In the Muddle of a Book

There are times when you have an idea that is so good, it grabs you by the scruff of your neck and won't let go -- until you come to a dead end and it runs for the exit. But it's left in a file on your desktop, lurking there, snagging your cursor and accidentally popping up again, sparking an idea of how to continue -- then just as you reach what would be the middle of your book, yep, it takes another vacation.

There's a second axiom in the writing business -- "Don't ever write about a writer!" Editors, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that writers aren't interesting characters. We probably aren't. But once in a while we have an interesting observation, have an experience out of the ordinary -- whatever. Well, the vagrant idea I have is about a writer who is in the right place at the right time and has enough talent to be fast-tracked into literary limelight.

I'm in the middle of the book -- what we writers call the "Muddle" --where many an author has thrown up his hands and dumped the whole file into the "recycle" bin. But I am trudging onward, knowing that my writer can handle whatever I throw at her. She can work her way of of the Muddle -- and still get the guy.

Somewhere there is an editor who has never bought into the idea that writers can't be heroes or heroines. All I have to do is find her!