The Kids are Gone has become my official “in-between” project—a term I’m using to make it feel less daunting. To keep the pressure manageable, I’m breaking it down three chapters at a time, and, honestly, it’s helping me breathe a little easier. Working on Under The Flamboyant Tree, which is an absolute beast of a book, I’m using the same approach. Completing these two stories has opened my eyes to just how much anxiety I carry around project completion, and I’m determined to dig deeper into that. But for now, as the self-preservation queen I am, I’m finding a way to make it work without overwhelming myself.

When the pressure mounts with one project, I pivot to the other. And oddly, when I return to the first, it somehow feels less intimidating. Are you following me here? It’s like this delicate dance between two creative worlds, and so far, it’s working.

This back-and-forth isn’t about juggling two projects simultaneously but rather a deliberate shift, a way of reducing the intensity that tends to build up with one massive focus. As I move through these stories, I’m realizing that a part of my anxiety around finishing comes from a deep-seated fear of judgment. Showing a completed work to the world can feel like baring your soul, and let’s face it—that’s terrifying! There’s also the nagging question of “What’s next?” The reality of starting from scratch, finding that next big idea, and diving back into the unknown can feel like an endless cycle.

So, here I am—an author, staring down my fears, navigating this strange limbo. I know these feelings aren’t going away. But neither am I.

Thanks for following along with my journey, fears and all.