I've Got...Gasp...Not Me. Writer's Block?

MUSE MONDAY

A setting in The Art of Love and MurderAt least I think that's what I've got. I've never had it so I'm not sure what it feels like, but it sure looks like Writer's Block. I found myself lost, not able to get from chapter fourteen to chapter sixteen in the second book of the series I'm writing. Wandering around the house, glassy-eyed and moaning, my son stopped me and said "Mom, I'm a lyricist not an author, but it would seem to me you have to write chapter fifteen to make that bridge." Louder moans from me.

True, my writing time has been sporadic for the last two months. It all started when we took a vacation, stayed a couple of days longer than we should have and came back to harvest season on the farm in full swing. Some days, I'm lucky to get a half hour to myself to write. But, really, I don't think that's the whole problem.

Phoebe saw prong horn while riding with MasonIt's all Chance's fault. Chance is the character in the first book of the series, The Art of Love and Murder. He's a sheriff and a strong, take charge kind of guy. Now I'm writing the second book in the series, Southwest of Love and Murder, and his twin brother, Mason, is the main male character. When Mason got into trouble, Chance bolted from his honeymoon in Mexico to come to his brother's aid. Trouble is he's stealing Phoebe's story out from under her. She's the main female character. With Chance around, Phoebe isn't acting as she should, and I  have no idea why the heck the bad guy is doing what he's doing.

The story has been coughing and jerking along until it died at chapter fifteen.

It took me a few days to figure this out. Now, the solution seems clear - stall Chance in Mexico for as long
Landscape near Mason's ranchas possible and let Phoebe take over. Simple enough? Well, I have to go back several chapters and rewrite hunks of the story to set this up properly.

I sure hope this is the cure. Hard to know when I haven't experienced the ailment before. Wish me luck.