Writing Fear

I've been struggling with writers block for over a week now and I'm determined that today I'm going to break through it--somehow.

The issue? I've recently decided I was going to have to go let my first novel go and that decision has prompted a freezing up of writer-MinervaJane. Sad but true.

Now, I have to say that I'll always hold a special place in my heart for that book.

It was my first. And I had such a great time living inside that daydream. I remember one summer in Virginia. Late august afteroons when I'd set my laptop up in the backyard and type away. Days lost in the world of those characters. My whole self full with their lives and tragedies.

But I just don't think my writing skills at the time were up to the task of realizing the story. Rereading sections that I wrote two or three years ago has been quite a shocker.

So.

I've been writing some short stories and have been on the verge of dipping into a new novel (a stack of notes already!) for over a year now. I promised myself this past New Years that I was going to set up a schedule of: short story; chapter; short story; chapter. Except this one story--Story Y, let's call it (creative, aren't I?)--is caught in my gullet.

Rod had an idea last night, though. An idea borrowed from our friend M: start writing the story from scratch--not even looking at the previous draft. You can always go back and mine thr first draft for content later, but for now, just rewrite from the beginning.

Today I'll try it. Because I have to have a draft ready by next Thursday for the group and I'm determined not to submit any more of that novel. I just can't go back to that thing anymore. Time to let some things pass. Some things go, no matter how bittersweet.