Starting a new book is hard. For me, at least. And by 'starting' I mean beginning in a way that I know I will be able to sustain until the finish line. And by 'way' I mean voice. And by 'voice' I mean...

Let me stop there.

'Voice' is one of those things that writers throw about to explain a myriad of magical things associated with what they create. And you know what, it is a bit magical.

Now, I'm not getting all artsy here. My personal view is that writing is a craft. You practice it. You get better. Maybe you master it, I don't know. But there is something about a flow that a story takes. The cadence of the narrative. The seamless blending of word and intent that makes it all come together.

To me, that's voice.

And I've lost it before. The first was with a novel that I started with a bang, everything flowing, words pouring out, the story building until page 166. I paused there to tackle another project.

I never finished it. While the interrupting project was quickly completed, the interrupted novel stared back at me like I'd sprouted lobster claws from my head. When I tried to jump back in after a couple months away it was as if I'd stumbled into another person's house and couldn't find the sock drawer. It was worse than not knowing where anything was, or where it was going.

I couldn't feel the story anymore.

When I forced myself to write, what came out was a limp imitation of what had existed just months before. It was flat. It was soulless.

I was a stranger trying to finish my own novel.

The second time I lost my voice was when I stopped to let someone read a partial manuscript, and when they'd passed judgement and told me to continue, well...lobster head and sock drawer, just as before.

What I've learned from this is a very simple fact, which, conveniently enough, spins nicely off my favorite writing advice (don't get it right, get it written). That fact is this--once you start, don't stop until you finish. Take no extended break. Even if all you can write is a single solitary paragraph on the project for the day, do so. Keep SOME momentum going. Keep your head in the story, and the story in your head.

I do this now, because I'm forever haunted by where page 167 might have taken me.