A Blank Sheet of Paper

It feels good to get a huge project done, and finally move on. There is a little bit of pain as you let go, but it is a relief that what you worked so hard on is going out to the world. There is a tiny bit of anxiety there as well, as you wait to see what people feel about your work. You need to learn that "letting go" skill, and it applies to projects, negative experiences, life issues, and even project setbacks.

What you are looking at next is a blank sheet of paper.

It's a wonderful feeling, full of potential and excitement. It is also a bit intimidating, because you are used to working through a novel, and now you have nothing.

Let's not talk about the backlog, shall we?

Or let's. Everyone has a bucket-list of half-completed works, and I have a romance novel (CLS Romance project) that I am letting sit for a while. I need perspective on it, and I shall get back to this when it's time. I am sure when the magic returns this will be done in a weekend or two, and then it shall be set free for all the world to love. I am certain this shall happen, because this is exactly what happened with my last book, so I don't stress myself out about it.

But a blank sheet of paper. Wow.

It's like you are getting ready for a long road trip, and it's the night before you leave. You can't sleep. All your stuff is packed. You went to the store and you have snacks and drinks. You picked out your clothes and laid them out. You put together your bathroom bag. The car is gassed up. Your road music mix is set. You remembered to pack the chargers. You are ready.

And you can't sleep.

It is so exciting. Even if you don't know where you'll end up, the feeling of potential and adventure is real. You are going somewhere, and one day you will share your trip with the entire world. It will be a lot of work, since the drive is very long, but the trip itself will also be a huge part of the adventure. You will completely enjoy every minute, every hardship, and every joyous moment because this is not just a vacation - it is a survival course where you will beat all of those challenges and have fun despite all of the screw ups and missed turns along the way.

Vacations are not just getting away, they are acts of will that prove we are better than anything life can throw at us. We can have fun even though the car broke down, someone got sick, and despite every 'ruin the trip' thing that happens - we refuse those minor inconveniences to spoil the trip for us, and we make a conscious act of will to enjoy ourselves anyways. It is the act of denying negativity its victory, and in a way we are stronger people for saying, "despite all that, we had fun."

Writing is the same way. Despite all our past failures, terrible reviews, problems with the store, hang ups, life, problems, cold starts, grammar mistakes, obvious screw ups, social media negativity, and every other negative piece of crap life throws our way - we ignore them. We ignore them because nothing is going to ruin the experience of writing this book, getting to where we want to be, the long process of editing (going home), and finally telling the world about what we have done. Like our vacation, we are going to enjoy every part of writing that next book, because to do so is to deny the negative and prove we are stronger people and better writers.

So that blank sheet of paper sits before you. You think about it when you are away from your computer. It calls to you. You know you are ready. Your schedule is cleared, and your mind ready to begin. It is the night before your adventure begins and...you can't sleep.

Adventure awaits on that next page. Where will it take you? How will you overcome the difficulties and prove yourself stronger?

And most importantly...where will you go?