In Which I Panic and Start a New Series

I have been working on my Strathbridge Mystery series since November, and everything felt like it was going according to plan.

Then, at the end of April, I hit a wall.

Book three was outlined. I knew exactly what was going to happen, but I had no interest in writing it.

So, I stepped away and wrote a short story instead.

It came in at a bout 2,500 words, with a twist I'm quite fond of. A few readers are giving feedback now, so I can polish it up before finding a market for it. Short fiction isn't my natural lane, but I do enjoy it.

Unfortunately, the short break didn't fix the problem.

I went back to book three only to find myself still stuck. Ten thousand words in, and crawling forward a few hundred words a day. They weren't even good words.

I decided something more drastic than a short story was in order. I started a new series.

It's nothing like Strathbridge.

Strathbridge is a small-town mystery; Longstride Mysteries take place in a big city.

Strathbridge has a female sleuth; Longstride's is male.

Strathbridge is written in third person; Longstride in first.

Strathbridge is a contemporary cozy; Longstride leans into soft-fantasy.

The only thing they share is the mystery.

And, it's working. I'm back up to over a thousand words a day without forcing it.

I'm feeling more excited to get back to Strathbridge soon too.

Turns out I didn't need to torture myself to push through.

I just needed to change gears.

And given my glacially slow progress writing book three, this approach might actually get it done sooner.