Congratulations 🎉👏

I struggle with the same thing. Two things that have helped me:

1) don't eat until you're done writing. Might just be a me problem, but I def lose all energy after my dinner.

2) don't allow any "relaxing" time after work, just jump right into writing while your mind is still in productive mode.

Some may not qualify them as a dessert, but I will do just about anything for a well made caramel roll.

Going through a similar struggle with my WIP. Sometimes I'll realize I've created a plot hole or something and I freeze up, thinking I botched everything. I've found writing down what needs to be fixed later on in a separate document helps a ton.

Should I intentionally query with a terrible title? Is this good strategy? (Kidding, just to be clear)

I respect anyone who has the ability to collaborate, but that sounds just miserable to me. Writing, to me, is so personal and individual. If I were to ever do it, they'd need to have an almost identical style and vision to even start considering it.

I queried my first manuscript a couple of years ago and got rejected by all, not a single request for full. I looked at the letter recently and just couldn't believe I had the audacity to think it might land me an agent 😂

Cowardice or greed? Or maybe they just go hand in hand with these things.

This is the conversation I have with my wife every night lol.
"Get any good writing done today?"
"Well, not good writing, no..."

Don't worry, it's easy. I only had to cut out pretty much all of my physical and mental health to make it happen 😭

When you say "bloated", what does that tend to mean for you? How many words do you start with and what do you cut down to?

It depends on how you rate your odds of getting picked up. If you're fairly confident your book will be picked up not only by an agent, but also a publisher, write the sequel. Otherwise you risk "wasting" time writing a sequel that will never sell. A safer bet is probably working on a new book.

Perpetually wondering "huh. I wonder how they get out of this one."

Somehow they always do!

Fantastic movie

Consistency. Started a new job with hours that conflicted with my usual writing time. As such, I found it hard to write at a new time, for whatever reason. Hoping to get back to a more consistent schedule in 2025

Nevermind, I decided to actually read the article. Sales are way up. Glad to hear it!