One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I was very quiet last week because I was trying to power through my latest draft. I have two wonderful readers to critique for me, but I am not ready.

Why?

Because this is a play-by-play of my week:

1. This book is SO GOOD! I can't believe I wrote this. It's awesome!
2. Hmm, that section is weak compared with the end, so I need to rewrite.
3. Well, it's not the best book, but it's still pretty good.
4. Ooh, just thought of another character that I need to add.
5. I wonder what will happen if I change this whole section.
6. Oh, that was bad. That made it much worse!
7. I'm never going to get this finished.
8. You know, this is not really a very good story. 
9. My book is kinda boring.
10. Maybe I'll do better with the next book I write...

And so on and so on, until yesterday I managed to work on it for about 4 minutes. Not my goal for the day. But there was a big football game on TV, and I was a little busy watching the Steelers win. (I know - excuses, excuses.)

I'm back to a solid footing between #2 and #3 right now - not bad for a Monday morning. And tonight I can dream of the day that I'll return to #1. But I wonder - will I ever feel that good about it again? Or will I always see the faults, the what-could-have-beens?

The advice I keep finding on various blogs leads back to the same conclusion: JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I can't let my doubts paralyze me. I need to get this first book out the door and online, then work on the second and the third, and so on. Keep moving forward...

PS - Happy Birthday to my sister, Amy!