Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose . . .

As I noted below, one of the main reasons I've been absent from the blog of late is my tight deadline for DRINK DEEP(CV 5), which is scheduled for publication in November 2011.
Although I hope this book will has lots to offer in the end, it's been a struggle to draft thus far.
Perhaps I say this about every book I write (Jeremy?), but this one feels like I'm dragging the word count total up the side of a mountain. I'm on schedule to finish on time--if I maintain a pretty high level of productivity until my deadline--but the slowness of the drafting so far scares me in a bone-deep way.
I can't imagine I'm the only writer who's felt this way. There's definitely a roller coaster aspect to writing. You can get great news about a publication offer one day, only to learn that the money is stomachpunch low. You can get a royalty check for one book, only to learn that returns exceeded sales on another. A five-star Amazon review might follow (or be proceeded by) a two-star review that insults your writing, your characters, your morals and your intelligence.
I don't offer these observations to elicit sympathy--I know I also have dedicated and loving fans out there, and I usually remember how fortunate I am to be in this position. But as in any hobby or career or sport, some days are just harder than others.
As in life, there are wins and losses. There are days when the words come, and easily, and there are days when sitting still long enough to draft a paragraph feels like a monumental achievement.
If only there were some guaranteed potion--some elixir--that would transmute the latter into the former.
Now *that* would be unstoppable. :)