It’s been a difficult road back. But at long last, I’ve hung up my announcer’s mic and returned to the game zone… to stalk the running novel.
Yes, after a couple months of constructing an outline skeleton, I began the principal writing for my untitled second novel last night. It was exciting to finally get cracking after almost a three year layoff from original novel writing (not counting editing, revisions, blogs, or short stories).
I’ve read other writers talk about how there’s this mysterious quality about getting into a vast universe of characters and storyline, and I’d agree with it being a total natural high… especially if your characters aren’t 100% sane! Imagination is a fantastic drug, and damn if I didn’t miss this type of fix.
Behind it all, I’ve got a lot more enthusiasm and focus this go-round than I did with my first novel. Of course, that should be a given, as I’ve totally evolved from the bleary eyed lad who started The Art of Getting Bent way back in late 2000. However, I’m reasonably certain this one will take me a fraction of the time to write. There will be no laboring over this. Brothers learn from their mistakes.
Of course, the hard work has barely started, but it’s all good because I know I’m in the zone. Nothing but self-fulfilling prophecies lie ahead. Peace.