I hate to say to myself, 'I told you so', but here I go again. I stopped working on my latest novel for a week and now I can't get my mind to recognize it anymore. I've re-read the first 150 pages and there's a lot I like, but it doesn't inspire further ideas or excitement about the scenes I already have planned out. I have to keep referencing back to my character sheets because I don't recall certain details of them anymore. The worst part? I just don't care.
I know the apathy towards my story happens every time I take too long a break. I've heard many writers say the same thing, that once they stop tending that fire it peters out and no amount of coaxing will bring it back. Some breaks are unavoidable, most are unintentional. I kept writing during this last one, just not about my novel. I wrote a short story and a few flash writing challenges. But then when I returned to my novel I found it pale and listless.
But all is not lost. I still like the core premise of the story, a teen derives psychic like abilities from an unexpected source, but I want to handle it differently. I want less school involved and more action. I'll work that out this week after giving the main character another thorough once over. The main character's ability hinges on helping or magnifying others' abilities so I want to focus on who this leads to her assuming a leadership role even though it is the last thing she wants. She doesn't want to be responsible for others. She has to learn that most people just need a little help to achieve greatness and if she can, she should be there for them.
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