Time to Unhook the Plow

In my last blog post, I wrote about how all of you could write a novel this year, and now it's time for me to put my money where my mouth is, to shake the lead out of my pants, to "get real," (*shudder* I really hate that expression--so people who like to say that mean they're fake most of the rest of the time?!), to--as my husband likes to say--unhook the plow. Because it's not so much about getting real as it is about just getting moving.

The last six months have been incredibly challenging, and from a professional standpoint, I've had more on my plate than I think I've ever had before--and I haven't even been writing a book! I won't bore you with all the details, but it's been so much that even though I've wanted to get re-started on writing book 3 in The Breeder Cycle (CLONE), I haven't been able to. I stalled out at about 15,000 words back in July/August before the release of CRIMINAL, and I haven't been able to carve out any real time to work on it since then. But late this December I wrapped several freelance projects, and I finally felt some relief. I've had... time! It's been amazing, but difficult as well, because I know going back to CLONE is going to be a huge challenge, and it's looming over me. So I've been dragging my feet. I've needed the time off, too, but I think my month of binge-watching "Smallville" on Hulu is becoming more detrimental than beneficial for my mental health. It's time to unhook the plow.

It is so much easier to write a new book from scratch, or to start a new series, than it is to wrap up a series. I would much rather write Bittersweet (the second book in my upcoming Fairy Tale Collection) or start writing the Orion books I have planned, but CLONE must come next. The entire story exists in my head, and it's so complete, there's a part of me that can't believe it doesn't exist yet on paper. But it doesn't, and it needs to be written, and I'm the only person who can do that. SO... starting in February, I'm resolving to get moving. I've had a good long break, and it was a break I needed. But now I need to get back to my primary job: storytelling.