My son, who’s trying his hand at writing, asked me if I thought it was okay to write two stories at one time.  He said that he had lost his way in his first novel and had developed a new story idea.  I’m actually a great person to answer this question.  At one point in time, I had no less than twenty unfinished novels on my computer.  I was the queen of half-written books.  To be honest, several of them still sit, ladies in waiting, on my hard drive.  “Pick me next!  Pick me next!” they clamor each time I’m ready to start a new project.  The problem with abandoning one novel to start another is you risk falling out of love with the first one.  Since becoming a more disciplined writer, I realize that you have to stick with your characters or you might lose that connection that made you want to write them in the first place.  Just like in real life, sometimes your lovers, family, and friends can bore you.  Sometimes you just don’t even know where they’re coming from or where your relationship is headed.  Then, that new exciting story winks at you from across the room and tries to lure you away.  He makes promises of new and exciting experiences.  In my early days of writing, I was easily seduced.  It wasn’t until I committed myself to actually finishing a novel (Wait for Me) that I learned the rewards of seeing my characters’ story to a conclusion.  Writing is not always shiny and new; sometimes it’s pure drudgery.  It’s like slogging through mud.  Trust me, though.  Finish that story.  The literary high of finishing a book can not be beat.