I’m not surprised you went the route of maps, worldbuilding, and drawing characters. Actually, I did that a lot too, but via the RPG route. Which is why plot was always an issue for me, too — I GMed a lot and my players never followed the preordained plot at all!

(Ha, Land of the Talking Pumpkins! I wasn’t writing stories at that time, but I drew elaborate Oz-like maps with things like that. And drew characters and made up their personalities. Um, worldbuilding and character study… yeah, this is why it took me ages to figure out what plot was.)

Actually, writing papers can count in other areas, if you can find a way to use what you’ve figured out in your fiction. You like fantasy, and you’re researching a related topic, right? So, bang, synergy.

Don’t blame yourself. Don’t rage. It’s counterproductive. Just write. :)

Of course, I have no one to blame for myself. You’re just an external focus for my impotent rage.

Or something like that.

Hope you’re feeling better, by the way. I’m just getting over a nice, full day of really nasty illness…

Sorry! If it’s any consolation, I’ve gotten very little done on fiction the last few months.

Also, what the hell? You’ve been writing papers. That counts. Really.

When all else fails, I can always count on you to make me feel guilty about not writing.