I’ve been trying something new for the past month. I wanted to wait until week 4 to talk about it just in case I completely bailed on it after the second week. It’s a program called the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and it’s been around for over thirty years. The goal is to help people unlock their creativity by reveling in the joys of everyday life and removing any mental blocks. Some components of the program include ‘morning pages’ and ‘artist dates’ to inspire personal development (parts that make it clear the author did not have young children when she wrote the book).
I admit I’m not really the target audience for this. I’ve been writing steadily for the past two years and completed three books in about eighteen months, so I wouldn’t consider myself to be a blocked creative. However, I am trying to switch genres for my next novel. There’s an idea percolating that would be a great YA fantasy book, but right now it’s just a general concept and some vibes, no plot. I haven’t written anything with magic in it since 2018, and I’m a little rusty. I picked up the program in the hopes that it will get things flowing again.
It’s been going fine. I don’t love it, don’t hate it, but I’m still waiting for my burst of genius. There’s still 8 weeks left, so maybe it will hit at the end. I figure it can’t hurt to keep going, but I’m also a bit salty about the fact that week 4 is a reading diet. Yep, no books for a WEEK. I’m losing my mind. Apparently, it’s supposed to quiet outside voices and nurture my own narrative. Instead of falling into someone else’s story, I’m meant to be worldbuilding my own.
What have I been doing with my down time instead? Vacuuming all the baseboards in my house. Pulling ivy out of my neglected hedges. Bothering my husband while he’s in meetings. Submitting a short story to a 100-word writing contest. Working out. Writing this blog post. Reorganizing my kids’ toys and clothes. Realizing that I’m much more productive in the real world when I’m not getting lost in fiction, but also crankier. At least I’ve incorporated all my beta reader feedback for my YA suspense book this week and it’s almost ready to send to my agent! But as for the new fantasy story: nada.
Maybe my attention is split between too many projects already. My agent and I are trying to get WHAT I WOULD DO FOR YOU ready to go out on submission, and I’m finishing up GYBE. Just like with kids, maybe I max out at two. Maybe I’m still too focused on GYBE to move on. Maybe sharing the blurb draft with you all to get excited about this project with me will help! Here ya go:
When a tropical storm rips through a small North Carolina town, Sydney finds her prayers to return to the water answered with a washed-up sailboat free for the stealing. She and her best friend, Boone, plan to hide it, fix it up, sail away, and leave their dysfunctional families behind. The sudden arrival of Callum, who is still fixated on Sydney from their liveaboard days, and the need for under-the-table cash motivates the three teens to get crew jobs on board a luxury boat, Vitamin Sea, captained by a young couple trying to grow their vlogging channel.
After a dive for sunken treasure uncovers a body, everyone tries to reconcile memories during Sydney’s mom’s funeral five years ago to solve the new murder case. With all eyes (and cameras) on Vitamin Sea, nobody expects a member of the crew to disappear without a trace during the sheriff’s investigation. The swirling hurricane of crimes past and present—including their own—bears down as Sydney, Boone, and Callum fight to uncover the truth before one of them is next.
GYBE is a 77,000-word YA suspense novel and a great match for fans of the hit Netflix show Outer Banks. Having lived aboard a sailboat for four years on the North Carolina coast, I hope to bring a unique perspective and authenticity to the story.
Let me know what you think!
Love,
Taylor