One Step Forward, Two Some Other Way

Writing four books a year is something new to me. When I try new things, I make mistakes and screw up and generally scuff my knees and cuss and swear at least once or twice. (We shan’t speak about me re-learning how to ride a bike as an adult, aka: the mailbox incident, hmmm?)

In March I found myself shuffling book deadlines that looked like this:

• Finish book #7: MAGIC ON THE LINE, send to editor
• Outline book #8 of the Allie Beckstrom series
• Receive page proofs for DEAD IRON
• Write on book#8 Allie Beckstrom series
• Proof DEAD IRON, send to editor
• Write on book#8 Allie Beckstrom series
• Receive revision letter MAGIC ON THE LINE
• Revise MAGIC ON THE LINE, send to editor (some of this fell into April)

This week, I’m back to writing book #8 of the Allie Beckstrom series. I opened the file, all ready to get typing and discovered…..

…..it’s wrong.  I started the book in the wrong place.  More than that, I don’t think the tone, the scene, or the plot progression fit.  I’ll likely throw out what I have written so far.

It’s not the first time this has happened. Being a writer means making mistakes, learning how to fix and accept them, and moving on beyond them. With more deadlines than I can shake a stick at, it also means I need to learn how to recognize mistakes and recover from them as quickly as possible.

I think I’m on the right foot now with book #8. Of course I don’t know that for sure….won’t know it until the book is finished and turned in to my editor. But I like this start.  It feels right, and seems to be falling together faster and easier than the previous version.  And that is a Very Good Thing. 🙂