A Month of Writing – April

MoW-ENIt feels like I just have been writing the March post, looking forward to April’s challenges, and now I am here, at the beginning of May, thinking of how crazy April has been, and ready to tell you all about the fourth month in the 365k Club’s challenge.

As you might remember, I was planning to visit Pyrkon (you can read more of the convention in the “Little Melfka on a big Pyrkon” post), and considered I might break the writing streak during the trip. I didn’t expect the life to lay its traps for me at the very beginning of the month…

It started with a moderate threat, which was the highly anticipated “Daredevil’s” release. You might remember that “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” got me quite well and I spent some time binge-watching the first season in February. But on the day of the release I watched only three episodes, and then switched off Netflix to get the writing done. After that the writing came first, so I could engage in Daredevil’s adventures guilt-free. And I have to confess, as engaging as the series is, I still have half a season to watch. Writing comes first.

Then life tried to surprise me with a shallow pit I didn’t even consider a real danger, when “Pillars of Eternity” were released and a helpful coworker sent me a link to the game’s sale price, but at this stage games can’t prevent me from writing anymore, and as much I enjoy the story woven by “Pillars of Eternity”, it remained on the list of the unfinished games, and the word count kept growing.

The third trap has proven more of a challenge, as it came snuck upon me in a shape of a virus, and I can attest that trying to write when the only thing keeping you up is a maximum dose of aspirin, is not a writer’s dream situation, and suddenly getting these 1000 words down took three or four hours instead.

And when I finally proclaimed myself somewhat healthy, it was time to pack for the flight to Poland, and I was convinced Pyrkon would be my breaking point. What can I say? Going back home at 4 am, and spending the next two hours writing my words down, only to get up at 10 am and head out for another full day at the festival was not something I expected to happen, and when I was flying back home, I knew I had a lot of sleep to catch up… but I haven’t missed a day in April, each time hitting the 1000 words mark, and having written the total of 33k words.

1000April

I have to admit I was ready to take a break for Pyrkon, but writing has so much become a part of my day, I wasn’t able to. And taking few days off work for the convention resulted in few more books read, as the first step of “packing to travel” was to charge my ebook reader, and ensure there are enough books uploaded on it. I still can’t report I found some time for editing, but I’m slowly getting there doing little edits here and there.100Days

April was also the month when I broke the mark of 100 consecutive of writing, and seeing as even Pyrkon didn’t slow me down, I start to think I might make it double. But let’s see if such bold statements will stand next month, as we’re not even halfway through the challenge yet.


This post is a part of the “A Month of Writing” series – a monthly report on my progress in the 365k Club challenge.

Joanna Maciejewska

Joanna Maciejewska is a fantasy and science fiction author who enjoys all things SFF: books, movies, and video games. Her short stories appeared in magazines and anthologies in Polish and in English. Her epic fantasy adventure series, starting with By the Pact, is available in ebook and paperback at all major retailers.

This Post Has 7 Comments

  1. Anachronist

    Oh you, terminator woman writer. I am not worthy to comment on your blog anymore.

    1. melfka

      Says the one who’s blog posting schedule is more on time than Ryanair flights, and she not only reads regularly, but also writes reviews. I hardly read anything nowadays, and my blog posts are… were, a bit like lottery numbers: RANDOM.

      1. Anachronist

        I wish I could read, write and edit at the same time, like that guy in one of Ted Chiang’s short stories. I suppose I need a new version of brain software. Or some K hormone.

        1. melfka

          If you find any (brain software or the hormone), let me know. I could use some too.

  2. sarah higbee

    Oh congratulations:). IMMENSE respect! I always find that cons leave me all fired up and invigorated – but I haven’t yet had the pleasure of attending one in a different country. And I find travelling exhausting… I think you’ve done brilliantly keeping to your 1000 words a day.

    1. melfka

      Thank you :).
      Technically I never attended a con in a different country, since I’m from Poland. And funny enough, in 8 years I never made it to an Irish convention.
      I have mixed feelings about travelling: I kind of like it, but I don’t like all the logictics related to it. And it is tiring. Though flying is awesome: one can catch up with reading, sleep or both (I always considered London to Houston almost perfect: 11h for reading, movies and sleep!).

  3. J.R.Barker

    Well bloomin’ ‘eck, you put us all to shame! Can’t wait to see the fruits of your labour 🙂

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