I confess that there have been times I have read a book, put it down and said to myself, “I can do better than this!” Now, when it comes time to put my money where my mouth is, I have discovered that it is not so easy. Characters and books just don’t just flow out. They have to be tugged, yanked, grabbed, and hauled out into the light.

I have so many great ideas for books and stories, but when I look at that blinking cursor or stare at my legal pad, my mind draws a great big blank. I start a document with some ideas, then I go back and look at it later and it seems corny, hokey, or just downright bad. I sometimes go to the web to look for inspiration, but the last time I did that I found a story very similar to what had been forming in my head….argh! That was disheartening.

I know one thing, though. I truly do want to write. I want to write good books that readers will like and believable characters that they will relate to and care about.

Is this a process that all writers go through?