Writing isn’t always romantic or easy. It isn’t just sitting in a cozy room with tea, tapping away as inspiration flows endlessly. Writing is hard — truly, deeply hard.
As I work on Book 3 of The Crimson Legacy (still untitled!), I find myself constantly navigating the complex waves of life, creativity, and responsibility. Some days, the words pour out of me, scenes playing vividly in my mind. Other days, I stare at a blank screen for hours, feeling defeated and wondering if the magic is gone.
Life hasn’t exactly made it easier lately. Between marketing my existing books, keeping up with my blog, and dealing with the reality of illness and injury, it has felt like a never-ending juggling act. An old injury from COVID days has flared up again, and despite doing everything to heal, my nerves just aren’t cooperating. Some days, I don’t feel like doing anything at all. And when I don’t create, I start to feel useless — as if I’m letting both myself and my readers down.
But in these moments, I have to remind myself: I am only human. We all are. We can only endure so much before we need to pause, breathe, and simply be.
I’ve made lists and schedules to help keep my life on track, but the pressure is real. I often feel overwhelmed, and yes, sometimes I feel like I’m failing. I know that writing takes time — and deep down, I know I’ll get there. But there’s always that nagging voice inside wishing I could go faster, be better, finish sooner.
I also know I’m my own worst critic. Every sentence, every scene, every plot twist — I question it all. Will it resonate? Should I word it differently? Is this the right place for this moment? It’s exhausting, but it’s part of the process.
Book 3 has taken some unexpected turns, and despite everything, I’m excited to keep exploring where the story will go. I haven’t designed a new cover yet. In fact, I had spent weeks working on an initial cover design, but with how the story has evolved, I think it needs a new vision — one that matches the heart of this book and whatever title it will eventually carry.
I also want to acknowledge my incredible readers and supporters. While this journey started as a challenge to prove something to myself, I’ve gained wonderful readers who have joined me on this adventure. Sharing the world of The Crimson Legacy with all of you has become a driving force behind why I keep going, even when it’s tough.
I’m also still waiting to connect with some of the characters through interviews — and I understand completely that their lives are busy too. We’re all living our own stories, and sometimes we have to step back to focus on what truly matters before we can come together again.
At the end of the day, even writing one sentence means I’m one sentence closer to finishing this chapter of the journey. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and The Crimson Legacy won’t be either.
So, if you’re reading this — whether you’re a writer, a reader, or someone trying to balance your own passions and pressures — remember that it’s okay to move slowly. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. What matters is that we keep moving forward, even if it’s one small step (or one small sentence) at a time.
Thank you for being here with me. I can’t wait to share more of this world with you.
Until next time — with gratitude and love,
Ambrose Fider
Indie author of The Crimson Legacy series