For the last eight months I’ve been working on one project, the sequel to Death By Chenille. That book took fifteen years to write, but my co-author suggested we write the next book to coincide with her art quilt seminar – in April. We didn’t make our deadline. Since I shelved three other projects to work on the sequel, I haven’t been pleased with myself. Until last week.
I started on a quilt challenge to interpret a work of literature in fabric. I decided to do some shameless self-promotion and use one of my own stories. The piece that came to mind was one of the novels I had to back-burner. Much as I tried to think of something to go with the story I’m writing now, the other project kept begging me to pay attention to it.
So I made a tapestry, and in the process came up with a nifty back story idea about how my imagined Earth government came into power. My critique group had posed that question, but I didn’t have a good answer for them. If I had been able to devote more time to this novel (my N.Keli novel), I might not have arrived at the idea I have now (and I really like the path that is opening up!).
I won’t try to persuade you that there is a reason for all set-backs, or that everything works out at the right time, although I cling to that thought for my own sanity. Rather, I encourage you to find a tasty recipe when the universe flings lemons in your direction. The sorrow of missed opportunities is the lot of the writer, so rejoice when you find a way to snatch some little bit of good out of the jaws of bad.