I posed a question the other day to anyone who would listen out in the digital ether. The response I got was incredible, and I’m grateful for all the great advice people were willing to provide.

The question I posed was essentially this:

If I’m over 50% done with my next novel, but have doubts about whether it’s the right novel to be released next in my catalogue, do I persevere or change directions?

The conclusion I reached is that I should make sure the next novel I release makes sense for where I’m at in my career as an author. I need to find my audience, and get more experimental as I establish credibility. That halfway done novel will still be there if I pick it back up in 6 months, or 6 years.

Now, it’s a bit daunting to think about starting over while still maintaining my commitment to have my next novel ready in draft form by end of July, but it still feels doable. In fact, I have an idea I’m excited about, and have spent the last few days fully fleshing out. As we speak, I’m over 1,000 words into the first chapter. Get ready for the next great American horror novel.

Thank you all for the engagement, and the advice. Wish me luck!

Court