More nose-to-the-grindstone energy!

A couple of days ago I wrote about the people in my books (I’m afraid I think of them as people rather than characters – maybe many writers do!) – the point I was making that when I’ve finished their story, with a satisfactory ending, I hope, they quite often continue their lives in my head. I need to unwind from them, having been so involved in their lives and adventures for so many months and sometimes years. These adventures are sometimes written down too – especially if I think there might be something which could become a new adventure – not for them, but for me as a writer. Like people who go into hiding, they are given a different identity and gradually as I progress, they actually become totally different people. In a couple of cases they even change gender!

At the moment I still have the same technical issues about my most recent Radwinter novel which has been languishing  for far too long. In fact Thomas Radwinter has even accepted a new commission which seems innocent and harmless enough, but may well end differently from what he expects. However, this blockage with getting my novel out there has seemed to affect me as a writer. To be honest, I’m struggling somewhat – even though I write here every day and I write my monthly story for the writers group, I’m not as engaged with the process at any level as I should be.

Now this makes me a little concerned – I’m sure every writer has a secret fear of losing the magic ‘it‘ which puts stories in their heads and words on the page. So I’ve gone back to some characters in one of my novels, ‘Loving Judah’ and I’m seeing what they are up to and I’m chronicling their present lives, just to practice keeping a narrative going. I’m also continuing my self-imposed twenty topic challenge, having finished #14 Purpose, #15 Square and #16 Books, I’mm about to attack #17 Secretary. In our most recent writing group get together, the topic was something to do with medicine, doctors, hospitals etc and I had two ideas, one which i wrote and shared in the group, and another about someone who may or may not have poisoned a relative who was leaving them an inheritance.

So I am busy, I am writing, but I just wish I could get my Radwinter novel published – and then I’m sure I will have more focused , more nose-to-the-grindstone energy! I will keep you informed!