The Creative Process: Hope, Hesitation and a Daniele Bolelli Headlock.

I finished my third novel and the first novel of a YA Trilogy called My Last Friends on Earth. It was a tough but fulfilling process and yet it may have left me a little...hesitant? Gun shy, even—writing wise? Stephen King writes in months. I write in years. But I finished the book long ago and I haven't yet sent it out to agents or publishers, or self-published (and I'm a two-time novelist).

Isabella, the daughter of my great and brilliant friend Daniele Bolelli (author, historian, podcaster) loved the book—she, like her dad, is also hyper-smart and talented, with a wow. A few other kids in cities across the globe (London, LA and Vancouver) have also loved the book. So Daniele told me I had to send it out to publishers / agents by the first week in September or I was a loser. He didn't say the last part but I felt it in his voice (see the photo below to see how he can get when he's in a mood).

I told Daniele I would send the book out and launch my website / YouTube channel at the same time. Well, the website and YouTube Channel are launched (two days ago, hurray for me, and the numbers are exploding into the multi-tens) but I haven't yet sent the book out and it's the second week in October. Oh the shame!

Can you relate? Shame's a stinker. Is there a creative job nagging your brain—a job creative or administrative that you're just not taking care of? If so, don't judge yourself too harshly. Try to get to it...or figure out what's holding you back. No, don't figure it out. Just get to it.

In other words, Pete, stop hesitating unless you're crossing the road and cars are coming.

I'm not entirely sure what's holding me back. See? I'm trying to figure it out. Hardly anything used to hold me back, not even anxiety.

Caption: My dear friend Daniele Bolelli, choking the hell out of another friend—all as a way to tell me I'm next if I don't send that book out. Look at those assassin eyes. He just got his black belt in judo. What a mensch.

Will I send ye olde manuscript out? I will. What I'm trying to do is build a presence on social media by inspiring you creatively. This week will see me focussing on that one key word I mention in my first YouTube video, continuing with the videos for the YouTube Channel and overcoming creative and creative business procrastinations and fears. How about you? Can you relate? If so, check out my website etc. and let me know—and know I am with you in some kind of cosmic creative solidarity. Go for it. Be the example you hope to be and wish I was. Isn't that what Gandhi said?

Onwards! We will create.

Pete

The opening chapters of the book My Last Friends on Earth are here. It's YA, so if you read it and you're old, pretend you're young. It's good for the cells, I hear.