Thurs. June 11, 2026: Obstacles

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Waning Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Cloudy, hot, humid

You can read the latest on the garden over at Gratitude and Growth.

As I tried to settle into my scriptwriting yesterday morning, Willa kept tapping me on the knee and mrrping, so I had to stop and play with her for 20 minutes. A good break for both of us, I guess. I am Willa’s spare human, and I guess she’s decided I have use beyond filling her breakfast bowl. I am the primary human for Tessa, Charlotte, and Bea, and they keep me on my toes, too.

I worked on the 3rd script for the UK producer. I layered in some more sound cues, because I had a couple of stretches were there was too much dialogue without sound cues. (The usual measure is one cue approximately every 30 seconds, or half page, and it has to either drive plot or reveal character). I got another page and half done. I stopped, because I have to build a tarot reading specific to this play, and it has to fit into about a page/a minute to a minute and a half’s worth of airtime. That means I have to build the entire reading, but pick the cards to discuss that drive the plot best. This happens at the halfway point of the piece. I figured out the twist at the end, so I have to work these scenes out so it drives us there. I decided to write the final scene with the plot twist first (about 4 pages), and then build this tarot scene and the next scene to get us there over the next couple of days. I have just under 5 pages of airtime left for the tarot scene and the scene after that will lead into this final scene with the twist. 5 pages written today was a good morning’s work on it. I hoped to finish those middle scenes today, then let it sit for a couple of days, revise it, and get it out early next week, but that is not happening.

I felt really good about all that, took a short break, and switched over to the ghostwriting, which is when my day fell apart. I could not get it done. This particular assignment has been problematical since day one. When I got these notes back, I was told “it’s so close.” It’s not. As I implement the notes, it’s a major restructuring.

I took a break around 4 PM to walk down to Savvy Hive and get my CSA box. It was a little hot and humid, but still nice to get away from the desk and moving. We have so many greens! So much kale! And more Bok Choy, which is always a joy.

I needed a bit of recovery time when I got back, but I heated up leftovers for dinner, and then went back to work on the ghostwriting. I gave up around 11 PM, completely discouraged and disheartened, and told them I couldn’t get it to them today. It’ll have to be tomorrow. I don’t know HOW it will get done, but too bad for me.

I took a shower, and was in bed around midnight. I’d run the fan in my bedroom while I was working, so it wasn’t unbearable, but a little more humid than I’d like. I managed to get some sleep.

Up at the usual time, morning routine, feeling literally sick at the thought of tackling the ghostwriting assignment today. But it has to get done. It’s the same issues that come up every few months, and they are burning me out. Discussing them gets nods and smiles and suggested solutions, but a few months later, here we are again.

If I could detach myself from caring about the work, I’d be in a much better position, but that’s not possible. If I didn’t care, I couldn’t do it at all.

We all have bad days at work, no matter what the profession. Yesterday was one of mine. It wouldn’t be a genuine depiction of a writing life if the bad days weren’t included.

There’s also a lot of other stuff that has to get done today. I thought I’d be clear of the ghostwriting assignment (because when I’m told “it’s so close” I don’t expect to have to basically throw out three quarters of it and redo it within 48 hours which includes the kind of research that takes most authors 4-6 months), but I’m not, so I have to figure out how to juggle the ghostwriting and all the meetings and all the errands, none of which can be moved. I’m going to try to look at the meetings as welcome, necessary breaks instead of getting frantic that I should be using that time on the ghostwriting.

We didn’t have the promised rain yesterday, so it’s muggy, but at least it’s not supposed to be as hot. We’ll see.

Online meditation group was cancelled today, so I can get out the door for my errands early. It’s the usual round of grocery store, library, and whatever else needs attention. There a Freelance Friends meeting at noon, a library trustees meeting at 5:30, and then a library cohort meeting online at 8.

So I better get going.

Thurs. June 4, 2026: Time to Hit the Road

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Waning Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Sunny and pleasant

You can read about the latest on the garden on Gratitude and Growth.

I got two of the three requested play submissions out to the producer yesterday morning. It took longer than I hoped, because I was reading through various scripts and making tweaks. The third I have to write, for the anniversary special, because I don’t have anything on hand that will fit. 10-15 pages, shouldn’t be bad, if I can come up with some fun characters and a good premise, and get it written and polished by the end of the month. Earlier, actually, I want to get it out before Mercury goes retrograde. I sent a thriller and a comic noir piece. I got an idea for a radio piece that would be dark and fun, but it needs more pages and more characters than the parameters requested here, so I will save it for something else. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that idea works better onstage than on radio.

I noodled on the series pitch, did some admin, did a bunch of housework so everything will be fine while I’m gone, make sure there were plenty of meal choices for my mom, and did not get as much done on either the play or BETTING MAN. I decided not to beat myself up about it. Mentally, I’m all about “Dawn and Dorothy in the Afterlife” until after tonight’s reading at the very least, but probably a few days out, depending on the feedback.

Checked over everything I needed to bring with me today (for the 84th time). I have my overnight bag, the script bag, the snack bag. I’m all set. It’s not like I’m travelling into the wilderness. If I forget something, I can pick it up locally or do without.

Received the ETA for my words for the exquisite corpse poem. This year, it looks like they will work out perfectly, on days when nothing else is booked, and I can devote plenty of time to working on my sections of the poem.

In an email this morning from BookRiot, they had a list of book recommendations from Barnes & Noble. I immediately shot off an email telling them that a list of book “recommendations” from a place stocking/selling AI slop has no value to me, and frankly, makes me reconsider BookRiot. I hope I’m not the only one calling them out on this crap.

In this morning’s free-write session, I got an idea for the final play for the producer who requested 3. I think I can pull it off in 10-15 pages, it has 3 characters, and is both fun and a little dark. I will try to do a few pages this morning, before I leave. And maybe I’ll get a little bit done on the radio series pitch, too.

On today’s agenda:  my script pages for End of Play, and head out the door for the reading of my play tonight. Madame Download is running the online meditation group this morning, so I’m skipping it, but did my own regular daily 30-minute practice (along with the yoga and free-write sessions). I have my travel yoga mat packed, too, so I can do my morning routine in the hotel tomorrow. I’m not sure if I will post later in the day tomorrow about the trip and the reading, or wait until next week. It depends on when I get back home. I have no intention of rushing back! I intend to meander and enjoy myself, in both directions!

I’m not leaving the house empty, people are in it while I’m gone, so I’m not worried about posting that I’m leaving.

Have a lovely day.

A Solidly Creative Day: https://devonellington.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/wed-may-28-2025-a-solidly-creative-day/

#Writing #WritingCommunity #Freelance #Ghostwriting #RadioWriting

The Good Kind of Busy: https://devonellington.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/tues-may-13-2025-the-good-kind-of-busy/

#Writing #WritingCommunity #Freelance #RadioWriting #Ghostwriting