Writing Is Never Easy
Does writing ever get easier?
Yes.
And no.
Yes, you get better with every story, novel, draft, line, sentence. Yes, you improve with every effort, minute, hour, week, resource you put into your craft.
Then you start a new novel. And you’re like, wow, really?? Am I not supposed to be better than this?
Writing is not muscle memory. It’s not like riding a bike. Sure you understand the mechanics in the second or subsequent time, but for every story, there are new characters who have new internal desires and new misbeliefs and new plot points to challenge them—and maybe they insist on a new tone, a new atmosphere—maybe even a new genre, or a new age-group.
And then you feel as much like a novice as you always have.
That, in fact, is the pleasure of the writing life. It’s also the challenge, absolutely. but it’s also the simultaneous thrill and fear of starting again.
What you do have is more confidence. You did it once (or twice or more); you can do it again. Follow the writing process, the one that you discovered worked for you, and then trust yourself. It’s not easy, but not impossible. You’ve already proven that.
And if you’re still on your first draft of your first project? Then be comforted: everyone else is still in the same boat 🙂