Getting started with Chapter XIV!

Featured image 2019-02-18

After a couple weeks (months?!) of not doing much, I’m excited with how quickly (relatively speaking) Chapter XIV is shaping up! After just a couple of days since my last post, it’s nice to see the words piling up on the screen again! I can never tell which chapters I’ll have to torture into existence and which will materialize more willingly, but Chapter XIV, so far, seems like one of the latter.

After wrapping up Chapter XIII, rather than wait too long and let what little momentum I’d gathered peter out, I figured I’d jump into Chapter XIV head first and hope for the best. So far, about 2,100 words in, I think it’s working! Granted, churning out just over two thousand words might not seem like much—especially when compared against the 100,000+ words already written! Still, I remember how I felt when it came time to write the first few words of Between the Lion and the Wolf (BLW), Chapter I! After roughly 116K words, I wasn’t sure how I’d write the next 116K. Nor the next 116K. As it turns out, it’s not so different from how I started: one word after another, then another, ad infinitum. (All right, not infinitum, but you know what I mean, right?!)

I included a brief passage from Chapter XIII, and I’ll include one from Chapter XIV here. I’m a little concerned I might be revealing too much, but I think I’ve managed a somewhat sub rosa approach regarding the details:

“Physically, you’re diminished. There’s no pretending otherwise. However, unless everything you told me about your history was a lie, you’ll adapt. That’s who you are. That’s what you do. No matter the scenario, you rise above it and build a better, stronger version of yourself. These circumstances are another opportunity. This time, though, no one’s casting you out. No one but yourself. If you need permission to borrow strength from others—what little we have to offer—you have it.”

Excerpted from Between the Lion and the Wolf, Chapter XIV.2

Linville Gorge

Shifting gears from BLW, Chapter XIV, I’ve got an opportunity to explore Linville Gorge in western NC coming up. It’s been years since I’ve been down in the “Grand Canyon of North Carolina,” and I’m looking forward to visiting again. One of my favorite photos from the Gorge is from a campground in the area:

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’d like to think it shows in some of my writing, but I love spending time outdoors. It seems I don’t get as many chances to do that as I used to. Maybe that’ll change. (I did get out to eastern NC not too long ago: it’s nice, but it’s really…flat. I prefer the mountains!) Perhaps it’s no coincidence: parts of Chapters XX, XI, and XII take place in a gorge-like setting. Despite the time of year, I’m sure I’ll come across some good photography subjects, but even if I don’t, I’m still excited!

So…yeah. Chapter XIV. Only 5 and 3/5 chapters to go! (I have no idea what that’ll translate to in words!)

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