Once the flashing lights of a novel coming out and the thrill of seeing my first (and beautiful cover) have passed, I’ve found myself dissatisfied with everything I try to write next.  Fortunately, taking some time off to go hiking in nature has re-energized me and reminded by that it’s perfectly acceptable to write garbage when drafting.

I often struggle with wanting to tell a good story.  Sadly, good stories don’t jump out of my brain fully formed.  I tend to need several drafts to hash out plot, characterization, setting, and all the juicy stuff that makes a novel so much fun to read.  When I put pressure on myself to produce these things on the spot, I freeze up.  

Ever since I sold “Chosen Sister” my work in progress “Paladin Honor” has been stalled.  First it was a necessity of the line edits and revisions taking up my time.  Then it was Nanowrimo (which granted got me the as yet unedited “Miranda Makes Her First Million”) and after that the holidays.  When I tried to return to everything in January, somehow I’d forgotten along the way that I was writing a rough draft.  I’d open the novel, look at a few lines and draw a blank.

Thankfully, last week ended the month long bout of Writer’s Block, and I’m happily writing garbage to finish up the draft of my novel.  After it’s done, I’ll go back and gut the novel with a vengeance to finally make it the good book it deserves to be.