Patience in the Writing Process

I just finished writing a novel for young adult girls, called (tentatively at least) JULIA: turning 14. I have also completed a first edit. I have put it aside for a couple of weeks so that I can look at it again with fresh eyes before I see if I think it's ready to give to others to read for feedback. It's been a week so far, and I'm amazed at how difficult it is for me to simply "leave it alone." I want to read it. It feels almost as if I need to read it. Yet, I know I need to look at it with fresh eyes. So I will wait. In the meantime I am letting ideas for my next teen novel percolate. And I have made some notes. And, of course I keep journaling. And I've got other projects (non writing) to keep me busy. But, I'm sure eager to re-read JULIA.

I need to make it clear that this putting off re-reading JULIA is NOT procrastination. It is rather, part of the writing process. This putting aside the manuscript for a while is definitely NOT writer's block (see Overcome Writer's Block Easily) to find out what to do to deal with writer's block.

Patience in the writing process is definitely necessary and pays off. I have followed this process for each book I've written, and in modified form for articles as well. I highly recommend it.