My Greatest Weakness as a Writer

I probably have a million weaknesses when it comes to writing. I'm sure all writers do, and those who say they don't are probably lying to you, or themselves. It's not an easy task, writing. It's a gruelling yet exhilarating process. Even if you're writing a silly romance novel, it's part of you. Those are your words, no one else's. And they matter to you. So much that you obsesses over them, bite your nails over them. And the very idea of someone else reading them - terrifying.

But I'm getting off track here. What I'm trying to say is that writing makes you aware, painfully aware, of just how crap you are. Of course, it also makes you aware of just how brilliant you are. And when I'm writing, my weaknesses show like a flashing red light, reminding me that witty and charming dialogue is nice enough, but plots need thickening and characters need kicking in the ass.

I'm too good to my characters. I don't like to make them suffer. This isn't my greatest weakness though, albeit it is one of them.

No my greatest weakness is that I believe in love. I mean like I BELIEVE IN IT. Maybe it's because I married the first man I ever fell in love with, or maybe it's because I'm a victim of a happy childhood. My parents were loving and happy and their relationship was amazing. Had my mom not passed away, I have no doubt that they would have been together until they were withered and old - but blissfully happy.

Either way, in my head falling in love once means falling in love forever. True love never ends and happy endings are oh so real. Maybe I'm deluded. Maybe I'm living on another planet. But love is powerful and I, well I love it.

Why does this make me weak? Because when I'm writing a love story, and let's face it, I'm always writing a love story, I can never really bring myself to break my characters' hearts. I can't break apart people who are in love. It seems so so wrong.

Case in point, the novel I'm working on right now. My protagonist is falling in love with the completely wrong guy. These two are NOT supposed to end up together. If they do it will be all sorts of weird and scandalous. But I can't seem to pull her out of it. It'd be better for her, better for him, better for their families, and better for a whole bloody country if they are not together.

But my word, she loves him. And love is supposed to be forever damn it!

It's a nightmare.

The good news is that the book isn't done, no where near it, and maybe just maybe I'll find away to make them part ways. Maybe there's another, better guy waiting for her. Someone who won't complicate her life so heinously. Maybe the story will evolve and it will right itself and end perfectly. I mean, just look at Starkissed. When I started that one (SPOILER ALERT) Sydney was meant for Colin...destined for him...and look how that turned out.

But until then I'm spinning around in circles trying to write myself out of this love story, and I have no idea how.

So there it is people, my greatest weakness as a writer. I believe in never ending, life shattering, heart stopping love. Of course, this could be my greatest strength as well. I mean what's better than a book with a proper 'they lived happily ever after' ending?

Now I've confessed mine, it's time to confess yours. Writers out there, what is your greatest weakness?