Apologies for August

I hope it's been as long as it feels since I've missed a month of exclusives here, but August has turned into a trash-fire. Or perhaps it's just that things have been a trash-fire for a while now and I'm at the breaking point.

I started the month with high hopes: had a commission lined up I was happy to work on and an idea for a three-part story that I could devote this month's exclusives to. But then the commissioner had to cancel the job (this after delaying it when they first contacted me; but I want to stress I'm not angry at them personally, I know real life happens), and when trying to work a simple idea to have some fun with I ended up, as I usually do, going overboard, the story ballooning out of control.

And while all this was happening my day job was its own nightmare. Been that way for a while now; since late May we've been without a manager, continuously short-staffed especially as people call out because of personal issues or whatnot. Last week I had to work six days to help cover for someone and then yesterday I was asked to give up one of my days off this coming week to cover for someone else.

I'm essentially working six days straight now, with only a day off before and after it.

And that was the 'something has to give' moment. I was exhausted all day yesterday (physically and mentally) and then to be asked to lose a day off, that made me angry but also so very tired. Even the time I have outside of work I'm trying to juggle too many things. If we were back in the first half of the month instead of the midway point I'd try to knock out the three-part idea I mentioned above, but right now I just want to focus on getting through the next week at work.

I'll try to write at least a little every day still, but I'm not holding myself to finishing anything, especially not for any exclusives.

Thus I will not be charging for this month. I'm going to pause payments and try to get back in the rhythm in September. I know at least some of you might be disappointed, especially since this is not the first time I've missed a month, but all I can say is that real life happens. I'm sorry.