Monday Brain - Author Struggles. What's yours?

Look at this! I am doing a Monday Brain post two weeks in a row. This is what I call a blogging miracle.

Things going on in my head ...

"The anxiousness of finishing a novel" <--- why does this always ruin me? haha

It's funny to think that all I have is just a few more chapters of two separate novels. I know what's going to happen in each, and I even know how I want it written, but why (OH WHY!) does it become impossible for me to finish a book. Or at least, it always feel like this. It's like a metaphor for my life. I am such a do-er, but when I get to the 90% mark, my brain shuts down in rebellion. It makes me feel like that angsty, sixteen year old girl I once was, who did the opposite of what people said just because she could, still resides inside me. That attitude riddled teen is in my head, wreaking havoc on my productivity, and is throwing a fricken party over it. She's such a bitch. *shakes head*  I'm losing my mind.

What I mean to say is, why is the home stretch of any novel the hardest? At least for me. It's not that I don't want to say good bye to these characters, although I'll miss them. It's the strangest hurdle I have as an author.

I give myself these insane deadlines when I reach the last 3-4 chapter range of finishing a book, and tell myself I can totally have it all done in less than a month, which technically, is a very doable goal. That'd be a chapter a week. Something I'd normally do with flawless ease. Actually, I can usually write 3 chapters a week when an idea is fresh.

So, it begs the question, is my stalling brain the result of an ache to move onto a new project? My author loins tell me NO! I love these books, their plots and characters. However, when I sit and type these last chapters it comes out achingly slow. Slow is not something I do well, and it tests my patience.

I have four chapters to write to finish my next novel FAHRENHEIT. I managed to finish a chapter over the holiday weekend *fist-bump* This is a huge success! But it was hard to find focus.

Normally I'd blame this lack of focus no external interferences, except this happens to me with every novel. This will be my fifth completed novel, so I know this pattern well, but it doesn't mean the hatred for it stops.

Things I do in an attempt to refocus my brain:

• Yoga

• I just started doing this with more consistency. Yoga is something I do about once a month, and has now turned into nearly every other day. I prefer to do this outside in my backyard where I can look ridiculous in a sports bra, leggings and my TFIOS tank. Usually, I like outside noise, like birds chirping, etc, but most recently my neighbors dog likes to interrupt my zen. I stick my cellphone in my bra, attach my noise cancellation headphones, and listen to instrumental focus music playlists on Spotify as I attempt downward dog. 
• Yoga has helped me SO much. I stretch out my limbs, focus on my breathing, and always end it with a little 10 minute session of meditation to clear my crowded brain of thoughts. 
• It also helps because I work an office job and also write. There's not much movement going on there. So, getting up and stretching, keeping me limber, while focusing on positive vibes helps more than I can explain.
• Okay, so I'm kind of a hippie when I want to be, but I swear this works for me
• Switching up writing locations
• I can't always write in my writing cave. There are too many creature comforts there. It's too easy for me to snuggle my cat, or eat oreo's, or watch a movie, or hell, wander my house searching for inspiration. haha. If it's a weekend, I'll head to Balboa Park or the beach, and write from there. If it's during the week, I usually go straight to Barnes & Noble after work and write until 8:00pm

Those are just a couple of things I try to get through this writing hurdle of mine. I'm so excited to finish these novels:

• Fahrenheit - Humorous Erotica
• Releasing September 22
• Cover Reveal: July 20th (Bloggers sign up [here])
• Unwritten - New Adult
• Release - TBA
• I just need to get this in my Agents hands, and hope she likes it ;)

I can do it, can't I? This isn't my first rodeo. 

If you're a writer (or even a reader), what are some of the things you do to refocus? I'd love to know.

P.S. Using Sailor Moon gifs are my absolute fave.

With lots of book-nerdy love,