that Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #36, which includes a poem by me, is available.



Not only am I in it, but a number of people on my flist are in some way involved with this issue as well, whether it is stories from lisamantchev and maggiedr, internal artwork by tiny_wings or asimmum on the editorial and production end.

Really, it's filled with goodness and you should buy it!

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

My mental gears have ground to a halt. I know what the next bit is, but I think I'm too tired to continue. I might put on some pants and step over to the store for a bit, come home and prep dinner (chicken enchiladas) and then maybe get another hour of writing in before we settle down with our movie.

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella

I went bowling Friday night with a bunch of friends. My hand still hurts, but I had a great time. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy bowling.

Saturday careswen and I went on a date day, including lunch, ice cream, and a trip to paint-your-plate. We shall have a new teapot soon.

Today I'm trying to write like the wind, while The Reverend lurks above my head, sleeping the sleep of a cat. Tonight we plan on watching our latest netflix delivery, The Fountain.

Untitled Weird West Steampunk Novella


Back to work.