The hardest part about writing seems to be making yourself sit down at the computer and write. Once I'm in that chair and focused, things go pretty smoothly. It's just the job of putting aside all the other things I could be doing in my life and making writing a priority.

I'm going to have to do it better throughout the rest of the December if I'm going to hit my deadline: a first draft of The Silent Goodbye completed by the end of the year.

The other night I made myself sit down and work. First step was to review the fight scene I had written the previous week, the one I thought might be pretty terrible. Actually, with a week's worth of distance, it wasn't too bad. In fact, I was quite happy with it.

That left me with an exhausted Phillip Gold being helped back to his apartment by Stacey McLean, the lovely police officer for whom my hero has a bit of a thing. What followed is a scene that presented its own challenges to me, the writer. How do you have a character in your story tell another character in your story a story and not make it boring?

And how often do you write a "reaction shot" from the listening character? I mean, you can only write so many "Her eyes widened" or "She gasped" or "'Holy s--t,' she whispered"s?

As I think I have already mentioned in this space, I have decided to revise Gold's backstory somewhat and this scene was intended to allow him to share it with McLean, as they both sat there, physically and emotionally drained, sipping rye-and-gingers after an evening filled with excitement.

As I said, a new challenge for me. I'll know how I did when I convince myself to sit down again to review, revise and carry on writing.

Tags: Phillip Gold