Back To It...

For the last couple of weeks I've been really struggling with my writing. The desire to write seemed to have disappeared. I could see it coming, fought it like a banshee, but in the end, I had to let go. I've had these episodes before. They've lasted as short as 2 days up ten years. This one lasted about a week. Over the weekend I re-started a WIP.

I think my problem is developing myself as a writer. I see my voice, like it, but am convinced it needs to grow. I read my writing, think its good, but I know I can do better. It's an uphill battle. But I know I won't be happy unless I put the effort in and make it a little tougher. But damn, I don't feel like expending the energy. But I will.

So I started a historical. It takes place in 18th century London and is based on the criminal element of the era. It is going to be a great deal of work, the story is dark, the conflicts darker and the research extensive. I'm not very far, but I can see where its going and I'm happy. Sitting down at my keyboard today, I open a new document and start writing a new WIP entirely. This one is a romantica suspense that takes place in contemporary L.A. I don't know where it came from, but I'm writing it more for my amusement than anything else. Writing historicals is like a pressure cooker for me. They are work, not only do I have the research to worry about, but I need to "translate" my voice into a tone appropriate to the story. To relieve the pressure, I work on something on the side, something fun and completely different. The last time I did this, the "fun" project took over and that's the one I've been submitting. Oh well, whatever works.

speaking of submitting, I received a request for a partial today. I had totally forgotten I'd queried this agent. Of course this agent wants a totally odd number of chapters, so none of my pre-printed partials will work. Thank goodness I got a laser printer.