…and so close to finishing the Chaos Agent first draft. I’m wrapping up the last few scenes, going back and forth and moving details and moments around. Crossed 20K for September yesterday. 149K words since May. Overall, just under 170K.
It does look like this will be longer than Contact Imminent, though I know a few things that will be cut. Overwriting was possibly committed here and there as I worked out details and wanted to make sure I had plot points figured out. Setting things up here and there for the next book, the book or two after that, and then the end.
Plotting several books ahead. Early 00s Pantser Me couldn’t ever imagine doing this.
In the meantime, the house and yard have not received needed attention. I have had paint and painting supplies in my bedroom for months while the boxes with a rug, new curtain rods, and furnishings have taken up half the living room. That’s that post-draft project—while said draft settles and I clear my head, I will patch and sand and tape and paint and scrub and assemble. I am looking forward to it. Different skill set.
Banana Nice Cream w/ Hot Fudge
In other news, I had a craving for something frozen, but didn’t have the time to make my favorite Sicilian-style gelato. So, banana nice cream filled in. A few nights ago, I sliced up some bananas, set them on a baking sheet, and stuck them in the deep freeze. Last night, I zzz’d them in the food processor with a couple of tablespoons of milk and a teaspoon of vanilla paste. The bananas make a lovely, creamy frozen concoction that, yes, tastes like bananas. But you can add things like frozen strawberries or other fruit, chocolate, other flavorings. I’m thinking of trying instant espresso for the next batch.