It's an individual style thing. Unless someone is paying you to work to a deadline, why not have some random flings with Research? It can be quite enjoyable, and there's even a small chance it will make your writing better. As long as you know where your heart truly lies.

I agree. iCloud is fine if you use it correctly. I did have trouble with Dropbox once, so I kicked it to the curb. The best overall strategy is ‘do everything.’ Use recovery specialists when needed. Use iCloud always. Do nightly backups to an external network drive. Etc. Protect the writing.

I'm a fan of the genre, but it has to be tuned to a safe level of stress or I can't take it, like it's really happening to me or someone I love. I should have a better barrier between the artificial world of the story & my personal reality. But it seems I have a real problem with this. Not sure why.

I tinkered with it. Drives me nuts. I much prefer Scrivener. In addition to easily handling a full-sized novel, it also has lots of ways to keep research & notes organized.

The throne of Apollo. My WIP, The Last Gladiator, is a time travel romance. The main antagonist is a rising dictator in modern Italy, who aspires to be a new Caesar for the world, to claim the mantle of the gods and sit upon the throne of Apollo, a god come to earth. Yet a god with a serious flaw.

Thanks! 😊

Agreed. Writing is just capturing your dreams in written form. Can no more quit dreaming than quit living.

Victory is generational. Admitting the 2024 Bears sucked doesn't mean the 1985 Bears didn't win the super bowl. They did win. Each generation is a new team. We will always be at war with grandiose egos & the hatred they create. Some generations will win. Some will lose. We will win again.

No. He’s an emperor. He’d send a minion to the library, probably to hurt someone.

It's like working out. You work up to your limit, and then you take a break, and then you go again. Find your rhythm.

From just before the climax of my WIP, The Last Gladiator:

Absolutely. It's a YA time travel romance, The Last Gladiator, built on the ever-popular hate-to-love trope, she suspects him of faking his oddness to take advantage of her family, so at first she's all about exposing him. Except the truth turns out to be stranger & more dangerous than she thought.

Maybe just ask him, why does he think you love writing? We have this debate in our local writing group. This one guy, very successful businessman, just doesn't get writing for the love of writing. The debate gets intense at times. He's passionate we SHOULD want to make money. I push back. Gently.

Something to sip on is essential. Nibbling is optional but fun.