Starting Over--The writing process of my next novel.

My writing space as I ponder my next novel and what to do with the 30,388 words I've already written.

She told me “every novel is different.” I had to agree to a point, but I have always tried to discipline myself as an author to complete each stage of creative writing process before starting the next. Always finish the rough draft before moving on to the First Draft. And then to editing. And then rewriting. Someone else once warned me that if I didn’t work that way, I’d never get the book finished. To this triple Pisces who has always had trouble finishing things, such a warning came with a big red flag.

This new title, "In Them Thar’ Rivers," has thrown my attempt at orderliness out the

window. I blame myself because, with the rush of my selling schedule and an illness, I

stopped writing it at 30,388 words to relieve my stress level. Last week, when I decided

to get back on the bicycle, I printed those many pages, read them and tore the thing

apart. Found myself literally tearing pages in two and trying to stick them in different

sequences. Manual cut-n-paste. The forerunner of my rough draft was demolished.

Remodeling was not an option. This is a gut job.

The story line is good. There are some very well-written scenes. Five characters show

great potential. But… here I am at page I, starting my broken process all over again.

Hoping I finish.