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M. Darusha Wehm

Science fiction and mainstream books by award-winning author M. Darusha Wehm

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not writing

In Between Times

November 1, 2012

image mashup from originals by fairlybuoyant

As I write this I’m in one of those strange writing places. As a fairly accomplished procrastinator, I usually have between one and a hundred writing projects on the go in some form or another. Typically there’s a novel being edited, a short story being written and a couple of other things in various states of action.

At the moment, though, I’m kind of in between everything. I have a novel at my alpha reader, another that I’ve put aside in the editing process to simmer, a short story with beta readers and I’m prepping a novel. Okay, so that last one is something to actively work on, but overall I feel kind of like I’m out of work.

I know that as a self-directed writer, this situation is entirely up to me. I could start pounding away on one of those story ideas cluttering up my notebook, I could skip the simmer and get editing that novel, or I could just declare myself to be on holiday, spend my days playing Guitar Hero and finally finish Metallica’s One on hard (it’s just those meedlies at the end — I’m so close I can taste it!).

I’ll pick one of those options soon enough, but for now I’m kind of enjoying the somewhat weightless feeling of being in between projects. I haven’t had it for a long time and it’s interesting. Doubtlessly, something productive will come of it.

image via Gamespot.com

Filed Under: News Tagged With: not writing, writing

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Cover for The Department of What It (Really) Means to be Human by M. Darusha Wehm. A grey background with yellow text and line art of small, round pills.

The Department of What It (Really) Means to be Human

The Department of What It (Really) Means to be Human is told with a consistent gentleness, and generosity, that gives [its] philosophical questions room to breathe.
— Niall Harrison, LOCUS February 2026

A near-future real-life society transitions to a post-capitalist, post-climate change reality.

The Department Of What It (Really) Means To Be Human is a thoughtful, optimistic novel set in a near-future Aotearoa New Zealand where an investigator navigates a newly postcapitalist world in their search for a missing artist.

When the world changed, Emerald Hutson closed the door on their old life. Now they’re a freelance investigator for the Grants and Stipends Office, augmenting basic income with cases that are both simple and easily resolved.

Learn More

Free Stories

Lucidity

last night I had the most wonderful dream Carly moaned softly in her sleep, and rolled over. She dreamed and dreamed, and when she woke, she found that she still had the lingering shadow of a … Read More... about Lucidity

Fire. Escape. – Sample

This is a novelette that explores a different aspect of the world of the Andersson Dexter novels. You can get the complete ebook for free when you sign up to my mailing list. It all started with the … Read More... about Fire. Escape. – Sample

Chekhov’s Phaser

I never planned to end up here. I've never planned anything, really. All my life has been like that: I see an opportunity and I take it. Sometimes that works out better than other times. So why should … Read More... about Chekhov’s Phaser

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