If you’ve been with us for a while, you might know that every October, I take a writing break. This allows me to do two things: recharge my brain, and consume as much horror media as possible. This year, I’m more excited than usual for this break.
A few weeks ago, I announced that I finished drafting Stasis, a sci-fi horror novella that will be the opener for a planned novella collection. I’ve noticed before that, whenever I finish a project, I experience a sort of writing exhaustion. I think it might be my brain stuttering to move on after unloading the end of a story. Or maybe it’s just that my word count skyrockets in the last few sessions of a project, and what goes up must come down.
Either way, after finishing Stasis earlier this month, I’ve found that I have the usual inability to write much of anything at all since. I’ve made a few half-hearted attempts at the next sci-fi novella for the collection, and I did write a short story after a bout of inspiration, but other than that I’ve been dry ever since I wrote “the end”. It seems much worse than earlier this year when I finished Kaja, and I think I finally understand why.
You know how when you’ve got something on the horizon, it makes it difficult to focus on the now? Take the phenomenon of senioritis. With the end so near and inevitable, students in their last year of high school sometimes slack in their work. They’ve pretty much guaranteed their diplomas at that point, and it’s difficult to find the motivation to go above and beyond when you know it’s not really necessary.
That’s how I’m feeling now.
Combining my typical post-project dry spell with the anticipation of my writing break month full of horror consumption, I just haven’t had it in me to try very hard.
So, for the first time since I created monthly word count goals for myself (last December), I’m not going to meet my goal for September.
And you know what? I’m alright with that.
I’m immensely proud of Stasis. Not only do I actually think it’s a pretty good piece of writing, it was actually a hard project to push through. I faced many delays in its composition due to lack of confidence, and the fact that I did make it past all that and finish is, honestly, a huge accomplishment. Stasis is my best work yet, no false modesty here, and after finally birthing that thing, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little premature rest.
So, here we are at the end of September, and the beginning of my break. I’m really looking forward to the rest my brain will receive. I hope that all the things I watch and read this month will load my brain up with inspiration and motivation. It definitely did last year.
With that, starting next week, my posts will temporarily not follow this journal entry format. I’ve got four spooky-themed banked posts lovingly crafted just to get you in the spooky mood. And since I won’t be writing during October (thus no Writing Goals Update), I’ll be tagging my posts instead with Spooky Silly Rhymes!
Also, my first post in November will be a nice big roundup of all the horror media I consumed, rated and reviewed! Stick around!
So let’s sit back, put on our comfy socks and light a candle. It’s going to get scary in here.
Monthly Writing Goals Update
September Final Count: 16,382 / 30,000 words
2026 Word Count (so far): 239,773 words
Don’t forget to purchase your copy of my new collection, Cobwebs: Reimaginings of Classic Horror! I’ll also be appearing in The Capital Horror’s newest anthology, Home Bodies: Domestic Horror! Find the links to everything on our Read Our Stuff page.
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