A. F. Kay
patreon
December 16, 2023 - Update
🕑 Added 2023-12-16 11:56:14 +0000 UTCHi!
For those of you who have read these updates for a while you know I complain about my productivity. Probably a lot. Certainly, too much. I try and be real with you about how my weeks go and my struggles and since so many of those struggles relate to productivity, I guess some complaining couldn’t be helped.
A new issue appeared a couple of weeks ago. Pain in my wrist and forearm from typing threatened to further decrease my productivity. It scared me.
Scared me enough that I tried dictation again. A skill I have failed multiple times. Probably because of the pain in my wrist and arm, I approached it this time with a very focused mindset. I needed to make dictation work for me.
And like a Christmas miracle, it did.
I started last Saturday, and the beginning wasn’t great, but it wasn’t horrible either. The four chapters I released tonight are the result of my dictation last weekend. This is also why I am releasing them at 4:30 in the morning. They took a lot more cleanup than I expected.
But it is getting easier, and my words are more natural.
Since the weekend, I got a stomach bug and lost a day and a half, and work deadlines have continued to sap my energy and creativity all week…even so I dictated enough for another five chapters at least.
You read that right. I have been barely managing three chapters a week, and this week I did nine. My first week of dictation.
It is hard to express how big a deal this is for me. The deadlines I place on myself and the goals I want to reach but only fall farther and farther from, have an impact on myself and everyone around me. This week was like the sun poking through the storm. I have confidence the sky will soon be clear.
That means far less self-imposed stress and the ability to finally write some other stories I want to tell while not impacting the Divine Apostasy.
What a great week.
I opened up chapters 57 and 58 for Root.
I opened up chapters 59, 60, and 61 for Harvester.
I added chapters 62, 63, 64, and 65 for Step Master, Blapy’s Favorite, Divine, and Axiom.
Enjoy!
Thank you for all the kind words and comments. I appreciate people’s encouragement and advice. You are all such great people. Thanks for being a part of this story.
Take care,
AFK
Comments
A. F. Kay
Right now I am using the iphone's dictate into a google doc, but I am looking for a better process. I dont want to spend the money on Dragon when so many new tools are emerging for far less. Do you have tools you like?
A. F. Kay
Thank you Andrew! I had to look up what chuffed meant and it is my new favorite word. I agree I need to not let my new productivity drive me into the ground. It will take time and I'll be careful so that this is a positive thing and not catastrophic for me. I'm chuffed by your comment. Take care!
A. F. Kay
That is so true and something I need to keep in mind. I never thought about it like that but it is very profound. Its not like I can go to the store later and pick up a cure. Like all of us, I am searching for balance. Thanks again for posting!
A. F. Kay
Great point about accessibility. I take so much for granted in my life and should spend more time being grateful. We are all fighting our own battles. Thanks for posting and for your well wishes. I appreciate them so much.
A. F. Kay
Thank you! Let's all pray I can make it work since both those things are necessary long term.
A. F. Kay
Thanks, Joe! I appreciate your comment so much. It sounds so corny and I feel like I'm saying the same thing every week in my closing, but I just know without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn't be here without the support of you and all the other patrons. Writing is just too hard to do without a supportive group of people who are as excited about the story as I am. I feel truly blessed that we all found each other. Thanks again!
A. F. Kay
Thank you for the kind words! I hope we can all have more without making any sacrifices. Fingers crossed.
A. F. Kay
Doing much better, thanks! And I hope your holidays are amazing!
A. F. Kay
Thank you jazz!
Karl M. Davis
Out of curiosity, what tool(s) are you using for dictation so successfully?
Andrew Goudie
I'm well chuffed for you! I hope you don't now over inflate your productivity expectations and demand 9 chapters a week of yourself however!
Lonnie
Glad you found a work around, but seriously, take care of yourself! Health is not something that you can replace some other time
Elle Mahaney
I’m so happy for you!! And what a shining example of why accessibility matters! Thank you for sharing your productivity with us- love getting 4 chapters!!
PatienceHoney
That is wonderful to hear! I'm glad you have found a path forward that helps both your physical and mental health.
Joe
I am so sorry to hear about you hardships. I know you thrive despite them because of your great spirit and determination, but I also want you to know that I appreciate all the hardwork and heart you put into this story. You make the world a more enjoyable place to live in because of it. Thank you very much. Also, I hope you are encouraged by this fact: You posted a story at 430 a.m - Yes, I know it's a global community, but even in the U.S, you have fans posting only a few minutes after your posting. That's how much we appreciate your efforts and wait for your next installments. Know that I can't thank you enough for the work you do. It's really a special story.
R. Maxwell Steele
Nah you're the best. Do whatever you need to do to stay healthy. Your productivity got us all here. Trust us to be here while you heal up.
Dustin Sago
Thank you for all your hard work. I hope you feel better so you can enjoy the holidays 😁.
jazz
Great news👏🏾 happy for you
