One of the nice side effects of my cranky post has been hearing from other writers who have looked into the abyss or, like me, jumped in. While disappointing, my experience is by no means unique.

Agree, with the benefit of hindsight, that letting one’s work sit for a few months before trying to evaluate or revise it makes a lot of sense. I think you’re onto something!

Good luck with your projects, and thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful response.