ADHD Brains Are Wacky


Hello!

If you've been a follower of my blog for any amount of time, you will know by now that I have a habit of announcing something, doing it for a few months, stopping, and vanishing. Rinse and repeat.

We're only three months into the year, and already I feel like I've changed my plans and goals a million times!

If it's confusing for you, how do you think it feels to be *me*?

I'm *trying* to be more consistent, or at least, I'm trying not to over-share/ over-promise on things I later go back on. It's tough, you know.

It isn't helped by the fact I believe I also have PMDD (think PSM on steroids, where you hate *everything*.) And yes, I know it seems like I have a bunch of health issues. Because I *do* have a bunch of health issues. And I'm not going to stop talking about them. They're part of me, but also, I hope that by sharing, I can help others who are experiencing similar things by letting them know they're not alone.

Anyway, as I was saying, this year already feels like a bunch of changes in direction. The problem is, when I make these blogs, I mean everything I say at the time. I can't help it that I feel differently a few weeks or months later.

And don't tell me *not* to share my excitement for a new project/ idea/ what-have-you, because that's like asking me not to breathe! :P

Along with ADHD and PMDD comes a fluctuating motivation/ desire for all things writing-related. Sometimes I can't ever imagine *not* writing. I eat, sleep, breathe, writing. 

Then *bam* I'm over it. I can't even bear looking at the computer. I'm never writing again.

It's infuriating and has caused me a lot of heartache. I want to do the things I say I'm going to do and live without regret for the things I didn't do.

I don't want to look back on my life in a year, five years, ten years ... and think "Oh, I wish I had done more of this. Or less of this."

Writing is a BIG part of that. I don't want to think I'm never going to release another book. But I'm also very aware of the times I've spoken about a project, started serializing a new novel idea, etc. and then just *stopped*. 

My poor PC is like a graveyard of half-finished stories. And 90% of them I do love and want to go back to in the future. It's just that, like I said, ADHD Brains Are Wacky.

I know this post is long and rambly, but what I am trying to say, I guess, is don't give up on me. Please. Don't forget about me and my stories. Even if I don't always deliver on my promises. 

Until next time. Take care, and keep reading and writing.

T.T.F.N.





RELEASE BLITZ: Leo Blessed (A Dawn of the Zodiacs Novel) by S Lucas

Happy Release Day Sam Lucas and her steamy, fated mates paranormal romance, πŸ’«Leo Blessed (A Dawn of the Zodiacs Novel)πŸ’«


Get it Now: https://books2read.com/leoblessed  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198626454-leo-blessed

πŸ’« Why choose

πŸ’« Paranormal Romance

πŸ’« Bad guy turns good

πŸ’« Steamy

πŸ’« Fated Mates


BLURB

The constellations blessed the world with magic, but it’s running out. The Council of Supernaturals are blaming the twelve Zodiacs and doing everything they can to hunt them down. Now the race is on for the Zodiacs to find their relics, their men and complete the ceremony hoping they can heal the rift before it consumes the entire universe. 

Edana Fenix hasn't had an easy life. At first, she thought her parent's paranoia was because of her extraordinary powers, but it turns out they were hiding something far bigger from her. 

On the run from the Council of Supernaturals after her parents were taken, and having visions of a mysterious woman surrounded by fire. Edana soon discovers a secret that could put her life in mortal danger.

​​​​​​​When she finds the four men who were always fated to cross her path, her real journey begins. Evading capture from Council Enforcers while hunting for mysterious relics linked to the Leo Zodiac, Edana wonders if she's bitten off more than she can chew.

Will she be able to stop the world from imploding around her or will the Council put an end to her mission to save the universe and the men that she loves?


*Leo Blessed is a novel in the multi-author shared world, Dawn of the Zodiacs. Be sure to read all twelve books.*

The Trouble with First Drafts when you have ADHD

 


If you've been a follower of my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I often start a project, and dive in full steam ahead, only to lose my momentum a few months later.

I used to think it was a failure of mine. I used to think there was something wrong with me because I had so many incomplete stories on my hard drive.

Then I learned I have ADHD.

For those who don't know, ADHD is basically a dopamine deficiency. This means almost everything someone with ADHD does is in pursuit of that precious dopamine (and why we struggle with tasks that don't give us much/ any).

Writing, specifically starting a new project and sharing it with everyone gives me a huge dopamine rush. Sometimes I share details of a new story when it's barely past a half-formed idea. Then the dopamine wears off, and I lose interest.

I'm trying my hardest to find ways of generating dopamine differently so that I have more success with completing projects. Coaching is helping a lot.

But one of the pitfalls I've realized of my frenzied, dopamine-seeking early sharing of projects is that, sometimes, after they're shared I realize they weren't quite ready for the world yet.

You know me, I love a good food analogy, and when I was talking to my ADHD coach recently, I likened this problem to telling all your friends you're baking a cake. Halfway through cooking you announce, "The cake is ready, come and get it." Only, when you cut into the cake, there's raw batter in the middle.

When I get a new idea and start a new project, I get over-excited and want to share it with the world. So often, I do. Sometimes in the form of snippets or blurbs, sometimes in the form of serials ...

You can see where this is going, right?

I love serials because they give me that instant gratification dopamine I crave. BUT what if the serial I'm sharing is a first draft, and halfway through, I realize, crap, there's raw batter in the middle?!

THAT'S where I find myself with Wings, Witches and Wonder. I still love the story, and I still believe in the concept of serials and the platform Ream Stories. But, for me at least, I realize first drafts probably aren't the type of thing I should be serializing.

There are parts of Wings I love, and parts of Wings I hate and want to re-write. And I don't want to continue serializing a story with parts I know aren't as good as they should be. I want to give you my BEST stories. (As a side note, this is one reason I unpublished Truly, Madly, Deeply. But that's a story for another time.)

So yes, all that to say, I have unpublished Wings, Witches and Wonder. It will be back (this year, hopefully), and when I release it (I'm not sure if it will be as a serial or complete novel), it will be a version I'm closer to 100% happy with. No raw batter in the middle! ;)

As I said above, I still believe in the concept of serials and the platform Ream Stories, only for me, it works better with a story that is complete, and that I'm as close to 100% happy with as I can be. A story I won't want to later pull and re-write.

To that end, I will be serializing ALL IT TAKES. It was on Amazon for many years, but I want to reach new readers, especially as Kyra and I have been working to tie it into both her Game On Series and our forthcoming co-written wrestling-themed novel. And, as previously mentioned, I have plans for an age-gap rockstar romance also set in that shared universe (don’t worry, I won’t jump the gun serializing this one! lol).

Additionally, SEEKING THE TRUTH is also on ReamStories as it’s complete and I don’t foresee me making changes and/or expanding on that universe.

So yeah, that's where I'm at. If you've read/ commented on the previously published chapters of WINGS, thank you! Your support and encouragement means everything to me. <3 <3 <3 I hope you will still love the story when I've had a chance to work on it more.

From here on out, I will be posting weekly chapters of ALL IT TAKES and SEEKING THE TRUTH, and I'll have news about other projects -- including WINGS and the aforementioned rockstar romance -- when I'm sure they're properly 'cooked' as it were.

I'm also considering starting a blog series on my experiences as a writer with ADHD, so please let me know if that's something you'd like to hear more about.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep reading & writing!

T.T.F.N



Sometimes a Break Really is as Good as a Holiday

 


Yes, I know we're already one month into the new year, but honestly, it's taken me that long to settle into 2024!

The holiday period was great - we visited family, ate lots of delicious food, and were all very happy with our gifts.

As the new year started, I began thinking about what's really important to me, and two things topped my list:

Health and Writing.

I won't go into too much detail here, but I have a handful of health issues that are causing me some problems, and I want to focus on getting the right help so I can continue growing into the best version of myself.

But along with these health issues comes the realization I can't do everything. I had to remove something from my life, and I found myself having to choose between going forward with my planned proofreading business or continuing to push my career as an author.

And well ... I can't just stop writing. That would be like asking someone to stop breathing. Thankfully, I may be able to get some financial support due to my health issues, meaning I can focus on my writing without having to take on extra work (like proofreading) to pay the bills.

So, with writing firmly in the forefront of my mind, I've decided to make some changes to what I'm doing with Ream and my stories.

Both my contemporary-romance ALL IT TAKES and my urban-fantasy novella SEEKING THE TRUTH will be available in weekly serial format for $5 a month, or if you'd prefer to read it all in one go, you can 'unlock' the whole novella for $10 a month.

Fellow author Kyra Lennon and I are releasing a wrestling-based story later this year, and we want to build it into a shared universe that will not only include our co-written story, but ALL IT TAKES, Kyra's Game On Series (which you can read on ReamStories too!), and an age-gap, rockstar romance from me.

As my updated bio says, reading and writing has always been an escape for me, and I really hope my stories offer those of you out there in need of a little respite an escape too!

That's all I have for you this week. So, until Friday, take care and read on.

T.T.F.N!



Story Updates & Taking a Break

 

This will be my last Ream Stories update of 2023. While I'll still be around *somewhat* over the holidays, my stories are taking a break until the new year. But I've uploaded a free, bonus short for you all.


I usually *break up* for the holidays around the 20th, but this year I'm feeling a little burned out/ hormonal, so while I'm not officially going offline, I will likely be around less. I want to try and finish my proofreading course by the end of the year, and then begins all the festive fun, visiting family and Youngest Kiddo's birthday.

If you follow me on social media, I will likely still be active over there, even if it's just sharing photos and memes.

While I am here, I'd like to thank everyone for their support over 2023, not just of my writing, but of me personally. 2023 was a wild year for me, but also one of the best years, as I *finally* feel like my life is on the right track again.

I'm excited for the Christmas break, crafting, and seeing family, and then to dive back into things next year by launching my proofreading business, and also giving more focus to my writing career, including the return of ALL IT TAKES, and hopefully some other projects.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way, be it by becoming a subscriber, commenting on my stories, or offering me words of encouragement.

I hope you all have a wonderful time with loved ones over the holiday period, and that 2024 gets off to a wonderful start for you.

Until then,

Peace, love, and blessings



Wings, Witches and Wonder Chapter Nine, and Other Updates


Chapter nine of WINGS, WITCHES AND WONDER, a weekly, serial paranormal-romance, web fiction on ReamStories is now available to subscribers of the Apprentice tier and above. Chapters 1-4 are now FREE to all tiers. 

https://reamstories.com/claredugmore/public

Additionally, chapters 1-4 of my urban fantasy novella, SEEKING THE TRUTH are free to all tiers.

I will also have a little Christmas surprise for everyone later in the month.

Plus, in the new year, I will be re-serializing ALL IT TAKES.

And if that's not enough content from me, here's a little snippet of the new paranormal story I've started working on, featuring a brooding vampire, and a witch on the run. Hopefully, this story will also be coming to Ream Stories in 2024!


In other news, this past Monday, Me, Kyra Lennon and Paula Grabow recorded the Christmas episode of the Write Here, Write Now podcast, with special guest, children's Christmas author, Kirsty-Louise Garbutt. Many laughs were had. I will let you know when the episode goes live, but if you want to follow our Facebook page, and take part in the regular discussions over there, here's where to find us.

https://www.facebook.com/whwnpodcast

And last but not least, speaking of Kyra Lennon, after a three-year publishing hiatus while she's been building the Write Here, Write Now Community, Kyra is releasing a new book. Her cute, grumpy/sunshine Christmas Romance, RE-WRITING CHRISTMAS is out on December 14, and it's AMAZING!

You can pre-order your copy here: books2read.com/rewritingchristmas 

A Quick ReamStories Update For You

 


WINGS, WITCHES AND WONDER. A weekly, serial paranormal romance web fiction on Ream Stories. Chapters 1-3 are now FREE to all tiers. Chapters 4-8 are available to subscribers of the Apprentice tier and above. https://reamstories.com/claredugmore/public

Over the coming weeks, I will be tweaking the subscription tiers on Ream Stories, as I prepare to re-publish ALL IT TAKES, and transition to a paranormal/contemporary hybrid author.

I will also be going "wide" with my serials, meaning they will be available on other web fiction sites like Wattpad etc.

The advantage of subscribing on Ream Stories will be that I will be updating more frequently for paid tiers, so if you find a story of mine you love, you'll be able to read it more quickly by subscribing. Plus it will support me, and I'll be offering other perks, like discounted paperbacks.

In fact, I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on perks in the comments. What types of things would you like me to offer that would encourage you to become a subscriber?

That's all for now, as I'm off to beta-read Kyra Lennon's forthcoming Christmas release! Who's as excited as me for this new story?

 

Saturday Snippet from chapter eight of serial paranormal-romance web-fiction WINGS, WITCHES AND WONDER, which will go live on ReamStories this coming Friday. https://reamstories.com/claredugmore/public

Wings, Witches and Wonder Chapter Seven and Some Other Updates

Happy Friday, everyone.

First, chapter seven of Wings, Witches and Wonder is now available on ReamStories to all members of Apprentice Tier and above.

Secondly, I have made chapters 1-3 of Wings, Witches and Wonder available (and free) to all tiers, as well as chapters 1-3 of Seeking the Truth.

Over the next few weeks/ months, I'm going to be experimenting with ways of making my stories more available, in the hope of growing my community.

This might mean I move to an "early" access period, where paid subscribers will get chapters weeks or months in advance of non-paid subscribers.

Additionally, I am working on another story alongside Wings, which has a sexy witch/vampire pairing.

Here's a little peek!


Whenever I start a new project, I can't help but make the character on something. This time Sims 4. Any guesses who inspired my vampires, Antares?


Another thing I am considering adding to my subscription is contemporary romance stories, including my previously published on Amazon and now unavailable MMA romance ALL IT TAKES, and my queer romance TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY, as well as any new stories I write (I may have ideas for an age-gap rock-star romance!)

Be sure to follow me for regular updates, so you know what's coming, and when a new chapter is released.

https://reamstories.com/claredugmore/public

Finally, for those who were following my NaNoWriMo progress, I decided to stop. I added almost 17k to Wings, which means I have a decent backlog of chapters for you. But I've come to realize I am no longer able to write daily, especially with a specific target (i.e 1667 words a day for NaNoWriMo), and it was actually having the opposite effect and making me LESS motivated. Go figure. Anyway, rather than forcing it and coming to hate writing, I decided to stop. 

Now I'm free to work on what I want and when I want, as well as devoting time to setting up my proofreading business and co-writing a contemporary romance with Kyra Lennon.

All that to say, while I dropped out of NaNoWriMo, I don't see it as a failure, and you should expect lots of fun things from me next year!

Until next week. Stay safe, and read on!



Wings, Witches and Wonder Chapter Six and NaNoWriMo Progress



Happy Friday, everyone!

Chapter six of my serial, paranormal-romance, web-fiction WINGS, WITCHES AND WONDER, is now live and available on ReamStories to 'Apprentice' to 'Master Wizard' tiers. 

And it's a spicy chapter! ;)

https://reamstories.com/claredugmore/public

In other news, NaNoWriMo has been a bit hit-and-miss this week, as it's PMS week, and I often struggle when my hormones are out of whack. I don't really want to do much of anything.

Though I did get in a few days of writing, and recorded a new episode of the Write Here, Write Now podcast, which will be with you on November 15. https://www.facebook.com/whwnpodcast

Hubby bought a new camera this week and is trying to improve his Youtube content. If you like handheld gaming (SteamDeck, ASUS ROG Ally etc.) or retro gaming, you should definitely check it out. https://www.youtube.com/@RetroResolve

Finally, I recently discovered the Italian rock band Maneskin, and have been listening to them for the last couple of weeks. Today they released a new deluxe version of their Rush album, with five new songs, and OMG! They're amazing. There are three upbeat, danceable bangers, and two absolutely heart-breaking ballads. I can't stop listening to them. https://open.spotify.com/album/2kcJ3TxBhSwmki0QWFXUz8?si=bn_ExXecRCaU9usV1KloVQ

That's all I have for you this week. Hopefully, I can shake the PMS blues soon, and get some more words on the page. 

Until next week, take care and read on!

T.T.F.N