Confession: yes.
There are days when I open the document, stare at it, change one word, and close it again because I don’t know what to do next.
Currently (and I hate saying this), I’m working actively on four different novels. Sometimes, one will speak more loudly to me than another, and I have to listen, because that voice might suddenly go silent for an unknowable period of time. So while I’m feverishly forging ahead on one, others get back-burnered. Sometimes for quite a while.
For myself, I need to have more than one project. Bouncing around a bit keeps me interested, keeps my writing fresh. But it may also slow me down. I do wish I could be one of those writers that just hunkers down and works on a single project and pushes it out in a matter of weeks or months. But I’m not. And that’s okay. All artists (whether that be novelists, painters, sculptors, poets, composers, or what-have you) need to discover the best method for themselves.
That’s why I don’t care for how-to guides on writing a novel. Tips like ‘wake up at 5 and write for three hours’ is terrible advice for me. It would make me loathe writing. Tracking my word count on a daily or weekly basis makes me write words, not a story, so Nanowrimo isn’t my friend. Comparing my sluggish output to someone else’s proactive schedule is demoralising, so I try to avoid such comparisons. I takes notes before I write. Not everyone does. Not everyone should.
So discover what works for you, and don’t apologise for it. Chances are, the more serious you are about your craft, the more you’ll practise it. Just do yourself a favour and ignore the clock and calendar. (Unless you’re a professional with a deadline to meet!) The saddest story is the one that goes, I fell out of love. If you love writing, do it when it pleases you, and everything else will work out fine. 😉
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