Are u dead?

... maybe.

Nah, it's just been a hell hella eight months.

Sorryyyyyyyyyy!

Yeah no it. Hh.

It's been a rough year, ups and downs, etc. And of course, Sylvestus did not get published.

It... Didn't even get finished. Which is kind of just a disappointment for everyone. I let y'all down, in that way, and other people down in other ways.

But you know - I survived, which was fucking up in the air for a while; I finished the second year of my degree with a 1st, which was very unexpected; I got into an actual functioning wholesome relationship, which probably doesn't belong here but YEET cos that was neither my goal nor my expectation. Like, y'know, ship oscillated.

Basically I survived everything, I managed to either scrape by or excel even when I didn't expect to - except with Sylv.

Sylv I dropped to deal with everything else. This is the first time in my life that writing hasn't been either the #1 priority, or close to. Generally the important things for me have been writing as #1, theatre and academia fighting for #2 and #3, looking after my friends swerving up to the top when necessary but otherwise social life being like #19 or someshit, and work or other responsibilities wavering around the #4 position. This year everything got turned on its head. #1 was hotly contested every other day between theatre, academia, and social life; I have hella adult af responsibilities in the other positions; and then there's this relationship bullshit which is suddenly like... Important to me, and I have a human that I want to like, keep happy and stuff.

For a long time I went "yeahh writing i'll do that soon hahahahahahahahahahahaaa", or opened Sylv where I'd left it and then got super frustrated for a while, or just plain ignored it - eventually I chose to set it aside. I did do bits of writing, but they were all isolated pieces of poetry and prose when they struck me, very different to what I've done before and very personal. When I did start writing properly again at the end of term, it was [City novel].

Then I started writing a little bit of Sylv. Then a little bit more. Then a whole chapter. It took a few weeks, but I eventually finished the last tiny bits.

The final draft is done, the proof copy in my possession.

Not promising anything soon though. Still going slow. Many many other things to do in my life right now.

But we'll get there. Keep in touch. Keep excited. Keep reading Each Separate Dying Ember if you haven't yet. Follow the Sylvestus Facebook page if you haven't already for more regular updates and content!

And be nice to ur local writer.

It's been a rough year.

Sleepy writer