I have a new project.

Of course, it’s also a not so new project. I gave my very first manuscript a quick read-through this weekend. Then I hit the delete command. It’s gone. But not forever.

I’ve always thought A Twist of Fate was my most creative story idea, and it is unique for the romance genre because the hero and heroine are married and in their early forties. I love these characters like they were real people. So I have decided to take the skills I’ve learned over the years I’ve been writing and recreate their story from scratch. Once I made that decision, it was like embracing an old friend.

With the frustration that comes with waiting and waiting as I try to publish, I sometimes lose my enthusiasm. My critique group says I write like the Energizer Bunny. I probably average 20,000 words a month. But the last two months, I was struggling to put new words on the page. I’ve always preferred editing and revising to churning out new material. And my frustration just gave me an excuse to avoid what I don’t consider my favorite part of writing.

Once I made the decision to try and write this story again, I found my enthusiasm — in bushel baskets. I’m back to what it was like when I first wrote the book. I’m happy to sit at my laptop and type away despite anything else that’s going on around me. I needed a shot of motivation. This first story provided it.

Wish me luck.