Taking a Break; It’s Not You, It’s Me

I’m having one of Those Weeks.  You know the ones.  Where everything you write is complete and utter crap and all ideas you have to fix your flagging plot are predictable and dull?

I had high hopes of finishing Devil’s Eye over Labor Day, but I just don’t think it’s gonna happen because I’m cutting a bunch of stuff.  I pretty well hate my pinch points and everything following the midpoint.  And my ending was never REALLY that clear to begin with.  Blah.

I’m not abandoning the story–can’t very well let that fabu cover art go to waste.  But I think I need to step away from it for a little while to gain some perspective and come back with fresh ideas for how to flesh out the second half that are going to keep things interesting and action packed.  I need a better bad guy.  And he needs to file a formal complaint with Minions ‘R Us because the ones they sent over this round were totally lame and way too easily defeated. Monday I wrote what was quite possibly the LAMEST CHASE SCENE EVAR!

I’m trying not to beat myself up over this, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t freaked out about my apparent inability to finish anything this year.  Revelation stalled out after 21k.  Edge of Shadow hasn’t gone beyond outline yet. Devil’s Eye has stalled out twice.  Despite my long list of stuff I’ve accomplished this year on a professional or marketing front, the fact remains that I have not finished anything creative since I finished up Forsaken By Shadow at the end of January.  And now it’s September 1st  (Summer, you can go on vacation now and make way for Fall; kbaithx). I’ve written over 67k words this year.  August was the first month to come back to January’s level of productivity, which is yay.  But only one thing is finished and it bugs me!!!

Jamie Debree made a fabulous comment yesterday about how the self-publishing career is like a perennial plant: the first year it sleeps, the second it creeps, the third it leaps. I really love that idea.  So much that I want to print it and put it somewhere I can see easily as a reminder that right now I’m in that first year, and I need to give myself a break.

Possibly this is my brain’s sneaky way of manufacturing a hormonal crisis to clear my calendar for a few days to allow me to tear through Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Angel.  I was planning to hold it for ransom and now allow myself to open it until I finish Devil’s Eye. But it’s calling to me, whispering sweet nothings and trying to seduce me.

Maybe I could use a fling…

But I’d really like to finish some of the OTHER books I’m in the middle of, like Shadow Hills, The Demon’s Covenant, and The Lightning Thief.

8 thoughts on “Taking a Break; It’s Not You, It’s Me

  1. I feel your pain, Kait. My current project (no name yet) is stalled and I can’t make myself work on it. My husband has been going through some rough times this past week and it makes me depressed when he’s upset. I can’t write when I’m depressed. (that’s not a normal state for me to be in, either!) But I’m going to follow Susan’s advice and work on pieces at a time. And I’m sure, with her support, you’ll be working on things again in no time! I think what you’re dealing with happens to writers all the time. Stepping back (for just a little while) sometimes puts things in perspective and allows you to rest. Don’t rush it.

    1. It makes me snarly. The combination of book not going well AND PMS is not a good one. :goes in search of therapeutic chocolate:

  2. Sometimes taking a break, even a short one, is just what the doctor ordered. You just might come back to Devil’s Eye with all kinds of awesome ideas about how to fix the things that are bugging you. I think what you’re doing is very smart. Maybe there’ll be something in Clockwork Angel that inspires you and helps you iron things out! 🙂

    In any case, you’re awesome, and I hope this break gives you just what you need!

  3. *hugs* I am not a writer, but if you ever want to fling ideas at me I would love to help. I am a problem solver and great at brain storming. [starts playing Friends music, “I’ll be there for you…”]

    Just ask Zoe about Wizards *winks*!

  4. That’s exactly why I have so many WIP’s going at once…if one’s giving me fits, I work on the other one instead. I have a hard time focusing on just one for a long period of time – my brain needs variety.

    If it’s any help, this week is sucking for me too – at work, with writing, whatever. Just one of those weeks. *sigh*

    Glad my analogy could help though. 🙂

    1. I am totally blaming it on PMS, lack of chocolate, and probably biorhythm theory, just to have my bases covered 😀

  5. Everyone needs a vacation, Kait. Don’t beat yourself up. Succumb to the chocolate and breathe in its seduction. Let it melt in your mouth and slowly…

    Oh, wait a minute. We were talking about chocolate. :o)

    We’ll be here when you get back.

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