Mood

I'm a mood reader. I'm also a mood writer. What I'm reading directly influences what I feel like writing. In this case, we can all blame #authorfriendJen for me ignoring Demon Kin: The Lovers for a few days. Instead, I've been dabbling with Metaphysical Attachment. Why is this Jennifer's fault? Because I've been reading her newest release, Deceptive Inheritance, and there are a few similarities:

• Genre: Romantasy

• Coming of age

• College setting

• Disrupting parental expectations

• Exposure is a problem

• Forbidden romance

• Bloodline problems
  

When I list it out like that, it seems like they'd be good buddy reads. Then you look at the differences and give me the raised eyebrow emoji.

• Hers: werewolves Mine: magick users

• Hers: paranormal fantasy Mine: magical realism mixed with high fantasy (fantasy world, but with familiar technology)

• Hers: high stakes with active pacing Mine: lower stakes, relaxed pacing

Despite all that, reading hers makes me want to write mine. Which is not a bad thing. Y'know, except for that part where I can't piggyback on her success by releasing something I know she (and her audience) would enjoy reading, because it's not done being written yet. (Just kidding. Obviously. Totally not jealous at all...)

(Sidenote: it's okay to be jealous/envious of other people, and still support them 100%. If you have siblings, you probably already know exactly what I mean. You can be jealous over someone's success/beauty/intelligence/etc. and realize that your feelings aren't their problem. So don't make it their problem, and keep your insecurities in check. End of PSA)

One of the many issues of being a person with an overabundance of creativity and a tragically short amount of ambition is that I get all of these ideas and don't follow through with them in the right way. For example, I give the mirror imaginary interviews regarding characters and their relationships and the plot dynamics, etc. (Y'know, instead of writing!) I think of different types of merch I could make (if I had the money) and all that fun stuff. And I use it all to procrastinate with effortless skill. Case in point:

Gladden University of Magick crest (option 1)

The image you see is the byproduct of me getting into MA again and deciding that I needed to figure out a crest for Gladden University of Magick. This image, of course, is only the first attempt. I'm sure there will be many more. By then, we might have a little vote on which we like more.

As of right now, I'm mildly satisfied with this one. Mostly because I legit don't have time to make another one anytime soon. In point of fact, real life is taking a battering ram to me again this weekend, and thus I won't have the energy to do anything.

Speaking of which, I have so much to catch up on/do tomorrow, so I must depart. To bed. It's midnight as I write this... Goodnight.