Progress Report 2025 Week 16

Wayland’s Hammer Book 1: Conventional Forces continued to wage war with my psyche. But finally, after starting to plot this monster all the way back in the beginning of February, I think I finally understand what it was trying to tell me. In addition, I think I had a moment of clarity regarding the audio book version of Evolution’s Hand Book 1: Executive Action, and it’s both a disappointment and a relief. Finally, my decision about Executive Action impacted the time available to do prepare Dreams of Deucalion for publication. Before we get into those topics, let’s take a look at the key performance indicators.

Last Week’s Progress By the Numbers

Yet another week below 10,000 words — let another week I’m grateful it wasn’t even worse!

Let’s talk about Nazis. They’re certainly talking to me. This trilogy is important to me. This is the story I want to tell. Or to put that more accurately, this is the story that demands I write it, right now, in this time. But the topic, along with the research I had to do in preparation, weighs me down. Coupled with the current US federal administration’s tendency to mimic Nazi tactics, and it’s like I’m rubbing my own face the mass of disappointment that is this time.

Interwoven with that feeling was a deeper uncertainty. I did not feel confident in the plot. In particular, the middle (Book 2: Resistance Movement) felt opaque. I couldn’t be certain I exposed the right dramatic elements at the time time. Without know where I was headed, I struggled with pacing. Honestly, I felt tempted to bail on the whole trilogy. Maybe it’s too heavy. Maybe it’s beyond my skill right now.

This trilogy might well be beyond my skill. But this week, in the deepest trough of depression I’ve had for years, I think I finally figured out where I need to take book 2. And in doing so, I think I uncovered the arc unifying all three books. It was right there in front of me the whole time.

I should have recognized that depression as my subconscious trying to tell me something. But I’ll tell ya — this year has been rough. I’m in “push through it” mode. Instead of trying to understand what’s going on, I’m trying to power through it. But that means I miss details. Sometimes, very important details.

The whole thing is a reminder: I need to keep my wits about me. If I don’t, my writing suffers. I also suspect I’m not as helpful to the folks around me, and that will become a real problem if I don’t get on top of it.

Evolution’s Hand Book 1: Executive Action Audiobook

Last week, I mentioned that I’m evaluating whether it’s a good idea to push forward with the AI audiobook version of Executive Action. The more I listened to it, the more chapters I proofread (proof-listened?), the less enthusiastic I became. Yes, it would be better than nothing; yes, it would address the needs of busy folks and vision impaired folks. But I’m just not feeling the tech.

ElevenLabs has a product that produces a more realistic sounding result. But it’s still AI, and I’m really uneasy about it. I might still push forward; I’m not sure. I’m not made of cash. Still, another factor made the decision for me, at least in the short term. I need to get Dreams of Deucalion ready to publish.

My target was late Spring. I’m probably going to miss that. I have alpha feedback on Dreams of Deucalion Book 1: Special Recon and Book 2: Flanking Maneuver. I just sent Book 3: Bait and Bleed out for its first of two alpha readers. But I need to edit all three before sending the trilogy to a beta reader, and the beta reader will need time to read them. Then I’ll need time to incorporate their feedback plus send the trilogy to my proofreader and wait for them to finish.

I just don’t see me publishing until summer now. It’s disappointing, because they’re almost done. I have all three covers. But my time’s constrained. I think, in retrospect, that exploring audio books was a distraction I should have deferred. I’m putting that effort on hold.

That’s a relief, actually. Now I can focus on Dreams of Deucalion and writing the first draft of Wayland’s Hammer. Lord knows it needs a lot of attention!

Progress against Last Week’s Goals

1. Finish revising the Amazon blurbs for The Sword of Sirius Book 1: Red Flag Warning, The Sword of Sirius Book 2: Collapse Zone, and The Sword of Sirius Book 3: Firebreak. Upload them to Amazon. Done! The new blurbs are live.
2. Write Gerhard Wimmer’s Midpoint Part IV. Done!
3. Write Moritz Lehner’s Midpoint. Done!
4. Write Owen Payne’s Pinch 2. Done! It turned into a two chapter affair, so it displayed my next goal.
5. Write Wimmer’s Pinch 2. Not Done! I had to finish the second chapter of Owen Payne’s Pinch 2. Also, I had to cast four new roles who will be essential to the climax and Resistance Movement.

Goals for the Week in Progress Report 2025 Week 16

Here’s what I hope to accomplish this week:

1. Write Gerhard Wimmer’s Pinch 2 Part I
2. Write Moritz Lehner’s Pinch 2
3. Write Owen Payne’s Plot Turn 2
4. Write Wimmer’s Plot Turn 2
5. Explore a human narrator for my lead magnet for The Sword of Sirius, which was the short story Fallback Position

What Do You Think?

Have you tried using AI-generated audiobooks? Are you holding out for a human narrator? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments!