The Lull

It always happens.

At some point after the completion of a book, after the editing and the cover design, the pre-release promotion, and the excitement of the cover reveal and the release date, there is a lull.

We, as writers, would certainly like to be writing ALL THE TIME. But, let’s face it, we can’t. Intellectual and creative pursuits take energy and sometimes you are just lagging. After the release of SECRETS OF THE RIGHTEOUS (which is Book Two of the Ark City Confidential Chronicles) my natural thoughts turn to Book Three. I’ve researched. I’ve outlined. I’ve started writing (even though more research is to be done).

But what am I doing? Well, not what I should be. But there have been family events and car issues and work and drivers license renewal and other homeowner things…And yet it’s all the same stuff that goes on throughout the year. It’s no different than any other time.

So, where does this lull come from?

I believe we “fill” ourselves up with our projects, totally embracing them, until they take over our essence. That’s okay, actually, because we want our work to come from us as completely as possible. To do so it has to be completely within us.

You run a marathon. You take the bar exam. You set up a 12,000 count domino fall. Doesn’t matter. After you’re done, you’re wiped out, drained. You actually want the banality of something non-creative. THAT’S the lull.

However, after a while, that itch, that twitch, that jones, creeps back up and the need to create returns to the forefront. That’s when the lull is put back in its place for a while.