Tidings from the River

I've just edited the very last scene before the official arrival of Elle and the party in the Desert. I get to start tomorrow fresh in an entirely different setting!

My research for the desert was really fun and I can't wait to go back through it. I want to make the setting especially vivid going forward, since it's such a foreign and dangerous place to Elle. I put a lot more confusing and dangerous elements into it than even a normal desert has (because hey, magic- if not to make your characters frightened, what IS it good for?) and hopefully that strangeness will be pretty constant. There are a lot of developments for Elle, especially because she goes through some really mentally trying things that change her, and I want to get the stress of a formidable place right.

That's really all going into it, I've been keeping up with editing fairly well, except over this past weekend. Last weekend, though I forgot to mention it, was a hugely productive one. I sat for over three hours straight editing last Saturday- a feat of patience and an attention span I just did not have three weeks ago. Consistent creativity really is amazing for the brain. I've also been helped by my roommate introducing me to habitrpg.com, which is this amazing game-type thing. It's basically your to-do list but with rewards for your own fantasy-type character when you do them, and there are pets and weapons and other things... It's really helpful especially if you're super competitive, like me. I found myself Friday night looking over homework that I could do just to get more points, which is both something my parents are going to be proud to read and very, very frightening. I'm fueled almost purely by the infuriating fact my roommate is level 14 and I am currently on level 5.

But once I finish writing this post I'll get points since it's on my to-do list. And then I can buy an axe before I go to sleep.

Since it's ridiculously late and I've had a very strange day I'm going to deprive you of a summary list. So all I have to say is good night/good morning, and I hope everyone is safe and doing well.

For those of you out there having a bad one, remember to love something, and no matter how small or big it is, it will get you through.