The first chapter is always easy...

For me, that is.

And the second. And the third and fourth. But what about the twenty second, twenty third, or twenty fourth? Much more difficult.

You see, by later on in the book, the plot is developed (and intricate). The characters have quirks (and many). And the dialogue and voice has settled in (I hope). I can get mixed up with what happened when. I can forget to keep the quirk going. And I can change dialogue style. EEeeek. Hence, the freehand notebook.

I've been a lover of blank notebooks since I can remember. I collect them...and fill them up. But I realized a strange thing: I haven't used the notebooks to keep track.

DUH!

THAT'S why I get a bit bogged down with more than a lick of freaking out over "where am I" feelings.

So today...a new notebook. THIS one is my Unstuck Notebook. Who knows -- maybe I'll need one for each section, or one for each character. I don't care. Whatever works, to keep the book going strong, I'll do it.

Scribbling forward together with you, with determination,
Erin

"What's your latest...?"

That's the question I get more than anything:
What are you working on?
What are you writing?
What's your latest?

Being a freelancer, at any given time, there's a project
on all three bases, a batter up, and a project on deck.
It's good to work. But it's good to hit a home run and
get 'em all in, too.

With a couple big hits (writing/editing projects wrapped up),
I'm basking in the home run feeling. And the question comes
back: What's next?

I love the answer: FICTION.
Luscious, rich, intricate, fast-paced, deep water intense
current fiction. Oooh, I can't wait. I look forward to it.

As a writer, whatever you love and look forward to, you
have to return to. Otherwise, life is too strident. Writing
becomes too dry. What was once a passion becomes simply
a job.

Clear the bases. Get to the passion. Swim in the deep.

Don't wait.

Cheers,
EB