How to fall back in love with your book

Hi Reader,

This week I picked up a book that I haven't touched since November.

And I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to get back into a story that I set aside, whether it's reading or writing.

But I think this is a super common thing with writers. When I ask my clients how long they’ve been working on a project, they often give the answer of not months, but years. As in “Well the story idea came to me three years ago and I’ve been working on it off and on since then.”

Now, this is not a knock on anyone who is a slow writer. Some books just take longer. I remember reading that it took Anthony Doerr ten years to write his Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See (which, while we are on the subject, BLEW my mind!). His next book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, didn’t come out for another seven. So if you write slowly, that’s totally okay.

I think that for many of us, it can take longer, though, because we lose momentum. We set it aside to work on something else, or because life pulls the rug out from beneath us. Or because we are just trying to eke it in between soccer games and work commitments, and dance recitals, and mounds of laundry.

So how do we get the creative juices flowing again on a project we set aside and wish to return to? I’m going to borrow an image from one of the members of my small group coaching program here, who commiserated about this feeling and reminded me that sometimes it’s just about finding the on-ramp. That it’s often and uphill or winding ramp onto the freeway of drafting, but once you’ve gotten on, the wheels are firmly in motion, then you’re off on your journey of creation.

This is true. Sometimes all it really takes is butt-in-chair action. Sitting down, and doing the work. But other times, you need more of a push—or more structure to help you find your way back into the story.

So how do we do that?

For me, here’s the process I’m following to reconnect to my story:

1. Remember why you wanted to write it in the first place.

I’ve written before about finding your “why” and about holding it front and center as you draft, and when things get challenging as you write. Your why is your compass. What soul-deep thing glimmered or burned inside you that caused you to pick up the pen? Was it a yearning to understand something about the human condition? Was it boiling anger about an injustice? Was it just a fun, meaningful idea? Was it a character or voice you couldn’t get out of your head?

For me, my why for writing this book is the themes and the vision for what I truly believe in my heart it can be. It’s a book about siblings and mother-daughter relationships. It’s about being true to yourself. It’s about listening to your calling over what society tells you you should do. It’s about love and being brave and missed opportunities. These are all things I want to explore, and I also think the plot—a roadtrip to find a missing mother who is harboring secrets of her own—is really fun.

So leaning back into this why is helping me reconnect with the project.

2. Reread what you’ve already written.

It’s difficult to know where you’re going, unless you know where you’ve been. If I open a book I have barely looked at in six months, I’m going to need to reorient myself with it. Relearn the characters, relearn the voice, and relearn the plot and where I left off.

This is a tough part, not going to lie. Because first drafts are crappy. So sometimes reading them feels overwhelming and cringe. You get stuck wanting to fix the language and the “this sucks” voice in your head is loud and jarring. At least it is for me. But I’m also trying to see the good in my partial draft. More than anything, I’m trying to read without any judgement at all. I’m trying to see what is there. What the plot is, whether the story is working, whether there is cause-and-effect happening.

This is the stage I’m in now, and I was given some good advice by another book coach, which was to write a simple outline as I read. For every scene, jot down just what happens. That way you can step back after the read-through and have a snapshot of what you're working with. So that’s where my focus is right now.

3. Revisit your outline and planning documents

As I shared with my small group coaching clients, when I was doing my reread I came across a line in a letter one of my characters wrote to the other. The line was: P.S. I’m still keeping my promise. It’s a line that definitely holds intrigue! The problem is, I have zero clue what promise the character was keeping. There’s just a blank spot in my mind where drafting Karyn had a great idea. What a crappy feeling. This is why I advocate for plotting/outline vs. “pantsing.”

In previous newsletters or webinars I’ve discussed the “inside outline,” sometimes called the “reverse outline” or “x-ray” in revision. This is a tool I lean heavily upon, especially when I get stuck in manuscripts. Essentially, it’s a scene outline of at least the major turning points or beats of the novel, including why what happens matters to the character’s internal journey. It’s your roadmap. It’s the route you’re taking to your destination of The End.

I wrote 40k words before I switched back into revision mode of my other novel. So about half. But what if I tried to open that last chapter and just…start? I’d be lost. You plop me down in Moab, UT and tell me to get to Los Angeles, I wouldn’t know what to do besides go West. But which route? Depends on where I want to stop and what I want to see on the way. I could take I70, but how do I get there? (I literally had no idea how to get from Moab to LA until I pulled up a map on Google for this article.)

But after revisiting my outline/roadmap I have a clearer picture of what earlier, drafting-me envisioned for the story. And I can look at that outline with fresher eyes and get a read on whether I like what earlier-me envisioned. I can also see gaps that maybe I didn’t before, or figure out a better way to do things. But I can’t do any of that blind. So I am spending some serious time revisiting my character studies, my inside outline, my beat sheet, etc. Because we must reorient ourselves with not only what we’ve already written, but our plan.

Side note for all the pantsers out there: I highly recommend having at least a general outline so that if you do get in a position where you can’t work on your book, you have some idea of what you had in mind.

4. Writing sprints/accountability groups or buddies

We are social animals who thrive on connection, encouragement, and solidarity. And yet writing is a solitary pursuit. We toil away with our earpods in a coffee shop, or in our offices at home, immersed in words and worlds of our own making. But does it have to be that way?

I find it so much more rewarding when I surround myself with other writers with whom I can commiserate or feel encouraged by. This is one of the reasons I created my small-group coaching program. I’m hosting writing sprints 5x a week, working alongside people who are doing the same. And you know what? I get to see how they progress and they get to see how I progress. We get to encourage each other when things get hard. Carving out these hours of writing is forcing some of that butt-in-chair action. For me and for them. And if that kind of intentional action doesn’t help me reconnect with my story, then I don’t know what will.

All I know is that I’ve watched writers finish drafts or half-drafts in our short three months together. I’ve seen some move through revisions. Or some have just gone from few words to so many more words than they might have without that accountability and connection.

It’s fun, it’s intimate, it’s supportive, and above all else, it’s productive. If you’re looking for this kind of environment, I encourage you to join us. We are starting up again May 4^th. If not, that’s fine too! I just want you to find your writing people. Because they are different from your non-writing people. They get it in a way people who don’t do this can.

All of this is to say that I know it can be difficult, intimidating, and overwhelming to get back into a project you’ve set aside. But if you really loved it once, you can love it again. And with some intention, time, and action, you can find your on-ramp.

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Summer Story Studio

In case you missed it last week, I'm wrapping up my quarterly small group coaching session this week and planning my dates for the next round. If you're looking for accountability, coaching, forward momentum, craft lessons, and community, consider joining us!

How does it work?​
For 12-14 weeks, I host 4-5 writing sprints on Zoom a week, and lead bi-weekly meetings (rotating between a craft lesson and hot-seat coaching session in which participants share pages they'd like direct feedback on.)

Here's a sample schedule from last week:

Monday: Writing Sprint 5:30am PT/8:30am ET
Tuesday: Hot Seat Coaching 10am PT/1pm ET
Wednesday: Writing Sprint 5:30am PT/8:30am ET
Thursday: Writing Sprint 12pm PT/3pm ET
Friday: Writing Sprint 11am PT/2pm ET

Of course I work with my writers across time zones to find sprint times that they can attend.

How much does it cost?
​I'm proud to offer this 14-week session at a low rate of $97

What are the dates for the next session?
​I'm looking at Monday May 4th through Friday August 7th, 2026, with some lighter weeks around holidays and vacations.

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Offerings

Thanks so much for being here with me. I value you and I sincerely hope that I provide value for your writing journey. If you feel inclined, drop me a line and let me know what you’re working on!

Happy Writing,

Karyn

P.S. Loving these emails? Buy me a cup of tea to say thanks. Or you can book a free 30-min story strategy chat here if you're interested in getting specific help with your book.

Granite Bay, CA
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