Short note: I’ll be updating only on Mondays from now on until I think it’s a good idea to update twice a week again. Fridays are busy days, and I’m lucky if I can find the time to do my regular writing. So Mondays it is.

It happened.

Nearly 30K words into my novel. I couldn’t tell if I was halfway done or 3/4 done. I might have to write an additional 10K or 20K words just so I can have the final showdown and wrap up everything. That shouldn’t be too hard. Just keep going as I am, keeping in mind that I’m writing from an eleven-year-old male’s POV.

Then the wriggling happened. A project put on the back burner for the timebeing started to poke my brain.

Hey. Hey, remember me?

Yes, I do. You’ve been with me for nearly six years now. You’re kind of a permanent fixture in my life.

I felt that spark of an idea you got when you read a synopsis of that Anne Bishop novel. Pretty great idea, huh?

Yep. She’s an author I wouldn’t mind following. There are so few authors I want to keep an eye on these days.

While you were thinking of checking out that book from the library, a part of that thought snapped off and traveled all the way to that section of your brain that comes up with all these story ideas.

Usually happens, yes. Happens with all other writers. I like to call it symbiotic creativity.

Mm-hm. Well, it just so happens that there’s a character who could use this idea. It would round out his character nicely. Give him more substance.

I’ll file it away.

But this is so interesting! Don’t you remember how excited you got when you kept coming up with ideas for me? Every little thing you found had to be imported to me, no matter what it was. Some newly discovered plant or clue about animal behavior–it had to be a part of me in some way. But now you’re… you’re concentrating on this one project. You’re sticking to your plan. You’re… finishing it. What the hell?

It’s refreshing!

But I’m being ignored! And so are all the other projects!

But I’m actually going to finish something for once! Aren’t you excited?

No! I’m being ignored!

So will this project if I decide to work on you.

At least you’ll pay attention to me. For a while.

And the cycle begins anew. Look… please, be happy for me. I’m finally going to finish something. It’s a rough first draft, and a lot of work will be needed to make it just right. But I’m finishing something! You know how long it’s been since I’ve finished something longer than 10K words? That novel I wrote when I was 9 was the only thing I’d finished. Dammit, this thing has an actual plot! I’m proud of myself!

Okay, calm down. It’s just that… I’m… I’m lonely…

I know, dear.

We had so much fun. I mean, you’d stay up past midnight, just pacing the room, whispering into your digital voice recorder so you didn’t wake up your husband, spilling out all the ideas from your head.

That’s not a pleasant image.

I’m trying to be artistic.

Let’s get back to the issue at hand. I’m writing the first draft of this middle-grade novel. The second draft will take a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it. But when I’m finished with this first draft, I’ll get to you. I will work on you. I will think of you when I’m not working on you. I will dedicate nearly every waking hour to you… while I’m brainstorming ways to improve the second draft for this first novel.

Damn!

You should be used to this by now. I’m always thinking of each project in some manner. I’ve thought of you from time to time. But a current project stays in the front of my mind. And for the first time in several years, it’s staying there, never budging for another. I hope it stays that way.

Okay. I see where you’re coming from. But I’m going to keep bugging you until you write me.

I just said that a moment ago.

Oh.

Get back to where you were and let me write.