I’m just going to admit it. I haven’t done any sort of writing for a month. October was so busy with work and weddings and my daughter’s birthday and all the lovely Fall things that I didn’t even think about writing.

 

         

But, to be honest, it’s been rejuvenating. With one of my WIPs, I’ve felt like I’ve been running a marathon with no finish line for about five years. It’s been in a perpetual state of me thinking it’s almost done, only to discover some major issue, triggering major (if not almost entire) rewrites. This WIP is particularly complicated for many reasons, but now–for real–it’s with my agent.

In September, I dabbled with a few other WIPs, but none of them grabbed me at the time.

But after a month off, I feel like my creativity wells have been replenished. I’m ready. And I’ve figured out why one of my WIPs wasn’t working, even though–for once–I have a fairly strong plot from the get-go. The problem is I’m not connected to one of the main characters. I can’t feel her voice. I don’t feel her inner conflict. II don’t know who she is as a unique (imaginary) human being. I don’t know her core beliefs and fears or her moral compass. She isn’t real to me yet, therefore I can’t care enough to write her. I need to discover her. Once I do that, I know this WIP will carry me away, because I love the setting, concept, theme, and other main character.

Here’s my plan to kick start my writing brain again.

I’ve got my playlist, my personal soundtrack for the book, ready to go.

I’ve started a new Pinterest board with quotes that inspire my MC (and me) as well as images that inspire the setting and scene.

And I’m delving back into a few writing resources that challenged me to become a better writer a few years ago to get me into my character’s head.

I’m excited to finally write again 🙂