Madeleine Works on Story #2

I am writing Story #2, readers.

As always, it is a daunting task, and I have been putting it off for all the old reasons: where to begin?; so many thoughts in my head makes it confusing; so much to do!; I'm not getting it right! etc. etc.

These are all the old habits I am trying to break. Or perhaps they make up one old habit that I'm trying to break. Overthinking meets perfectionism meets self-doubt with a touch of laziness.

It is so much easier not to write than it is to write! But when I don't write I hate myself and feel worthless.

But today I am feeling good, because I already have almost 20 pages for Story #2. They are all pages I have written previously, but they are a start and provide some relief.

I decided to dive in. I know where the story begins and that's where I am starting.

The sentences are unpolished, the ideas are not connected, and on and on, but I will fix that in another draft. I am trying to write a quick first draft. Quick quick quick!

This seems like a crazy post, but it is a perfect reflection of my thought process as I am trying to write this (or any) new story.