Starting to write a new novel is hard for me. One reason is that I have probably just completed one, which I spent at least several months, maybe even years, writing. So to set aside that world and move on to another isn't easy. Plus there's that word count. If I just spent the last year reaching 10k, then 20k, then 30, 40, 50, etc., it is so freakin' hard to look at a blank screen and start over with zero words. So hard.
Last week, I sent in a novel to my editor. It's part of my middle grade series, but it was on a deadline, so that had been my priority the last few months. This week, I pulled out a novel that I'd written back in 2011 for a contract, but it was (very wisely) pushed aside for The Fallout, the sequel to The Compound. So this novel had been sitting with my agent and we recently had a long conversation about what it needed. It took me a few days to process his thoughts, but then I started revising, ended up adding about 7000 words, and sent it back to my agent on Monday. I kinda twiddled my thumbs, then pulled out a picture book that had come close soooo many times and spent Monday revising that and sent it to my agent as well.
Then came Tuesday...what to do?
I've had a title kicking around in my head for almost fifteen years. I had no idea if the title was for a YA or MG or what and never had any idea what to do with it. So Tuesday I typed out the title on the blank screen and started writing a new YA. This was three days ago. A little while ago, I just hit 11,000 words. I have no idea what's going on with me, but yesterday I literally typed until my vision started swimming and I knew I was gonna get a migraine if I didn't stop. This story, after only three days, is consuming me. I think about it in the shower, when I'm cooking, when I'm running. It won't let me go. So I'm gonna just keep typing and see what happens. I will let you know.