When a book is flowing, it is nothing for me to spend 8-10 hours in a day working. I fall into the hole in the page, into my characters’ world and the day here IRL goes by without my noticing. If I needed any further validation that I have made the right decision to change out this story, I have it as of today. For the first time with this book, I have worked for nine hours today. Nine Hours. I’m back to loving my job and that feels great.
Part of me doesn’t even want to admit this ~ but I’m going to anyway. I’ve been writing. Why wouldn’t I want to admit that? Because I totally threw out everything I had written and, with only about 3 months before my deadline, decided to start over. From scratch. Which is more than a little scary.
The problem was that I had created this great plot and this wonderful storyline…for some character other than Carter Anne Kane. Putting Carter Anne into this plot and this storyline was forcing her to act and react in ways she wouldn’t actually do. I tried to keep on writing, forcing us both into boxes that didn’t fit us but it just wasn’t working. Finally, I emailed my love-of-words-and-all-things-written mentor/friend/former teacher and she gave me the pep talk I needed to find the courage to throw it all out and start over.
You know what? The story is flowing better than it has in weeks and weeks. Carter Anne is a character I like, and I think you’ll like. And her story is interesting and romantic without being too heavy or dully written. Hello! Isn’t that what it’s all about?
I’ll try to post more news and not only just the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget posts. If I don’t post often, though, at least you know where I am now. 
~ Pauline