I never wait for inspiration to hit me before I start writing. Sometimes it comes anyways. When it does, it's a powerful force that can't be denied. Why should you care? Well, just because it all has to do with the last two months, kind of a weird and exciting two months for me.

December was busy because I was working against two deadlines. I had a flavour section on Dwarven cultures to finish for Dark Quest--a d20 publisher--and a short story for an anthology. When I'm rushing against deadlines, everything else falls by the wayside. Or at least it should. You see, sometimes inspiration hits at the worst possible time.

As I was working on these Dwarf cultures, I had also purchased a few DVDs, my early Christmas gift to myself. I happened to purchase the Brotherhood of the Wolf 3 disc set, with deleted scenes and lots of documentaries. As if that wasn't enough to divert me from what should have been my one and only purpose, the movie, mixed with a thought already germinating based on 17th century Canada, inspired me. I had this idea for a short story beating around in my head. When that happens, I have to do something about it.

So there I was, working against a deadline and trying not to be diverted by the story I had devised. When I finally got my project done, I slid right into working on the short story, something called "The Fear of Its Prey". I finished a first draft surprisingly quickly. I polished it and sent it off. Then I had to get to work on my anthology story.

Inspiration helps when writing a story, but it isn't necessary. The anthology I was writing for had a theme, so I had devised a story and had completed an outline. I don't usually do outlines for short stories, but it really helped this time. I worked hard and had the story done in a few days. Another day to polish it, and then off it went. One story done and another fell into my lap.

Soon after the anthology story was away, another of my short stories came back with a "no thank you" letter. A rejection. A polite rejection, but a rejection none the less. I gave that a good workover so it was ready to be sent out to another possible home. With that sent off, I had free time on my hands. Not quite.

Soon after I had sent off that last story, I was offered the chance to put my novel in the hands of an agent. I was right back to work, rewriting the novel, polishing it off, getting it even more presentable. I had promised myself I would not rewrite it again, it being on its sixth draft. Well, it's on its seventh now. Its on its seventh draft and is on its way to an agent who, hopefully, will be interested in representing it.

And so here we are and here I am, finally with another issue up and ready to rock. I don't have any inspiration for another story right now, but I've got a second novel to which I'm rededicating myself. Even if the agent doesn't agree to represent my work and I, hopefully he'll give me some pointers so that next time I'll succeed.

But don't worry, even if I do, I won't forget my friends. Sword's Edge is as important to me as any other part of my writing life. Sometimes that might be hard to tell, since I always seem to be late getting it out. I have to admit, that sometimes my own work takes precedence, but I push myself to get everything else done so that I can get Sword's Edge out.