The New Work-In-Progress Is On the Starting Block…

…waiting for ready, steady, GO, to be called.

• while I’m (still) querying to literary agents
• while I’m thinking about the new WIP

What?

I have a theme, a location, some sketchy characters – what next? The planning stage is both exciting and daunting. But last week, I hit snarled traffic, full stop, or maybe just a short vehicle queue. Who knows?

This isn’t writer’s block, more like the brain fog I’m completely used to as someone with MS. It doesn’t last forever and I will know when it’s over, suddenly rejuvenated after heeding the call to rest. Then I’ll be glad to have spent time with the books of other authors, the reality of the people in my life, and the ability to sit and daydream. And I’ll have caught up with my life.

Why?

I was having to try too hard to kickstart this new book. I realised I needed time to let the theme become a dream, a passion, a reason to be writing it. There is nothing wrong with that kind of procrastination while waiting for creativity to take over.

Imagine if I had recently painted a huge canvas, a piece that had lasted as many months as my completed novel took to plan, write, redraft (several times) and edit. After that amount of work, focused concentration, gripping obsession, taking some down time is vital for mental wellbeing, and rechanrging both the creative and physical batteries.

And Living!

When?

I will know when I’m ready to knuckle down to writing the first draft. Meanwhile having the chance to just Be Me, spend time with people, pages and places – well, who wouldn’t?