The Craziness that is my Life

It's getting close to that time of year again. That two weeks, or so, of theater fun where I live, practically, at work. This year, it's starting earlier than usual. So, updates will be suspended during that hectic time since I'll be home long enough to shower, sleep and then go back to work.

I love my job. I really do. I wouldn't be doing the musicals or the plays if I didn't.

However, it does make for craziness. You know?

Sooooooooooooo, the way I'm looking at it is that starting the week of March 7th until March 22nd, I will not be posting updates or teasers for any of my stories. Working over 80 hours a week, with no weekends off until I go on spring break, it doesn't provide any down time. I will poke my head in to my Facebook group, but don't expect anything fic-related until after the musical is done.

The plan for leading up to that week includes the following:

1. Update Buying Love, getting to the mid-fifties or so
2. Update SYTYCD and research dances (next update coming on Thursday!!)
3. Plan a new story (I've got it started, but I need to plan out the rest of it.)
4. Build a surplus for La Musica del Cuore and post an extended-summary on March 1st. 
5. Update Restoration ... this will be completed by mid-April

I'm busy, but I will be back. My hiatus from writing will be anything but calming. I'll be thinking of you guys and my updates as I'm driving home at eleven at night, only to get up at o'dark thirty the next morning. *Snorts*

I should change this to 'the end of the production.' LOL.

Plan of Attack

I can't believe that I can put Star Crossed in the complete column of my computer. It truly pushed me in ways I never thought possible. It was such an amazing story to write. Epic, almost, but not quite. I'm proud of it and happy how it ended. I've already got more brewing. You know? 

I'm still working on Buying Love, trying desperately to build a surplus of chapters but my brain is NOT cooperating. Damn. It. I'm currently working on chapter twenty-four. I'd like to get to chapter thirty before reaching a stopping point so I can work on my next project, So You Think You Can Dance. I wrote the first three chapters for the Fandom 4 Autism. I'm working, focusing on that next. An extended summary will be posted on December 3rd on all of my blogs. The story itself will be posting on December 17th. 

Under Construction has about five more chapters left, with some AMAZING lemons coming up. That should be finished by mid-December. Restoration is complete (with twenty-eight chapters) and will begin posting on Christmas Eve. 

However, I've been struggling with RL issues. Yesterday and today have been rough. It was the first Thanksgiving without my mom and it was tense to say the least. I don't know how to handle it. The two people I care most for in the world can't handle being in the same room with each other. I don't know what to do. Perhaps, if I lose myself in my writing, the stress of RL will go away. I'd appreciate some prayers and virtual loving ... 

Hugs,

Josie “Tufano79”

Star Crossed: An Update on Posting and a Teaser

Hey all ~

I hope you guys haven't forgot about me and this little story called Star Crossed. My life kind of imploded toward the end of May and it's finally settled down. Unfortunately, I lost my mother to cancer on May 27th. She was a beautiful, loving woman and I will miss her tremendously. Her illness and subsequent death are the main reasons why I took a step back from this story. It required all of my brain and I didn't have all of my brain to give.

Now, here's the plan on what I'm doing with Star Crossed. I'm hoping to start updating every other Thursday, beginning on August 13th. I do want to finish this story before the end of the year, but I have to get back into the swing of things. I've re-read what I wrote (and I'm kind of shocked at how good it was) so I can remind myself of the plot. I've started working on an update and I'm about 2100 words into chapter seventeen.

Teasers will come out on the Thursdays that I'm not updating and I'll periodically throw some pictures out there as well. Speaking of periodic pic teasers, here's a couple now.

I will see you on Thursday with a teaser and the following Thursday with an update. Thank you for sticking with me! For those of you who need to catch up, here's the links to the story:

Star Crossed on TWCS

Star Crossed on FicPad

Star Crossed on AO3

Star Crossed on FFn

Re: Updates and my OWN Rant

Now, from here on out, I may be changing the status in which I write my stories. Bouncing back and forth between fics is challenging and I'm making mistakes. Does that mean that I will stop writing? No. That does mean that sometimes, a story may not be updated for a long time. It's not like I don't want to. Just, the lack of time due to RL constraints and my overactive imagination has put the kibosh on updating schedule.

As of right now...here's the update schedule:

Starlet ~ working on the final real chapter and epilogue. The chapter will be posted next week and the epi, sometime the following week.  CHECK...that's done!

CITF ~ updates will be happening on Mondays and Fridays from here on out. I've written through chapter 111 and will probably work on it next weekend.

Angels and Monsters ~ the plan is done...I just need to re-read it and then write it. Story will be completed by January 31st. There is two more chapters plus the epilogue.

Star Crossed ~ I need to work on this one...finish the map. I will post an update in January when I've completed Angels and Monsters.

Renovations ~ my Fandom for Domie one-shot. It's nearly done and will be sent to my beta once I complete it. Hopefully tonight. It will be posted as a drabble when I have permission to do so.

As for readers who are UNHAPPY with what I've proposed...I work full time, over sixty hours a week. I do this. FOR. FREE. I can, if I wanted to, pull everything and you would not be able to read what I spend many, many hours on. I had a reader right a comment on one of my stories and it hurt my feelings, rubbing me the wrong way. Just because you can hide behind a screen name, doesn't mean you get to be a jerk or whatever. Real life, my job, my home, my family...they will ALWAYS come first. This year has not been easy for me and this is my escape, not a place to be yelled at because I don't update fast enough. You have a prerogative to not read it. That's your choice, but do not make me feel like CRAP because you're ticked.

Yes. I'm mad.

I'm sorry for having my OWN rant, but I had to say my piece.

-T

To Do...

I have to do this for me...my anal retentive, type-A personality is taking hold. I'm completely overwhelmed with so much stuff, in real life and in my writing. I'm unmotivated to do much other than take naps and watch reruns of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. I want to read. I want to write, but I'm struggling to do so.

Sooooo, I'm giving myself a to-do list. Some of you might not be happy with the order of what I need to do, but it's what's best for me...you know? Involved in this to-do list is some needed time off, possibly.

1. Write One-Shot for Fandom for Christy compilation. I'm hoping to start this tonight after I finish chapter sixty-eight of Caught in the Flames.
2. Get through chapter seventy for Caught in the Flames
3. Star Crossed chapter eight to be posted by NEXT Thursday (hopefully).
4. Write the A Ilha do Amor bachelor/bachelorette party and moments leading up to the wedding (including some lemonade)
5. Figure out the climactic moment for Surviving the Teenage Dream, including the players and what chapter it will fall in. Work on another update, as well.
6. Begin wrapping up Starlet. Two maybe three chapters left in that one before the epilogue. 
7. Plan for the Vancouver trip in Picking up the Pieces. 

For some strange reason, this year has been a struggle in going back to work as a teacher and balancing the writing. I think I'm burnt out with my job and this hobby, which used to be relaxing, now feels like a job. I enjoy writing and the creative outlet it provides me, but I just need a break. The seven things on my to-do list will probably take time. I obviously have a due date for the one-shot, but the rest, they will get done when they get done.

Thank you for your patience and support. I will hopefully get my groove back, but for now, please just bear with me.

Hugs,

~ T

Public Service Announcement

You've all got spoiled. Spoiled! But, in a good way. I'm allotted the luxury of nearly three months of work being a teacher. I get to sleep in, lesson plan, write, research, post when I want...the list goes on. Alas, I'm going back to work on Monday. O.o

I don't wanna go...

This explains why:

Regardless, I have young minds to mold and that begins again on Monday. As a result, updates will be slowing down. Significantly. My GOAL is to do this...

Star Crossed will update EVERY OTHER Thursday. I'm hoping to have an update for you a week from today, but after that, it will be every two weeks.

A Ilha do Amor is getting close to the end and I want it finished by Labor Day.

Caught in the Flames, I'll post daily, if I have something written. I have up through chapter sixty pre-written and I'm working on that tonight and tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get through sixty-five. 

Picking up the Pieces, I started an update on this, but I need to do some research...hopefully by NEXT weekend I'll have something ready to go. 

Additionally, I've been asked to write something for Christy who recently lost her husband, Dan. There is a fundraiser for to help with the expenses for her husband's illness. I do not know all of the details, but once I do know, I'll pass them along to you. The plan for that story is an outtake for A Nerd Story of Love. It's Edward's 20th High School Reunion...hilarity ensues. 

There are other stories that I've got on the stove and they will be addressed, plus I've been by the plot bunny. (That'll be a separate post). SOooooooooooooooo...I wanted to give you a heads up and lay it out there for me, as well. Thank you for reading and I appreciate all of the support I get from you, my readers! 

Laters! 

~ T

Plans...

Soooo, I'm working out a plan. A plan that I need to follow. I've got too pots on the stove. I need to finish some of them before I delve into a new story (Star Crossed and Caught in the Flames). I'm thinking I'm going to focus my attention on AIDA and Friends with Benefits since they are both close to the end...

Work on AIDA, plan out the ending and climax (possibly five more chapters before it's done? Maybe six?).

Finish writing FWB (I have the plan. I just need to write it).

Then, turn to Starlet, working on ending that one as well.

I will be working on Picking up the Pieces, Surviving the Teenage Dream and take Angels and Monsters off of hiatus and researching for Caught in the Flames and Star Crossed, but I have to get rid of some of the craziness.

Clear as mud?

I just need more time in my life to actually do this! Gah!