New Year, New Challenges

[davidbcoe]

Four weeks into the New Year, and while I am on pace with the work schedule I set for myself, I am also struggling with my current project.  Creativity is not always something one can force, and right now I am trying to make myself come up with ideas for two new books.  Why?  I need to get in proposals to my publisher so that I can get to work on

Comments

[arhyalon]

Boy, I feel for you. My only suggestion is one I got from Gene Wolfe...he said cut down on socializing, up the exercise...a day or two of walking and yard work without the telephone and TV really gets the imagination flowing, he says.

Sometimes, it works. ;-)

[davidbcoe]

Thanks, Jagi. Exercise is part of my daily routine, but I do think that finding another way to occupy my thoughts for a few days is probably a good idea. I have a couple of short pieces to work on, and I can always do my taxes....

[arhyalon]

I often find that if I do something else and come back to a project, I do better at it.

I am hoping that this will be the case with my current WIP, now that I am back from China.

[davidbcoe]

I've been fortunate in that way, too -- my editor has always been willing to roll with me as my outlines shift and storylines take off in new directions. My main problem right now is simply figuring out what these next books are going to be about. As I say, I know generally what I want to do, but usually by now I've got plot lines in mind, and this time they're proving elusive. Thanks for the sympathy. I'm grateful.

Separate topic: Do you ever go to Marcon in Columbus? Looks like I'm going to be a Special Guest there this spring. It would be great to see you.

[davidbcoe]

Will certainly be in Toronto. Still deciding between WorldCon and DragonCon.