Resolutions

There are a number of chapters that have gotten transformed, reworked, or just kind of shuffled off, I say. Like the one about resolutions.

I pick up a cigarette that’s burning in the diamond-shaped, royal blue crystal ashtray on my desk, have a drag, then continue, “I’m going to tell folks about them. I doubt anyone will care. But it’s a necessary part of the process. And telling folks the process is, well, also part of the process. It’s part of the product, too. The art, I guess.”

You say whatever you say, or you say nothing.

“Here goes …” I say, then write the following list:

“Deathslave” was supposed to be about being a death doula because ‘doula’ meant ‘slave’ originally. But the concept fell apart as time went on, and I’m not actually a death doula, so it started to also feel kind of disrespectful to those who are. Maybe I will become one someday, but.

“Sex Nurses” is a smut chapter that I just kind of lost enthusiasm for. Maybe it will come back around, but probably not.

Likewise, “Chained Up in an Unknown Location” is another smutty one. I actually started writing that one, but lost the hotness, so. It’s just sitting there. Probably won’t go any further, but one never knows.

“The Old Yule Log” didn’t happen this year, so it will have to wait for next year.

“Flame Lace Place” was an Xmas themed (loosely) smut chapter and never happened. Probably for the best.

“Da Sun Set” was an attempt to tie the micronovel FKA The Weight of Words into Teresa’s Backbone and the Secretsverse. I may still do this (and already have a bit, through Nickolas), but not in this chapter.

“Grünerbaum” may still happen. I might not get to it because we have so many similar locations in Soma already, but. We’ll see.

I stop writing, reach for my cig and see it’s burned out in the tray.

“Fuck,” I mumble, then fumble for the hard pack on the desk, retrieve another, light it with a fat globe table lighter, and then take a long pull of smoke.

“So that’s that,” I say. “All that’s not done and won’t be.”

Play procedures

• What are the last few writing projects that you abandoned or decided not to pursue?

• The Weight of Words has some important chapters in it that could give you access to characters and places later in this novel. You may add it to your inventory now, if you wish. But it you aren’t familiar with its contents, you may not know when or how to use it.

• Pick one or more of the chapters described above. Think about what might have happened in it. You can share if you want, babe, but not pressure.