It’s just me this time, I’m afraid, and in very grumbly form.  I am SO stuck.  I have tried all of Kate Hardy’s helpful suggestions for getting past a block, but nothing is working.  I don’t usually hit this stage until Chapter 7, but have been squeezing out pages since Chapter 4 and am still ploughed deep into the sand.   I know what I need to do (just write through it) but somehow just can’t bring myself to it.  Carrots, sticks … none of them are working, last night I gave up altogether and decided I might as well update the blog if nothing else. 

To make matters worse, I have had some lovely reviews for Promoted: To Wife and Mother, at Romance Junkies, Cataromance and  Merrimon.  On one level, of course, this is wonderful.  I’m thrilled that people have read and enjoyed the book so much, and very grateful to those who have taken the trouble to review it.  On another level, though, it just makes me panic and think that I’ll never be able to write a book like that again.  I know, I know … I need to pull myself together, get a grip, just get ON with it, as my mother would surely tell me if she knew what an appalling fuss I am making about nothing.  I think I have a clear idea about my characters, and the story seems to hang together, so there’s no obvious reason for this carry-on other than my own susceptibility to distractions and general lack of self-discipline. 

Enough of all this whingeing, though.  Today marks a fresh start.   By the time I come back, I will have caught up on my timetable, nay, I’ll be ahead of myself, and I will be totally focussed on the book.  (Oh, yes, and I’ll be eating sensibly, exercising regularly and if anyone ever suggests going out for a drink, I’ll be the one saying “no, thanks, I’d rather stay in with a glass of water and work”)  In the meantime, why not take a trip to the Harlequin Romance Authors blog where Jennie Adams is under the spotlight this month, not only sounding enviably positive but also offering a copy of her latest book – it’s all a lot more fun than here!