This is going to be a shorter update than usual.

  After my move and everything surrounding it, I ended up coming back from my two-week break from the rewrite with a lack of motivation. I only really started working again on this past Thursday, and to be completely honest, I struggled to find my footing. A big part of that was where I currently am in the story, which is roughly the same point where the original version split off into Max’s arc. With all the changes I’m planning for Max’s role, I found myself having a hard time envisioning exactly how to proceed, and that made it difficult to sit down and actually write.

  It genuinely felt like being Sisyphus at the bottom of the hill, staring at the boulder and the climb ahead, and not having it in me to start pushing because the task felt so daunting. After some really helpful back-and-forth in the comments with one of you, something finally clicked, and I was able to get over that mental hump and start moving again.

  All of that is to say that this past week’s tangible progress amounts to only one chapter. I’ve completed Chapter 21, which is the first real combat chapter, where the tribe warband departs the cavern and goes to thin out the dire wolf pack. This chapter has expanded a bit, with clearer strategies being used, a better glimpse into goblin culture and mindset in the Northwild, and expanded combat roles for both Throk and Kesh, who are now full System enabled creatures like Dravak and Grub.

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  I realize that my very small amount of progress may be disappointing to hear about, and trust me, there’s no one more frustrated by the slow progress these past couple of weeks than I am.

  That said, I honestly feel like the hardest part of this stretch is now behind me. Once I started pushing that metaphorical rock uphill, things began to feel clearer, and I’m hopeful that momentum will pick up again over the coming week.

  If I’m being fully candid, this rewrite has been far more intimidating and nerve wracking than I initially expected. I continually find myself wrestling with doubts about whether I’m changing too much, or not changing enough, or whether the end result will truly be better. But despite that, I’m still here, still working, and still committed to seeing this through and eventually continuing the story from where it is currently paused.

  Thank you all for your continued patience and support. I’ll still keep you all posted as things move forward.

  See you next week on Monday February 16th!