Billy Mernit’s “Living the Romantic Comedy” on “semi-hiatus”!

Billy just celebrated his blog’s 5th anniversary, but the event is tinged with some rather dispiriting news for his fans:

Living the RomCom is going on a long semi-hiatus.

Meaning: Although I’ll be checking in to answer comments, when/if they appear, and compulsively keeping the sidebar stuff current, I generally won’t be posting. I may pop up for the rare event that absolutely demands rom-com commentary (e.g. We will have the 6th Annual Asta Awards this December). But other than that, I’m out of here.

Was it something you said? No, here’s the thing: For the past few years, while holding down a full-time job as a studio story analyst, teaching, doing script consults, occasional screenplay rewrites, and blogging, I’ve been struggling to get a second novel underway. And I’ve concluded that it can’t be done.

This summer I’m clearing everything out of the way of Novel #2, and I hope to keep the path clear (excepting the unavoidable paycheck gig) until at least next summer; it may well be longer.

The effect should be both pragmatic (more time!) and psychological: I believe I’ll work toward completion with more fervent dedication when no one can read what I’m writing until it’s published. Plus, writing a novel’s first draft is, I think, a bit like mountain-climbing: Take your focus off it for more than a moment, and… it’s a long way down, let alone a painful path back up again.

Having enjoyed your company and been nurtured by your support since June 27, 2005, I’m sad to let Living the Romantic Comedy go. I know I’ll have blog withdrawals, so it’ll help to know you folks are with me in spirit as I start the long ascent. Do keep me in your loop — and wish me luck in my endeavor as I wish you the best in yours.

Completely understandable reasons. I’ve had to scale back due to my writing needs as well.

Be sure to visit Billy’s site and wish him the best of luck writing his second novel.

We look forward to your return, Billy!

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