Monthly Wrap-Up: June

 

Hello everyone, how has your month been like? I can’t quite phantom how half a year has already passed us by. It feels like someone pressed the fast forward button some time earlier this year. Looking back through my previous monthly wrap up posts, it’s incredible to see how much has actually happened in these last six months and at the same time how little. Much because of what has actually happened – graduation, first real job etc. Little because how little of what has happened is what I planned beforehand.

As for June, it has been a pretty great month for me. I had five days off work. Four public holiday and one personal one. My second job also ended last month. All of which meant I had a ton of some free time this month. That led to a semi productive month.

I finally got started with the second draft I had been planning to do. Yay! Though most of that time was spent on thinking about how I want the story to work. I changed a couple of things leading to the end, and left myself room to change the ending based on whether I want it to be a standalone or a series. I also reworked a huge portion of the second act, which was feeling like I was dragging the characters across the map instead of them moving of their own motivations. I also spent time thinking about general sequel ideas so I don’t lock myself out of them. BUT I still haven’t nail the first act yet. Which meant, besides rewriting the prologue, I didn’t do much actual writing yet. I can’t seemed to make up my mind whether I want the main character to be a loner or work in a group. Both opens up some avenues of storytelling, but shuts out others. Writing is hard 😦

I also got some work done on building a portfolio. It’s been fun, though I’m not sure where I’m going with it. Recent experiences with my current company’s client has reminded how much I hated dealing with clients. Thank God my actual work doesn’t involve much of it. On the other hand, freelancing can help earn a substantial side income. Decisions, decisions, decisions. I just don’t feel too ready for it.

I finally saw Wonder Woman. It was a disappointment for me. It wasn’t bad, it’s just that I went in with high expectations after seeing the reviews and it just didn’t hit that expectation. Which is a bummer. I really wanted to love it. Still it’s definitely a step in the right direction for the DCEU. Current organizing my thoughts and prepping a review on it.

I finally finished Horizon: Zero Dawn and platinumed it too. It was a fun experience and I can’t wait for the DLC. Full thoughts on it here. I’m starting to feel like I shouldn’t include Gwent in the monthly wrap up anymore. I play it most days. Three short rounds to open up a keg of cards. The current meta is unfun but I’m still pretty excited about the game. Just waiting for the next update, which should be coming around next week.

In the mean time, I dabbled a little with Shadowverse which surprised me with how much free stuff it had. Though the art style and the gameplay isn’t as exciting as Gwent’s, so I don’t think I’ll continue it after the Gwent patch. I also played Life is Strange again. It was a free PS+ game for the month, and with the recent announcement of a prequel, I felt like it was time to replay it. I’m taking my time, exploring all the options and making different decisions, just to see what I missed out last time. And man, I forgot how great the soundtrack is.

It’s been a fun ride back to the Cosmere with Arcanum Unbounded. I don’t plan on doing a full review, so here are some quick thoughts on it. Allomancer Jak was by far my favorite story of the ones I haven’t read (Emperor’s Soul is the still the best). I just can’t get enough of the footnotes. Edgedancer was fun too. I hope we’ll see more of Lift before the second half the Stormlight Archive. I don’t think I can wait so long for her return. She’s just freaking awesome (heh). As for the little snippets of the Ars Arcanum, while interesting to read, I felt like Khriss could have dropped some more info on us, if you know what I mean.

The Ravages of Time  was as exciting as always, but the sheer length of it is starting to get daunting. I’m thinking of dropping it before I reach the end, because the series is still ongoing and it’s no where nearly told the entirety of the three kingdoms period. I don’t think it’s even half way done. Snapshot, on the other hand, was kinda disappointing. It’s set in the same multiverse as the Reckoners, but it doesn’t really fit in with it. Sure there’s something that comes from a superhero/Calamity’s ability, but other than that, this story felt like it had more in common with Perfect State. Kinda makes me wonder what tone Apocalypse Guard will have.

I finally read A Darker Shade of Magic this month! It’s a great book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. However, I couldn’t stop drawing comparisons with Vicious, which while there are some similarities, they both largely focus on different things. Currently working on a review. Hope to get it out soon!

That’s all from me this month! I hope you all have had a great and productive month 🙂