One of the strangest things about being an author is how quickly your opinion of your work can change.

I’ve heard the same thing from other authors so I know I’m not alone in this and I’ve experienced it with every novel I’ve written so it doesn’t seem to be something I can learn not to do.

What I’m talking about is that moment when I’m writing or reading over what I’ve written and I say to myself, ‘This sucks. Why am I even bothering to keep writing this crap?’

I had this experience while editing my latest manuscript, How Far Forgive. One day when I was reading over it I was wincing and cringing my way through it, but the following day I was saying, ‘Hey, this is really good!’

Perhaps I was just in a bad mood one day and in a better mood the next, so my perception changed. Perhaps the story improved as I worked on it. I’m not sure.

Thinking these things is always worrying. What if everyone else feels the same way? This concern is always the most intense when you are the only one who’s read your book. Once a few other people have told you that it’s good it gets easier. Or perhaps they help you fix up problems with it which means it becomes something that even you like.

Whatever the case, sometimes an author is his/her own worst enemy. I know I am!