The Undiscovered Country

How come something unsucky sometimes sucks?

And no I'm not talking about vacuum cleaners or people who suck the life out of other people (other than vampires).

I've been grinding away on a sequel to one of my sci-fi novels I had really high hopes for. I love the characters, love the premise, but the story just won't catch.

So after trying to write for three months and barely eking out 20k words, I set it aside in favor of a Nanowrimo novel I started - but never finished - from about three years ago. This one interested me from the start, because it's my first venture into fantasy.

It's a story I've been thinking about for about as long as I've been trying to write the sci-fi sequel.

God's way of telling me something?

Perhaps. I wouldn't be surprised, because the sequel is mainstream sci-fi whereas the fantasy is an allegory.

I've spent the last two weeks tackling the fantasy novel (called "The Keeper") and have written over 10k words. The story has so gobbled me up, I've even been sneaking five or ten minutes here and there at work to punch out a few hundred words.

Not so sucky, so far, right?

Except!

Since the story has so captured my attention, I have a hard time thinking about anything else, and I'm begrudging the attention my family wants from me.

I don't like that part of writing (even when I do like that part of writing), because I know the time spent with family is precious and irreplaceable. Especially from my now 6-year-old son, because in a few short years, he won't want tanything to do with me.

That's the sucky part. Even when it's not sucky.

Sheesh I hope that all makes sense.

But now it's time to put my son to bed, spend some quality time reading to him, then disappear in my novel once again (my hubby is out with friends, so I don't have to feel guilty not giving him any attention *grins*).