Time and Distance

This was the first time that I've completely thrown myself into another project while one of my first drafts sit in the proverbial desk marinating. Usually, just having time away from something is enough for you to gain some perspective on it and be less precious about the work you've done. For me, it's much easier to axe something a month after I wrote it than it is the next day. It doesn't feel like undoing work, it's more like doing a different kind: editing.

Working on something completely different, however, amplified that feeling. I have another story to tell, another outlet, a different way of thinking. HCH is very different from the Ashes books; it's much simpler, more streamlined, and since it was entirely new, made me go back to thinking about structure from a blank slate.

Turns out, that's just what I needed. Looking at the ball of plot and character of Book IV, I managed to untwist that pretzel very quickly, and it's already better.

So now my writing brain gets to rest while my editing brain takes over, and I can focus on improving instead of pure creation. Between Book IV and HCH, I've drafted a novel and a quarter since May. I don't know exactly when you'll get to see them, but I look forward more than ever to sharing them with you.