Writing status

I’ve completed two interviews in the past week and both have asked what I’m currently working on. It's a good question, but one I'm never really sure of how to answer. All the interviews I've given over the last few months have mentioned, in some way or another, the paranormal WIP I've been working on since February. It's been a struggle; I had a listless female protagonist, who was listless for a reason, granted, but she provided absolutely no drive or reason for me to come back…therefore I found myself apathetic, road-blocked, and incredibly frustrated. It wasn't until I participated in an author chat for one of my publishing houses that I decided the story was worth more than my original version of my protagonist and if it was to survive, I needed to man up and do some serious revising. Over the past month or so, I've completely rewritten the beginning of the book, adding in a prologue from my hero's POV and a new chapter featuring his first encounter with the heroine. It flows much better now, and it gave my character a voice whereas before she lacked depth.

I’m encouraged because I do truly care about this project and I’m not going to let the shaky beginning deter me from my goal. However, I’ve recently found myself bombarded with ideas for lighter stories that won’t take nearly as long to get out. Writing can be two things for me, and hardly ever at the same time: easy-peasy or “all work and no play.” Lately, it’s been the later. If I’m deeply invested in a project, I’ll obsess over it. After all, people with OCD are known for obsessing, and since I already obsess over everything under the sun, I have a tendency to stumble over sentences and self-edit as I write, which is something I know, I know, I know I shouldn’t do, but I find myself doing it anyway. No matter how many times I tell myself to worry about edits later, my brain doesn’t want to function that way, and since I care about this project, I don’t want my own neuroses to interfere with its progression. That’s where I believe lighter projects might help its progression. If I can get my mind out of the place where everything has to be “just so” and on a lighter, fluffier note, the blood might blow a bit easier, and I’ll have a real chance at tackling the story I really, really want to tell.

Anyone else out there have this problem? Please? Bueller? Bueller?

In other news, one of my interviews will go live soon. I’m thinking about doing a giveaway for those who comment on the blog it’ll appear on. Any takers? I’ll even take suggestions on what book to giveaway.