We’ve been having cold, rainy weather in Chicagoland these past few days, and I’ve picked up a handful of cheesy teen horror books from the ’90s about spooky houses and cursed families, so I’ve been finding myself wanting to return to Rosewood Manor. The characters of my haunted house story have been nagging at me to return to them, and I find myself somewhat at a loss. Ever since I pushed myself to finish Soulless with pretty good success, I’ve been wanting to “stay the course” on my other projects, as well. This means not giving into the urge to dig Rosewood back up again, not until I finish the first draft of Madeline. I know Rosewood will still be there, but, here’s the thing: you always kind of worry that, if you put it off, it will go away by the time you get to it. Follow the Muse, they say, for she is a fickle beast indeed. But what if we’re able to wrangle our Muse into a more cooperative state?
The funny thing about this is that Madeline is pretty much a haunted house story, too, just a little bit different, as it’s a period piece, while Rosewood is modern. I think that’s why I feel an odd sense of urgency to finish it, as though the modern themes will somehow become obsolete in the next few months, which is absurd. If the themes were to somehow lose their punch, then they were never really very good themes to begin with, were they?
So, just as with Soulless, I will plow forward with Madeline, with Rosewood as my finish line. Get this book out, you can work on that other one. Of course, by then, it’ll probably be November, time to work on Heartless, as well as getting World Unknown Review out in December, and then I can work on Rosewood….if something else doesn’t come along and take its place. Diligence. Patience. Staying the course. One of the hardest things I’ve had to get used to with my writing, but something I’m finding that, if I stick with it, it yields the best results.
And I didn’t even mention all the short stories buzzing in my brain right now, either. Yeah. My muse is definitely working overtime. Next time I start to feel like I’m not “doing enough,” I’m pulling up this post to remind myself otherwise!
What have you been working on lately? Does colder, rainier, more autumnal weather set your muse flying, or does it retreat somewhere nice and cozy with a big mug of hot tea or cider? How do you contend with various projects wanting attention all at once?
L.S. Engler 
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