I believe neither can stand successfully alone, and each is critical to writing, especially a book.

If it’s not from the heart it will hardly hold the writer, much less the reader. Again, I recommend Naomi Rose, who teaches the method of ‘Writing from the Deeper Self’.

As for the head, everyone knows the value of editing…and editing…and editing. I do this as I go along, switching often between the heart and the head. Although it slows down the first draft, it gives the characters time to develop and guide the story in an intuitive way. It also allows for pacing. My creative limit is about 3 hours a day or 1500 words, partially edited. And I prefer breathers in between – most importantly, not to force anything. OUT OF AIR took a year to complete, including a substantial rewrite, but each to their own.

Roccie Hill (author of acclaimed THREE MINUTES ON LOVE) took 13 – 14 years to finish her first book. She spoke eloquently about the “Odyssey of the First Novel” on the 2008 Writer’s Telesummit. An odyssey indeed, and one to be savoured