ellenmillion

July was a mixed bag, as most of them are.

I wrote just a little over 25,000 words, spread out over seven short stories (mostly Shifting Sands and one for Green Valley) and four novels. Most of that was on Gryphon of Glass, but I also finished adding scenes to The Dragon Prince's Librarian, started The Dragon Prince's Bride, and Shifting Sands Academy (possibly to be The Bear in the Library...and then the Dragon in the Science Lab and the Gryphon in the Gym, etc).

It wasn't my 30k goal, but it was a lot of words, and a lot of things FINISHED. I finished my personal round of revisions on DPL. I also revised the entire Tropical Tails collection, and the Christmas collection for Shifting Sands. I also did edits on a short lesfic for an anthology and outlined another.

I also got all of the #Junicorn artwork orders filled and paid the Food Bank $621, which delights me.

I started working on #magicalpets art cards mid-month, and have completed five (I expect the two on my desk will be finished today, bringing my total to 7)! I'm not making this a specific challenge like #junicorn - if I do 30, that's awesome, but I probably won't. I'll close off commissions at the end of the month, or sooner if I get swamped. You are welcome to send me photos of a pet you'd like to see with wings or magical trappings, no obligation to buy the finished product, but you get first dibs. Requests and prompts welcome.

This is, obviously, one of my August goals, to do more Magical Pets.

Also: 20k in various words. I have the first two readers' notes for DPL, and I suspect a chunk of this will be two or three new scenes in this book. The rest will be in Gryphon of Glass, which I hope to finish/revise in September and release in October. If I have spare energy or need a break, I want to finish the first chapter of The Dragon Prince's Bride, and write a short Royal Dragons prequel story as a reader magnet.

And...that's it? I may release a book this month, or they may go out in September. It depends on how smoothly edits on DPL and Tropical Tails go, and what the rest of the Zoe schedule is, and what airplanes fall out of the sky on the house...oh, and how the start of school goes, too.

We're signed up for distance learning, and I have no real idea what that's going to look like, like 90% of the parenting world right now. I am doing my best to be zen about this!

I guess that's it! Do you have big plans for August? Any accomplishments from July you'd like to share?

So, that was a month!

Let's see:

I published two books: Tropical Leopard's Longing and DandeLION Season.
I also deleted massive amounts of DandeLION Season and wrote about 9,000 new words before publication.
I did edits and formatting for both books.
I wrote approximately 10,000 on Tropical Lion's Legacy
I did NINE pieces of artwork for the NDA project that will not die. (SOON IT WILL BE REVEALED!)
I hosted a birthday party for a seven-year-old-to-be. And survived.
I finished another hunky shifter coloring page (Bastian, not yet posted)
I did sketches for Sketch Fest and Muse Fusion, and a few random other sketches. I am rusty.
I started outlining Fatemaker stuff.
I pretty much knocked my goals out of the park.

For March:

Finish Tropical Lion's Legacy. It's at 20k, so probably another 20k of writing. I'm aiming at 1000 a day and we'll see where we get.

Release Bastian's page on Etsy. Or maybe a 10 page collection, now that I have enough!

FINALLY gush about the NDA project.

Outline Bearly Tolerable so I'm ready to hit it hard in April.

Do some art

Outline first Fatemaker book and create character sheets.

So, I've spent all of July without a laptop, until just yesterday, when I got a shiny new installation of Windows and my precious, precious machine back with all its data. I've been reinstalling ALL THE THINGS. (And I keep adding more to my list of things I regularly use. Good grief.)

Not having a laptop has made for an insanely productive writing schedule, though. Using my iPad, I was able to write 22,000 words in the first ten days of the month. I finished Fire Control, wrote 10,000 words on a short story called Better Half in three days, got Scarlet and the Christmas Kittens nearly finished, and even added a dribble to Girl Nest Door, which I think I finally unblocked on and hope to finish next week.



I'm getting a late start on the month, but here are my goals.

o 10 portraits. (I had originally hoped for 15, but... things.) 1/10
o Finish GND
o Logo revisions (ASAP)
o Shifting Sands Box set 2
o 1 print book for proofs
o Finish Scarlet and the Christmas Kittens (it's really close!)
o fulfill #junicorn - and drum up more sales if possible
o Sketch Fest #100
o Patreon rewards (asap)
o TNMT edits (Deadline: July 25)
o Finish 1 shifter coloring page
o 1 thing for Torn World (not picky what it is)

I have Things To Do! I have broken my insurmountable feeling pile of things to do into bits and pieces to make them more palatable. This is my list for today only:

Finish tax paperwork thingy
Pack up coloring book order
Remove coloring book ordering from Amazon
Update new coloring book listings at EMG with colored pages
500 words on Christmas Stag
Back covers layout for Splendrix and GG3
Wording for Kickstarter


Wed

Massage
Mail coloring book order
Mail tax paperwork thingy
Remove coloring book ordering from EMG site
500 words on Christmas Stag
Inside front page layout for Splendrix and GG3
Graphics for Kickstarter
Order priority boxes and mailers

Thurs

Kick off Kickstarter launch party: reveal GG3 cover, 2 games with prizes
Coloring book counts
500 words
Inside back page layouts for Splendrix and GG3
One ad for TPP
CB announcement to VIP group

Fri

Launch party: reveal Splendrix cover, 2 games with prizes
Files to printer for proofs
Finishing touches to Kickstarter
500 words
One ad for TPP
Preview pages for both CBs

Sat

Launch party: share preview pages for GG3, 1 game
500 words
Any last minute Kickstarter things

Sun

Launch party: share preview pages for Splendrix, 1 game
500 words
Gaming
Upload book to Amazon, do not refresh the page 7 billion times to see if it's up.

Mon

Press go.
Cross fingers.

I did taxes! (waves a little flag)

We also did home improvements, finally installing a handtowel rack in the bathroom because up until now people have to bring their drippy hands into the kitchen to dry them off, which is... seriously not a good hostess move. We also replaced the crooked toilet paper holder, installed a door hook, and fixed the door so it actually closes without wrestling it into place.

Aaaaand, I launched a new not-a-book. The usual rules apply - if you'd like to read it, swear to secrecy and I'll PM you information.

This week I plan to:

Write 500 words/day (1251 today so far)
Edit the next not-a-book
Draw 4 coloring book pages for a client
Promotion for new not-a-book
Obsessively refresh stats for not-a-book
Party planning

I have a new toy! I mean tool. I have a new tool!



Yesterday, I took it out on the town with me and I managed to go to the gym*, write 1200 words on my not-a-book, colorize a portrait, answer emails, go shopping*, and cook a roast.*

(*These items may or may not have been facilitated by the new toy tool.)

I flamed out badly on digital painting once before, but this is a whole new level of comfort and portability (my biggest prior complaint was that the separate tablet took a lot of setup and a big work surface, plus I was tethered to my computer...).

I am on a mission! I want to make my Apple Pencil viable, and I need some practice with it. I also want to whittle down my Portrait Adoption gallery a bit. SO! I am offering the DEAL OF A LIFETIME. I will color anything in my gallery - at NO EXTRA COST. That means, you could get a portrait colored to be your character for as little as $5. I'll even make minor tweaks at that time. (Very minor!) Use the site to 'request customization.'

$0 / $99.00 0% done!

In other news, we had a windy night, and now it looks like impending winter. Eep.

I will leave you with a list.

~Add a Torn World character
~Answer 10 emails
~Post something at Torn World
~Pizza dough.
~vacuum
~Clean off livingroom table
~2 loads of water - 1 down
~cook sausage
~500 words - 400. 
~Finish Patreon physical rewards (oh man, they are awesome! And there's still barely time to get them!)
~Coloring book bulk order

It's been a productive, busy week so far, and I'm loving it. It feels good to be (mostly) back up to speed.



MORE LISTS!

Today:

~Write 500 words
~Work on color logo for client
~Try another sketch for anthology
~Print part of the Patreon physical reward
~catbox/dishes/vacuum
~25 emails cleaned up.
~drop off work at Connie's
~Coloristas catchup
~Apple crisp


My reward for finishing will be painting mini-totes! I am out of Agents of Shield. :(


This week:

~Return library books
~Get email down to 100. (at 120!!)
~Start poking on potential project - poking initiated!
~Post rest of the articles at Torn World (3/4 posted)
~Finish color logo for client
~Finish anthology illustration
~Finish anthology revisions
~Write a total of 2500 words. (at 2252)
~Mail physical Patreon rewards.
~Finish and deliver Patreon reward story.
~Catch up on Coloristas
~Clean downstairs desk
~Update Woven Sylver!

All for now!

I feel so behind! The last six weeks or so have felt like one setback after another, and lots of little things have gotten shoved aside. Time for a list!

Today I'd like to:

~Write 500 words. (1000 would be better)
~Get through 100 emails. (My inbox was up over 700 this weekend. I beat it back to 560.)
~Post next article at Torn World
~Shopping
~Catbox/dishes/vacuum
~Work on color logo for client
~Sketch for possible anthology illustration
~Next Patreon reward out (Sketch Tarot)
~Fold laundry (2 loads)
~Bellydance


This week:

~Get email down to 100.
~Start poking on potential project
~Post rest of the articles at Torn World
~Finish color logo for client
~Finish anthology illustration
~Write a total of 2500 words.
~Mail physical Patreon rewards.
~Finish and deliver Patreon reward story.



Guppy and I went cranberry picking on Saturday, and took a long walk in the autumn woods on Sunday. My purpose on the walk was to get her some exercise, and it wasn't very far before it hit me that this was my first time walking these paths without Norway, which was very hard. Guppy was effervescent and energetic, which really took the edge off, and the forest is gorgeous, going all gold and rust. In all, it was a lovely walk.



Nose to the grindstone now.

In case you've been on the fence about supporting me on Patreon, here is a list of perks that patrons have received since I opened my page in July of 2014! Most perks are removed when the next one is released, but starred entries continue to be available for new patrons to go back and enjoy.

I've also revamped my reward tiers - I originally had $5+ rewards going out every six months, based on your starting date, but have simplified my life so that physical rewards go out the same time for everyone, in March and in September (just September for International patrons). Yes, that means you can sign up in the next few weeks and get your rewards THIS month!

July 2014: 3 of Pentacles coloring page
August 2014: Photograph wallpapers and headers
October 2014: Candle digi stamp
November 2014: Ressa Knows/Bai Knows Better (Torn World poetry)
December 2014: Everberries coloring page

January 2015: Turned Back short story (Torn World story)
February 2015 perk: Evervale coloring page
March 2015 perk: The Thief coloring page
April 2015 perk: custom portraits (simple ink drawings, patron prompted - they get a high res download!)
May 2015: sea monster scale chart to color
June 2015: Fairy and Dragon coloring page
July 2015: Taming the Seas coloring page
August 2015: Cowbell/Snail's Journey coloring page (two mini pages)
September 2015: Never Traveling Alone short story (Torn World story)
October 2015: Winged Kitty digi stamp
November 2015: Olarali to color
December 2015: Evervale in the Desert coloring page

January 2016: Fishtank Mermaid coloring page
February 2016: Secret Not-a-Book – excerpt and invitation to request the full novel
March 2016: Maiden, Mother, Crone coloring page
April 2016: Vetch Dragon coloring page
May 2016: Sea Monster painting input
June 2016: Summer Bubbles coloring page
*July 2016: Paintings from painting class
August 2016: #Smaugust prompt (dragon sketches prompted by patrons)
September 2016: Rosehip tea coloring page
October 2016: Sponsor a #smaugust for #inktober (patrons pick sketches I did for #smaugust to finish in ink and get the high res of that piece)
November 2016: Dragon Sled to color and use for cards/bookmarks
December 2016: $5 off at Etsy

*January 2017: travel sketches and photos (8 posts)
February 2017: Morrigan and Scared coloring pages (available through March 31)
*March 2017: Sneak peeks of Secret Coloring Book Project (12 posts so far, posted throughout February, too)
April 2017: Two vintage bookmark designs to color (from 1999!)
May 2017: A sneak preview of four exclusive coloring pages that will be coming this summer + A winged kitty digistamp
June 2017: A sea monster coloring page: Arguing Over Dinner.
*July 2017: Watercolor class paintings. $3 and up get The Fool Sketch Tarot card file, $4 and up also get a coloring page of The Gathering.
August 2017: Skykitten Chaos coloring page. $3 and up get 01 The Magician, $4 and up also get Saddling Up (old Torn World) coloring page. $10+ got Railcrossing, a spicy story from Torn World!
September 2017: 2 botanical coloring images (quarter page) $3 and up get 02 The High Priestess, $4+ 4 botanical coloring images, $5+ got an aceo print, a 4x6 print, plus a random original, magnet or painted mini-tote. $10+ got an excerpt from the novella I'm working on.
October 2017: 50% off any #inktober artwork, and leave a prompt! $3+: 03 The Empress. $4+: Watergazer coloring page.
November 2017: First dibs on ornaments and totes, plus a Bad Snowy coloring page. $3: 04 The Emperor. $4: Bearing Gifts coloring page. $10: A second super spicy excerpt from my latest finished novella.
December 2017: $1 - Evervale Coloring Page #2. $3+ 05 The Heirophant. $4+ Evervale as Poison Ivy Coloring Page.

January 2018: $1+ Useful coloring page. $3+ 06 The Lovers. $4+ Green Fairy grayscale coloring page. $10+ Spicy excerpt from a novella featuring dragons and mermaids...
February 2018: $1+ Hula class video. $3+ 07 The Chariot. $4+ Dryad's Winter coloring page.
March 2018: $1+ 7 of cups (mythology) coloring page. $3+ 09 The Hermit. $4+ Waking From the Tree grayscale coloring page. $5+ Fill the bag original giveaway. $10+ Spicy scene from the not-a-book I just finished!
April 2018: $1+ 10% off Kickstarter pledges and 25% all original artwork. $3+ Wheel of Fortune. $4+ Wings From Stone coloring page
May 2018: $1+ Growing Up (Copper and Blackstone EQ) coloring page. $3+ Death. $4+ Smartarm Shifter beefcake coloring page. $10+ Spicy excerpt of a story I'm working on for my new pen name.
June 2018: $1+ Missing You card design to color, $4+ Druid's Wind coloring page.
July 2018: $1+ Portrait July - patrons can submit photos for reference (or describe characters), $4+ Great Northern Gate to color, $10+ Senseless ebook. (6000 words Torn World short story)
August 2018: $1+ Justin coloring page, $4+ Training coloring page, $10+ Rails ebook (50k novel from Torn World), AND The Girl Nest Door (ebook as Zoe Chant)
September 2018: $1+ Shifting Commic, $4 Watergazer Coloring page
October 2018: $1+ sneak preview of art in NDA, $4 Christmas Irish Elk coloring page

Today, we got SNOW.

It was a stay at home day, which was nice because everyone always forgets how to drive the first day of snow, and Guppy wasn't feeling very good, but had a quiet day to recover. We had a crackling fire and I did some laundry and we made a Halloween wreatch from a craft kit. We watched Incredibles, and I snuck in an episode of the Flash while she was napping. I did a lot of artwork that I feel tremendously good about today, and wrote a hard email that I feel was appreciated and also programmed a fab new toy to play with at Portrait Adoption:

http://portraitadoption.com/novelgenerator.php

The idea occurred to me a few days ago, while I was noodling around with things, and it turned out to be relatively simple to write up. I would still like to make a button to share it on social media, and possibly also save your results, but I'm not quite sure how to make that happen. I have a few ideas I could poke at if it's something people decide they want.

THere's also a new sampler page up at EMG, for the Wild Teas of Alaska: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=75


Guppy was feeling enough better at the end of the day to walk up the driveway with me. She was all smiles and glee until I wanted to take her photo, of course.

Looking ahead! I have a few things on the calendar to share with you!

October 30 I will be at Sipping Streams from 1-4 for a fabulous coloring party! Tea, finger food (OMG, so good), a face-painter, free pages, and a chance to use my own high end coloring tools. Don't miss it!

Nov 5-6 I will be at the UWA holiday bazaar, sharing a table with laylalawlor. I will have painted ornaments and any coloring books that I personally am in.

Nov 11-12 I will be at PopCon at UAF. As time allows, I will be doing on-the-spot commissions of ornaments and sketches.

Nov 18-20 is Sketch Fest #81!

I'm also ruminating something fun and Sketch Fest related for Black Friday...