The Sophomore Slump
And other hurdles in the name of passion and creativity
Any creative person knows that despite passion and drive, making art is hard. While it can be fulfilling and you definitely feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy when you can step back and admire what you’ve created, the road there is not always a smooth one.
I have always been a creative person. My reason has always been fueled by art. The medium may be different depending on how the mood strikes me but overall, the desire, the urge to create has always sat just below the surface of my being. Even with that urge and passion pushing me, it’s not always as simple as just sitting down and making the magic happen — especially as a neurodivergent person.
“You are your own biggest critic” will forever be a statement rooted in truth for me. I will be harder on myself than anyone else and unfortunately, that (not so) tiny nagging voice inside of me will always cause doubt to drive a wedge between me and my art. However, like most things, I’m sure this is not a feeling that is unique to myself. We as creatives and artists must play referee to the constant battle between confidence and doubt that wages in ourselves.
The last few years have been a very strange time for me and my art. Particularly with writing. For a long, long time I was so overly critical of my writing I refused to show it to anyone and kept it so close to my chest that it practically fused to my skin. But finally after so much work and a bit of bravery, I was able to publish my first novel. Hooray!
I knew writing a book was hard, but nothing could have truly prepared me for how much harder writing the second one is. Nothing could have prepared me for how difficult the shift from tweaking a finished product to going back to square one truly is. My brain seems to have forgotten all the stages that come between writing the first draft and the final one. Again, I am sure this is not an experience that is unique to me. Considering the phrase “Sophomore Slump” exists, I would wager a good number of people have experienced this same feeling.
Working on book two in my Lost Pantheon duology has been fun in a lot of ways but in others, it’s been the avenue for me to really begin to redefine my writing process and figure out what works best for me.
It may be somewhat controversial to say in a space like this but The Call of Chaos taught me a lot about the writing process but it also taught me what not to do going forward with my other works. Writing the first book really felt like throwing pasta at a wall and seeing what stuck and then rolling with that. This time around, however, I have a goal in mind. I have a very solid foundation to build from and I have learned what things I spent too much time on and what I didn’t spend enough time on. I hope that the growth I know I have made in my writing — no matter how large or small — will be evident when I can finally get this next book into your hands!
In Other News -
Aside from the sequel to The Call of Chaos (TDOD for now), I am working on a few other projects in between that I am so excited to share with you all!
Jumanji WIP (TGWP) - A sapphic horrormance inspired by Jumanji and The Magnus Archives featuring a messy second chance romance, a haunted house and a cursed board game.
FTTOG WIP - A fantasy romance inspired by Dark Souls lore. A paladin escorts his chosen maiden across the land to her destiny. But what happens when he begins questioning his fate along the way?
And a secret project I will speak more on as it evolves (this one is mostly just for fun in between the heavier moods of my other projects)
Current Activity -
On Repeat ♪ // Hope - DREAMBOX
Now Reading // An Altar on the Village Green - Nathan Hall
Thank you for reading this edition of The Raven’s Nest! I appreciate you and your support! If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing with the button below. With the way social media seems to be going, this may be one of the only places to keep up with me and my writing if you’re so inclined!