Starting a new book is like falling in love all over again.  I mentioned before that I re-visit my characters from previous books occasionally, just to say “hi.”  After all, I was in love with them once.  It’s like running into your high-school boyfriend (unless he was a complete dog) and feeling that rush of affection for what once was.  They will always hold a special place in your heart.  You move on, though, and meet new characters (literary and real) and you fall in love again.  Recently, I had some time off and started a new book.  I had a beginning, a middle, and an end all queued in my mind.  I was developing the characters.  I had a purpose.  What I didn’t have was love.  Writing every day became a chore.  I dated a guy once who became a chore.  I had run out of things to say to him and even going to see a movie was painful.  I had thought that I would like being with him, but I was wrong.  There was just no connection.  So I moved on–from the guy and from my book.  As much as it pained me to give up on a book that I had dedicated so much time to, I set it aside.  Within 24 hours, new characters came knocking in my brain, and I can’t stop writing.  I wake up early, anxious to get back to the story.  When I’m not writing, I think about my characters and how long it will be before I can get back to them.  I’m falling in love all over again.