Madyn Rose

Start panicking now…

As a new writer, I still have lots of things to learn, including how to deal with the dreaded WB- writer’s block. I know, right? I didn’t even want to utter those words because then it’s real. But it’s happened.
When I wrote Chasing Hartes, I knew I wanted to make it a series. I had the plot, outline and characters all figured out, except somewhere along the lines of first draft and final copy, things shifted and my characters didn’t go along with my plan.

So, I did what I thought was best to continue the series and shift my plans. It went great for the first few chapters… but then I got stuck. Real stuck. I’ve been sitting at the 20k word mark for months, and it’s not for lack of trying, but I can’t force the words out. The longer I sit and try, the more frustrated I become. This book should be easier. I already know the story I want to tell. It has been in my head for over two years, and yet it’s not coming together, and the battle for anything to go on paper is exhausting me.
Which makes me wonder…

Is it time to call it quits and move on?

What now? Scrap the series? Start a new book? Pivot and try to work what I have into a new story? The options are driving me mad. 

Most people would say making what I have work is the best option, but is it really? What happens when no matter what, I just can’t get into what I am trying to write? Every sentence seems like a monumental battle to get through.

I get a common theory is to just keep writing because even horrible writing can be fixed, but I’ll admit it’s hard to stay motivated. I’ll be sitting at my computer plotting, writing, or figuring out what is happening in the scene and then realize I have only added a few words or spent the time deleting each crappy sentence.

Don’t even get me started on the whole DON’T EDIT the first draft, but when you’re frustrated, it makes you feel like you’ve done something to it. So here I am at an impasse with the book, which is devastating since I love the story but can’t make it work at the moment. So I did the thing I was not supposed to do. Stopped writing my WIP.

I know I’m not alone out there so tell me your woes!!

Quitting or taking a much needed breather?

Although I love the idea of this book, how long do I continue to fight when I have so many more book ideas?
My writer’s block is forcing me to consider where my energy and writing time are best spent. And this project isn’t it.
At some point, I will return to this project with renewed energy and a spark to make it work (I hope). The wonderful thing about writing is there can always be a later. Every story can become a series or be left as a standalone. Personally, I don’t see this pause as quitting, but more like taking a breather and gaining some perspective because who knows what will happen later.

The one thing I can be grateful for is that there is no pressure for this book. Chasing Hartes was picked up as a single novel and I am lucky to be able to take this breather without having publisher pressure or a deadline looming over me.

What Now?

I am now thinking about how to regroup, refocus, and renew my ideas on what I have on the go. For instance, I already have a second book done. I am on my fourth round of edits. I thought it was done and beta read, but during my final proofing, I decided on a last-minute tense change which is incredibly tedious: it’s taking me forever to get through. So here we are at draft 4.

Even though I have paused on the project, there is always more, including focusing on my blog, my book reviews, and finally finishing Gonna Be Me. This was a book I started almost 2 years ago now! Yikes it just needs to be done. Which I am going to query, but I am also thinking of self-publishing.

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