Dana Leigh asked Lauren K. Denton:

I'm working on my second book. The first was published a year and a half ago. I'm struggling to find the time and energy to get the second book finished it finished. Any good advice for getting over the hump?

Lauren K. Denton Hi Dana! That second book is so hard. My gut answer for you is to try to remember why you wanted to write in the first place. What compelled you to return to the page (or keyboard) again and again for that first book? If part of your hesitation and slump is the fear of disappointing readers or something along the lines of "What if no one likes it?!" (that ran through my mind a time or two;) ) I'll just repeat what I've heard over and over from authors--Write what YOU enjoy. You are the first reader of your story and if you're interested and intrigued and entertained, chances are your readers will be too.

There's also a lot of validity in that old piece of advice, "Butt in chair." Procrastination is from the devil in my opinion, and the best way to finish a story is to force yourself to sit in the chair and get the words down. You can't edit a blank page, but you can edit and revise and polish rough drafts.

Best of luck to you!!

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