Tayari's Blog: Writing Again...

It's not like I don't have experience with writing my way into a story. I wrote about three different versions of The Untelling before I got the characters in the right places, struggling with the right conflicts. After the book is all done, I encourage people to make mistakes. "It's part of the process!" You should see my face when I tell folks this... All sincerity and encouragement. And I do believe this.

But still, it's sort of discouraging when you've worked so hard and so diligently and have so little to show for it. Even I, who have been here twice before sometimes have a little trouble reminding myself that this is just the way it goes.

I think I want to tell myself that it will get easier. That my fourth book will come out in one coherent piece, that I will sharpen my instincts and do it right the first time.

But okay. Enough of the pity-party. The blank page awaits me.