One of the cardinal sins of blogging is to not post for a long time, then return to write a post making excuses for why you haven’t been blogging. Okay, technically, that’s what I’m doing here, but I’ll argue that it’s a bit different. I have been blogging; it’s only been less than a week since I posted anything of substance. The only thing I really want to apologize for is not getting regularly-scheduled features (a new Leiber post on Mondays, and a Skullport campaign report on Tuesdays) out on time this week. No excuses, but plenty of reasons.
First, freelancing. It looks as if there will be at least two fairly significant RPG releases with my name on them come next convention season, from established, respected publishers. Frankly, I’m so excited I could wet myself. The next two Asparagus Jumpsuit projects (after The Compleat Shemp and Domnio), which I had planned for next spring, many not only be delayed because of freelance work but could end up finding a home with other publishers. While there’s nothing wrong with self-publishing roleplaying material via OneBookShelf and Lulu, it’s an amazing feeling to know you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting yourself.
Second, school. One session ended Friday; the next started Monday. Normally I get a week off in between, to write, do “life” stuff, and get organized. Not this time. And this algebra refresher course is kicking my behind and taking up a lot more time that I’d anticipated. Writing research papers I can handle. Taking tests I can handle. All of this math, GAH! Not my forte.
Third, church. I know a portion of you just stuck your fingers in your ears and started yelling LA! LA! LA!, or simply stopped reading. For the rest of you, yes, I’ve been getting more involved in the church. I volunteer one day a week with a program to aid the poor and the homeless, and assist with a weekly Taize service. Katie and I have been asked to teach in a Wednesday night study program, and I may be giving a couple of lectures on Sunday mornings between now and the end of the year. There are other ministry opportunities being discussed, but no matter what they turn out to be it is a sure thing that church, service to others, and helping the poor will continue to occupy a larger role in my life.
Add to this normal stuff — that I’ve been married less than six months to the most wonderful woman in the world, that I’m in two weekly game groups, that I’m still trying to convince people to buy my fiction, all those other little things, and I have a pretty full life. I really need to figure out where blogging fits into all of this, as more than just an announcement of what I’m going to do, or what I’ve done. I need to integrate it more with my life, and all of the things I do. Part of that happened when I sunk UncleBear.com, which was RPG-geek centric, in favor of a site that encompasses a more comprehensive scope of who I am and white I do.
So please, bear with me a while longer while I continue to sort out all of these blessings I’ve been given, and work on making it all work together smoothly.
No need to apologize, real life is important! Best of luck with all of those good things.
Posted by Kaiju | August 23, 2011, 6:09 pmThe eternal axiom of being too busy doing to write about it then nothing but time with watching the paint dry has the subject of the day. So have fun living and hen come on back to tell us about trust me we will be here.
Posted by Tim Riley | August 23, 2011, 9:57 pm