by Samantha Fenton

It happens often enough: A writer taking a day or two break, which turns into a week of not writing, then two, and pretty soon your manuscript has been pushed off the table and into a drawer. Not good. Now you’ve lost all drive to work on the thing. You’re procrastinating, and have no desire to start on it again. Let me repeat: This is not good, and you know it.

It started off innocently enough. You did actually want to work on the book, but you had a lot going on. Or maybe you had hit a rut. Still, you had other things you needed to get done. You wanted to read that new book. You were to work on that hard scene tomorrow. You just took of one night because you were so tired, and you deserved one night off after all you’ve done.

But then what’s one more? Surly you could miss one more day. You really need to study, or work, or you just got a new computer you’re trying to figure out. And you’re really tired. One more day. You’ll work on it tomorrow. You want to work on it tomorrow.

But that meeting ran late. You’ve got to study. There was a band concert. Tomorrow.

And – surely – you’ve seen the rest of this picture. Working on your novel had been prioritized with all the other slush (if even important slush) you move through everyday. It was just another thing to do, and eventually you weren’t even excited about it. You didn’t even want to do it anymore. It’s just so much work write a novel. And now you’ve got no more forward momentum to get it done.

Snap out of it. You know where this train is headed. That’s right, failure. Failure in something you cared about. Failure to finish the thing you started. Procrastination and cowardice. A sad amount of grit and determined attitude.

I went through this phase in my first novel, and I believe it cost me a whole year. But that revise draft seemed like it would never end, you were in a really tough writing spot. So you stopped for awhile… and the rest is history.

Shame on you. We all have our highs and lows, but dig deep and find your grit. You already know it takes discipline and determination to write a novel. You knew this going into it. Are you a writer or not? If so, write the book.

Alternately titled Loosing Momentum: Snap Out of It.

Guest post contributed by Samantha Fenton. Samantha lives in Ridgefield, Washington on a beautiful ten acres filled with many beloved pets. Samantha is currently striving to traditionally publish, as well as enjoying her passion for golf.