*phew*

[rj_anderson]

It seems that I can write after all. After six weeks of head-meet-keyboard frustration, this comes as an enormous relief to me.

Now if only I could figure out the right starting place for this book... but there are worse problems, and I'm sure it will fall into place eventually. There comes a point at which you have to stop drawing up character charts and making random notes to yourself, and just plunge in.

Anyway, I came across a consoling thought this past weekend from Spider Robinson: "You are writing... you just haven't started typing yet." And this is true -- I've been thinking about Wayfarer a lot, wrestling with various ideas and making notes and figuring out the topics I need to research, and I've also been reading a lot of contemporary MG fantasy to get a better handle on the subgenre. So the last few weeks have not been wasted, even if they haven't been as visibly productive as I'd like.

As for my poor neglected Touching Indigo, I think I've broken my block on Chapter Eight by simply ignoring everything I'd written previously and starting over. I've only written a couple of paragraphs of the new beginning, but it feels better already, and I think I can go on from here. Not that I really have time to work on that book right now, but I can at least look forward to getting back to it when I get the chance...

Meanwhile, I haunt my mailbox looking for a Package of Considerable Importance, and when it arrives I hope to have some good news to share.

By the way, did I mention that A Curse Dark As Gold is really, really good? And that I plan to review it soon? *eyedart*

Comments

[kaz-mahoney.livejournal.com]

I *love* the Spider Robinson quote. Might have to do the linking-thing on my LJ. I need to have that quote up there right now... :)

[carrie-ryan.livejournal.com]

Yay for writing! I've often found that when I'm not writing it's because something isn't working and I have to change it. And I'm struggling with the "where to start" issue right now as well. You're right -- at a certain point you just have to do it!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Should we start a support group for people trying to figure out how to start their second novel?

Actually, I had the first two chapters written already, but there was just this little problem with them being very YA when I'm supposed to be writing an MG. Oops.

[anywherebeyond.livejournal.com]

See, you are too a real writer! *hugs* I'm so glad the block is broken and I'm crossing my fingies for your Package of Considerable Importance!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You're always so encouraging.

[infiniteviking]

See, we told you so. ^_~

Excellent quote. *writes it down* Research, plotting, thinking, and refreshing one's prose muscles definitely counts as progress.

[shveta-thakrar.livejournal.com]

*smiles*

I'm trying to just plunge in, too.

[deva-fagan.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad things are going better! Those writing downturns can be so very disheartening and frustrating. Hooray for making it through!

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad. [hugs] Sounds like you've not only broken the block but taken an important step forward in doing it.

Now I can stop worrying about you at random moments and start enjoying all the auxiliary goodies again, like for instance Packages of Importance. I love those!

[avarill.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!

[elizabethcbunce.livejournal.com]

"It seems that I can write after all. After six weeks of head-meet-keyboard frustration, this comes as an enormous relief to me."

OMG--ME TOO! Only mine wasn't six *weeks.* Yeah. I think it's that sophomore thing they warn us about (shrug). Anyway, I had that moment about two weeks ago, and it's like breaking out of a long illness. I suddenly felt... like me again. I can't even describe the relief, but, then, I guess I don't need to. ;)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd known! I felt so alone, wondering what was wrong with me. I've never heard of the "sophomore thing", or at least I hadn't until very recently. I'm very glad that you've come through it -- it gives me hope that this is more than just a temporary reprieve and I will be able to get started on Book Two soon.

[fandoria.livejournal.com]

Isn't it wonderful to be able to write again? I just got back into it this past weekend myself. It'd been nine weeks since I'd written due to all manner of reasons and then getting started again was just plain hard. I'm glad you're able to write again.