The creative process is a weird thing...

Think about it.  You're out for a walk when a great idea for a book hits you.  Your mind begins churning out all these different scenarios your hero can get themselves into like it's an everyday function of the brain.  Characters develop right before your eyes and settings blossom all around you like you're actually walking through an enchanted forest or deserted tundra.  You come up with family lineages of your protagonist, who they will marry, the stories their children could have in future writings.  You've got this whole world in your head, so you rush home to write it down and by the time you get yourself a blank piece of paper, a notebook, a computer, you put the figurative pen to paper and can think of nothing.

 Everything you've been dreaming about for the past fifteen minutes or so is gone.  Well, it's still there in your mind, but it's fading and it's fading fast.  It's not the in-depth history that it once was, but more like a few character names and maybe a glimpse of the setting.  It is at that moment when you must decide, "do I try to write this?"

And unfortunately, most times, the answer is "No."  Because creation is really hard.  Trying to build an entire world and have it make sense is tough.  Maybe that's why I've been finding it so hard to wrap up work on a fantasy trilogy I've been working on for the past nine years.  Just when I think I've got it right, something pops up like I've messed up the timeline or I've made it nighttime when it's supposed to be daytime.  Or the clothes someone is wearing change without explanation.  Stuff like that matters, especially when you're getting ready to publish.  Keeping everything consistent is the biggest hurdle I feel I've had to overcome (well, I actually haven't even overcome it yet), and it almost takes the fun out of the "creative process".

So why am I sharing this?  

Because if you say "yes" to "do I try to write this," you will undoubtedly experience some of the most frustrating times of your life.  That might sound like an exaggeration, but when you're warring with your brain day in and day out, it can really get you down.  But then there's the moment when you write a really good line, or your character says something profound, or you've found the perfect way to describe the sunset, and everything falls into place.  You get a rush, a burst of confidence, and for a blissful moment, you think "I've done it."  And maybe that's only when you write the first chapter, page, or paragraph.  But a book is made up of many moments like that, so don't let all the discouragement get you down.

Keep on writing.  Keep on creating.  It's something I tell myself every day.

Arms around,

S.B.