Writer’s Shop Talk: Overcoming Setbacks and Embracing the Creative Process

Yesterday was a pretty productive day for Reunion: Coda. I fixed a pesky literary error that could’ve been a real headache later on, so now the path to finishing the novel is a lot clearer. On top of that, I wrote two short scenes that brought me closer to wrapping up the story. Super exciting progress!

But, of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I spent the whole afternoon writing, taking breaks here and there, and then continued well into the night. Wednesday’s mistakes meant I had to fix a bunch of stuff instead of adding new material. I was so determined to make up for lost time that I worked until 1 AM.

I went to bed with the unrealistic idea that I could ignore Stephen King’s advice to take weekends off from the grind of creative writing and work on my manuscript, at least for a little while today. However, I’ve been awake for at least three hours, and it seems like that idea was foolish. I’m still battling a cold, and the added sleep deprivation is draining the little energy I had this morning from two cups of Maxwell House instant coffee.

So here I am, groggy and fighting off a cold, with the realization that Stephen King might actually know what he’s talking about. As tempting as it is to rush to the finish line and finally write “The End” after nearly two years of blood, sweat, and caffeinated tears, I need to remember that endings are the toughest part of a novel to write. If I rush it, I might just end up with the literary equivalent of a half-baked soufflé—impressive at first glance but ultimately deflated and disappointing.

No, I must resist the siren call of a quick resolution and instead let the story simmer to perfection. After all, what’s another month or two (or three?) after all this time? Plus, a good book, like a good meal, deserves a spectacular finale. And with that, I’m off to brew another cup of coffee and see if I can coax my body into relaxing and savoring this South Florida Saturday at home. Cheers to not sabotaging two years’ worth of hard work with a hasty ending!