Following My Own Writing Advice

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve shared anything here on Substack and it’s not for any lack of topics. The thing is, for those who don’t know me, I wear a number of different hats in my career in the publishing world and besides working with a client on her memoir, and doing publicity for two authors, as well as doing ground work for my own book launch for my novel, Before She Was a Finley, to be released on September 10, I am presently working on a sixth novel. For anyone checking, so far when it comes to novels, I only have two published, but that doesn’t stop those creative juices. Some people’s yarn includes knitting; mine includes words. (I am included in several anthologies and have a couple nonfiction books published, but fiction is my first love.)

Anyway, regarding my latest work in progress, like my previous novels, I purposely stop writing for the day (or night) when I’m still in the thick of plotting and character development. Why, you ask? Well, it’s advice I have given other writers over the years, advice that I still follow. See, if I keep writing until I hit a block, so to speak, I find it takes me longer to get back to it and I tend to keep busy with things that really can wait since I’m not sure where to pick up once I sit in front of the laptop. However, if I stop when I feel the scene is working so that I can give that much-needed attention to my clients, I am then eager to get back to it so that those characters that are itching to continue in their journey don’t remain in limbo. Yet, here I am dashing this short piece off while those characters are tapping their toes and rolling their eyes. With that in mind, I must get back to what has been gestating and get those words down. Meanwhile, happy writing to you!