I’m stuck at 6%. I haven’t done much writing. My excuse is that the trusty Chromebook I had used for Blade of a Flower and Broken Blade is failing. It is a poor excuse, however.
Being busy all the time is another one that I use. Working from home due to COVID-19 and having both kids out of school/daycare is exhausting. After the kids go to sleep in the evenings, one of the last things I want to do is write. Still, I need to get back into a routine and have the discipline to stick to it. I need to reestablish goals and hit them. By this time last year, I was already 67% done!!
To address the Chromebook issue, I put in an order for a NexDock (link). I have really high hopes for this “machine”. It is technically just a shell (nothing but a keyboard, monitor, battery, and ports), and all the computing power will come from my Samsung Galaxy.
Instead of upgrading to a better laptop, I went with the NexDock for a few reasons.
- I’ll be able to write anywhere because I’ll always have access to the internet (Google Drive, research, etc.). Granted, most places have free wifi, but not out camping in the wilderness. Now I need to dust off my tent.
- My phone is pretty powerful and responsive. Cell phones are only getting more powerful with each iteration. So, whenever I upgrade my phone (which seems to be every 2 or 3 years), I’ll also be upgrading my “laptop” because it uses the computing power of the phone. This is the largest reason why I wanted a shell / NexDock.
- If my phone is low on battery, the NexDock will charge my phone. It’ll be just like carrying around a large external battery pack.
- It wasn’t super expensive. I missed the boat on the first shipment so I pre-ordered one of the newest models ($250) that should ship in July. Fingers crossed. I could have spent that money on another Chromebook, but I would be in this same position in a few years.
To address the issue of being “busy” all the time, I think I’ll read more. One of the things that inspired me to write in the first place was reading cool stories. I have a few books collecting dust on my shelf that need my attention! Once I get that motivation, that spark back into my life, I think I’ll be more inclined to prioritize the craft rather than sit around watching shows. On the upside, I did get caught up on watching several Marvel movies that I missed leading up to The Avengers: Endgame.
Wish me luck!