Jenny! All those reasons make a lot of sense, wow. Thank god I'm not going crazy. I guess I expected to not be affected by that, just keep my head down and write. In the beginning, it was: "Let's try this crazy thang!" It's not quite like that now, LOL. Maybe I need to fool myself into that mindset again. Thanks, hon! You always know how to make me feel better. <3

Kathy, I think it DOES get harder as you go on.

You have more readers now. People notice now if a story falls flat. They comment on it and they review it. And it is all so public. When you first get started, the 50 people who know who you are act nice, and the world is very small. But then, you become more discoverable and the number of zeroes on the end goes up - 500 people, 1000...5000. This is all very exciting, but the pressure is much higher as time goes on than it was in the begging.

You know more now too. That means you dream up more complext books that are more difficult to write.

You've got this, girl. I know you do. But it feels harder because it IS. 🙂

Hang in there, Julie! You're going to be awesome at it!

Bwahaha...wrong! Oh, some things are easier...now I have a fab editor (ahem, Julie!), a fab cover artist, and a slew of supportive fellow authors. (Many of whom are here!). But what I find most discouraging (and fear-inducing) is that first-draft writing has gotten HARDER, not easier! I've published 10 pieces of fiction over the past 5 years (novels, novellas, a short story)...so, WTH? I just don't get it, but...arghhh, getting that first draft down takes everything I have and it's such slow going.

Can anyone tell me why??? *Charlie Brown takes the empty stage with a question* 😉 Thanks, guys!

Not too far after all, eh, Fae!

Thank you Jenny! Mwah!

The thing about excuses...they will always be there.
When I started writing, I worked full time, had 3 small kids and we were a busy household. But I found 30 min to work on something every day. Keep a notebook handy and write down your thoughts or some sentences...get up a little bit earlier, or find an excuse to add on a 'coffee' break when you're out grocery shopping and bring your laptop or notebook (that's what I often did).
You've got this. Eventually, you'll find the excuses aren't worth it anymore. Good luck!

Sometimes life gets in the way - there's nothing we can do about that. We have to remember we can't do it all...when we try, something always ends up with the short end of the stick. Do your best with what you have right now!

Erryn, you've got this! 30k is a lot to write in a month! Be proud of that!