I finished reading the seventh Harry Potter book.  Not wishing to give any spoilers, I will merely say I was very satisfied with the ending. It’ll make a great movie, although I do feel the middle could have been condensed a bit. I was sorry to say goodbye to some characters but happy that others survived.  I liked the epilogue, although I had to read an interview with the author to find out where some of the characters were working later on. Amazing, isn’t it, how real these people are, that you want to know what happened to them after the story’s end?

This brings me to my own personal dilemma. How can I write anything compared to such genius?  How can I create my own story when Harry is still in my mind?  I am plotting an urban fantasy romance, but my brain refuses to go beyond the opening scene. What happens next?  I haven’t a clue. And since I envision this as a six book series, I’m in big trouble if I can’t plot out not only this story, but the arc for five more books. My goal is to complete a new proposal every two months. It’ll take me that long because I have to create completely new universes for each one. The second proposal will be for a new mystery series, and I already have an idea. That will probably come easier, but since the cozy market is in the pits right now, I’m aiming first in the other direction. I also want to finish my last Marla Shore story, but this isn’t a priority with no pressing deadline. And then there’s another three book series I want to work on. So I’ve got a career plan, but until Harry Potter’s universe takes flight from my mind and my own creativity returns, perhaps the need for a break isn’t over. I should trust in my subconscious, let the current story idea stew a bit longer, and then one day the plot might pop into my head. Meanwhile, I’ve started a notebook with my plotting notes, character sketches and photos, and background research. This is the part of the creative process that’s hard to accept, because you feel as though you’re not accomplishing anything, while in truth, it’s all part of the journey.

You never know when one of those brilliant ideas will hit you in the middle of the grocery store or something...