You know you have a problem when your Aspie teen with anxiety issues and a video game addiction is further ahead on his novel that you are on yours. I swear I am never yelling at him again for his lack of motivation.
Got back to my novel after days of wasting my time and discovered I needed help with the continuity, even in as small a book as mine. What was the name of that lady in chapter 2? What did the heroine say to her friend in chapter 5? So I had to go back and re-read what I had written so far, a project strewn with the landmines of self-criticism. Luckily I could still tolerate the story I had written so far, so I went ahead and worked on chapter 10.
If I had to do some introspection, I guess I would say that the reason I am not in a hurry to finish the book is because once it is done I will have to show it to people and that prospect freaks me out.
Water, No Ice 
I understand exactly what you’re saying. It’s never easy to be away from your writing and expect to pick up where you left off. The longer you’re away from the project, the more you have to step back, reread, regroup and regain your footing.
Personally, I can’t wait until I’m done with my first draft (which will be soon). I’ve been writing forward without looking back specifically to avoid the doubt, the questions, the logic. Between the first and second draft, I’ll reread, evaluate, and pull everything apart and put things into “a better order.” Then I’ll have something to really work with. But that’s me; that’s my method. I see moving forward as the tactic for me. I know I’ve got some issues that will have to be dealt with, but they won’t be dealt with until my “entire thought” is put down on paper. They are merely obstacles along the route that I have to roll over or swerve around for now. They will be addressed later.
I’m so lucky to have a Tuesday evening writers’ group that is a working group (no critiques). I know I have a 3-hour time frame each week during which I can move forward even if I’ve had to neglect the draft during the time in between. It has really made all the difference for me, and I am grateful to the young lady who set up the group and the library that so readily and happily hosts us. I have a lovely 20 minute drive down a long and winding country road, and it’s a lovely way to clear my head of the day’s work and get myself ready for “a writing date.” I wish you could find something like that. If you’re interested, check Meetup.com in your area. You never know what you’ll find.
Yes, you will have to have people read it. Alpha readers. Beta readers. Revise, revise, revise. It’s all part of the serious writer’s toolbox. 🙂 But don’t worry about that until you’re ready for it. Until then, just enjoy the process!
As for your son, good for him! Is it a challenge between the two of you, or have you inspired him? 🙂
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I think he inspired me! He is writing it as a serialized novel and is almost done with the intro at 10,000 + words!
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An intro at 10,000+ words? That’s … a LOT of introduction!
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I think by the time he is done, it will be more..he has a unique idea of what an intro is. I’ve finally made him write an intro to the book itself, so his vision is clear to his readers. Will put up both on wattpad soon.
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