Starting Over

A new relationship, a new job, a new town--starting over is both tantalizing and terrifying. Starting work on a new novel stirs up the same mixed emotions. On one hand, I've got a really great idea for a sequel to Another Man's Treasure. This may be my best idea ever! I love my heroine, Audrey Nealon, and her estate sale business offers loads of opportunities for conflict and intrigue.

On the other hand, I've got about twenty pages written, and the fabulous idea is not playing along. Some days it lies there, inert, like a snoozing groundhog. Other days it runs away from me, darting and weaving and occasionally looking back over its shoulder to shout, "nyaa, nyaa." Is it any wonder that I often feel an overwhelming need to fold laundry, clean out closets, or spread crabgrass preventer on the lawn--anything rather than face the accusing eye of my laptop screen?

This will be my fifth novel (Sixth, if you count the one I ghostwrote for someone else. Don't ask. If I told you, I'd have to kill you.) But starting out never gets any easier. Do I even remember how to do this? I'm staring at a bowl full of stringy egg-whites wondering how I can ever beat them into meringue.

Already in this book, I've altered the subplot, recast some characters, and dumped a villain. I've deleted as many words as I've written. It's frustrating work, but necessary. Until I get the opening just right, I can't move on. But once I get that foundation--look out! The story will come tumbling out faster than I can write it down.

Until, that is, I reach that horrible bog know as the middle muddle.

But that's the subject of a future blog post.

I you haven't read the opening of Another Man's Treasure, you can read it here:
http://www.swhubbard.net/AnotherMansT...