Will it be done already?

Working on my second novel, I am at the point where I just want it to be finished. I am still on the adrenaline rush of having published my first novel and I want to keep the ball rolling. I know what comes next and I know how it will end, it is just taking so damn long to get there.

I feel like at points in the writing I am simply trying to power through to get to the next plot point in my outline. I wonder if this is why the third books of some series seem to end abruptly or seem rushed. This feeling of needing to see the end, of needing to have the final product in your hands, is that what drives us to just get it done? And sometimes at the expense of the writing?

I am spending every free moment I can on the story—forcing myself to write. There is more of a deadline feel with this second one. If people liked my first novel, they will want to read my second one, and to keep them interested I have to finish it—and soon.

This novel will have a little more to it as well, since I want to incorporate illustrations and therefore need to find someone to do that, which means it will take even longer.

I am trying every trick I can think of to slow myself down a little and keep myself interested to make sure the story is unfolding as it should:

1. I am working on different parts of the story rather than working in chronological order. This allows me to work on scenes that might excite me and help get the creative juices flowing.

2. I am creating soundtracks for certain events to keep me upbeat. This way, whenever I hear the song, I am reminded of the story.

3. I am researching and pulling images from the internet to help create more imagery and give me a concrete vision of the story as it is written.

But most important of all, I get as much inspiration from my brother as I can. After all, this is his story.

Stay tuned for a few sneak peek excerpts!