I am capable of holding space for many contradictory things and not having them feel at odds. This is clearly my problem with conflicting dates. I’m just not great at dates. Thankfully I married a historian and can normally assign date maintenance to him. But not this time.

I’ve known, vaguely, in the back of my mind, that Rosh Hashanah was this weekend. And I’ve known, vaguely, in the back of my mind, that the Fantasy Writing Study-Along Intensive is also this weekend. But I never brought the two together to realize that I could not simultaneously do a fantasy writing intensive that will require intense work over the course of Rosh Hashanah weekend.

So this means that the writing portions of the Study Along are a no-go for me. I’ve done all the reading, so I should get quite a bit out of the videos, which I can watch after Rosh Hashanah ends. Last time I did the Study Along it was basically readings, videos, and writing. So if it is the same, what I’ll basically miss is the intense writing and the opportunity for critiques from Dean. Which isn’t nothing, but it isn’t everything either. And even if I couldn’t watch the videos, the reading list alone was an education that I’m glad to have had.

There is one story that I’ve been working on that is due before the workshop. I may turn that one in with an explanation of why I can’t do the rest.

I know that I am fortunate to be Jewish. I know that I am fortunate to have won the Lifetime access to the Study Along workshops after winning the Great Challenge. But, gosh! Can’t I win the magical ability to be in two places at once?

UPDATES

The rest of my writing continues on and I am making good progress on the gaming articles, which are nearly done. I missed a chapter deadline for our Romance group but I’ll make that up. I am behind on submissions. I’ll make that up too.

I have a lot of editing and critiques to incorporate at this point. Those are going to wait until the end of September to do that.

I long to work on a new story and I’m sneaking away little bits of time to work on it. I know I’m being unfaithful to Thule, Peak Love, and Secret Project #2, but I can’t help wanting to add a few bits here and there. It’s amazing how many ideas I get when I’m trying to work on other things.

I hope your life is filled with joy and fun and that your dates do not collide. Be well, friends!