I always thought that writer's block wasn't a real thing. That you could just sit down and start writing, and eventually you would figure out what should happen next. I wrote for over seven years and hadn't ever experienced a block that I couldn't work free of in an hour. Free writing, brain maps, and character interviews are all useful for that sort of thing. I've even written ridiculously impossible scenes before and then edited them into coherency.
Then my life blew up.
It's not that I didn't have time to write. Everyone has time to write, if they make it a priority. (Or so I've been told.) But my life was falling apart, and I felt like I couldn't talk to anybody about it for over a year. And the emotional stress, or depression, or whatever you want to call it (neither of those terms seem quite right) whatever it was, it sucked the creativity out of me. I can't really explain it any other way. I had no desire to be creative or think about stories or even read. Which is kind of a big deal, for me. I didn't read a single book for a year.
Like I said, it's not that I didn't have the time. It's not that I didn't have ideas or something to be working on. (I've been in the middle of Lost Princesses for an embarrassingly long time.) I just didn't. Or couldn't. I'm not sure which.
During that time, I moved twice and took care of my kids, took a few college classes, and prepared to build my life back from the ground up. And I'm still in the middle of that process. But recently, I had a story idea.
Not just any idea. The first idea I've had in a very, very long time. The first inkling that I would ever be able to write again. (The guilt of not finishing my other books had been the only motivation I'd had during that time, and it wasn't enough motivation, obviously.)
I wrote down my idea, sketching out a short story from beginning to end. And I've been kinda excited about it.
And then today, I had an idea on six other related short stories that could become something very cool. Something I've never seen before in fiction. And I got so excited about it that I felt an almost panicky feeling. The feeling that I needed to write. Now.
So I did. I wrote a thousand words today.
I'm not sure what will happen with my writing. I don't know when the next book will come out. But what I can tell you is that I am writing. And it feels awesome.
Showing posts with label writer's block. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writer's block. Show all posts
April 7, 2017
December 18, 2012
My NaNoWriMo and Future Books
I did Nanowrimo this year and it was a total blast!
I tend to write shorter books, so my first story didn't cut it. I finished the book, but hadn't reached 50k words. So, after some thought, I started work on Snow White and Zombies. I think this one is a keeper. It still needs some work (as in a few more drafts) but I'm going to get this book out as soon as I can. I still feel bad about putting Fairy Tale Twist on hold (Thank you SO much for being patient!) but I feel like this needs to be out there. Also, it doesn't take nearly as much time to produce a zombie fairy tale as it does to make Ivy happy.
That said, what happened this past November?
Word count goals
I like to take weekends off. So I write 2300 words a day, and if I need to use Saturday to catch up, I do. I do not write on Sunday. It's a rule I keep for myself. I think it's important to take a mental break to keep from burning out. Burnout = bad.
Did you ever get writers' block?
Sometimes, the words would fly off my fingers. Other times, I had to sit down and force myself to write one word at a time. I had writers' block a handful of times. The way I got through it was I sat in front of my computer screen, reread the last couple of paragraphs, then wrote a sentence. That sentence was usually pretty bad, but it led to another one, and another. Eventually, I got back to writing better stuff and it was easier to come up with the next idea.
Was my first draft bad?
YES! It's awful and you'll never be allowed to read it.
Will it be better?
If not, I'm not worth my weight in salt as a writer.
Will you ever publish that first story?
I'm not sure. I don't know if the root story is strong enough to support something better. But I'll take a look at it. You know, after Fairy Tale Twist.
I tend to write shorter books, so my first story didn't cut it. I finished the book, but hadn't reached 50k words. So, after some thought, I started work on Snow White and Zombies. I think this one is a keeper. It still needs some work (as in a few more drafts) but I'm going to get this book out as soon as I can. I still feel bad about putting Fairy Tale Twist on hold (Thank you SO much for being patient!) but I feel like this needs to be out there. Also, it doesn't take nearly as much time to produce a zombie fairy tale as it does to make Ivy happy.
That said, what happened this past November?
Word count goals
I like to take weekends off. So I write 2300 words a day, and if I need to use Saturday to catch up, I do. I do not write on Sunday. It's a rule I keep for myself. I think it's important to take a mental break to keep from burning out. Burnout = bad.
Did you ever get writers' block?
Sometimes, the words would fly off my fingers. Other times, I had to sit down and force myself to write one word at a time. I had writers' block a handful of times. The way I got through it was I sat in front of my computer screen, reread the last couple of paragraphs, then wrote a sentence. That sentence was usually pretty bad, but it led to another one, and another. Eventually, I got back to writing better stuff and it was easier to come up with the next idea.
Was my first draft bad?
YES! It's awful and you'll never be allowed to read it.
Will it be better?
If not, I'm not worth my weight in salt as a writer.
Will you ever publish that first story?
I'm not sure. I don't know if the root story is strong enough to support something better. But I'll take a look at it. You know, after Fairy Tale Twist.
January 28, 2011
RePost: Do You Need Some Motivation? What Writer Doesn't?
We all need a little boost every now and then. Most of the good stuff is posted in November, during NaNoWriMo season. (Let's face it, we need it.) But the summer months tend to dry up when it comes to mood-boosters.
Suzanne Young did a guest post on Delightful Reviews on How to Keep Writing. It's not easy.
Elana Johnson reminded her readers last month: You Can Do Hard Things.
If you tend to fizzle out in the middle of your projects, you'll appreciate Staying Faithful to Your WIP by Christopher Jackson. He helps writers keep the love for your story burnin' ;)
Writers can be insecure, especially with all the rejection we face. This article was retweeted over a hundred times and will be a classic go-to for me. Writer Unboxed: The Only Way to Know If You'll Be A Successful Writer
and
There Are No Rules: Read This and Tell Me What To Do (Same message, from a different perspective.)
This isn't exactly motivational, but it got my brain churning and thinking new ideas, so it still counts. Finding Your Perfect Writing Method by Jennifer Blanchard
Writers tend to be introverts, but staying indoors in our pajamas could hurt our creativity. Alexis Montgomery tells writers to Cut the Cord to stimulate that muse.
Lilith Saintcrow never ceases to inspire me and her blog post on the Importance of Dreams is no exception. She even uses one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams." (Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka)
and, from the same source:
If you want to view Paradise
Simply look around and view it.
Anything you want to, do it…
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
to it… (Willy Wonka)
Suzanne Young did a guest post on Delightful Reviews on How to Keep Writing. It's not easy.
Elana Johnson reminded her readers last month: You Can Do Hard Things.
If you tend to fizzle out in the middle of your projects, you'll appreciate Staying Faithful to Your WIP by Christopher Jackson. He helps writers keep the love for your story burnin' ;)
Writers can be insecure, especially with all the rejection we face. This article was retweeted over a hundred times and will be a classic go-to for me. Writer Unboxed: The Only Way to Know If You'll Be A Successful Writer
and
There Are No Rules: Read This and Tell Me What To Do (Same message, from a different perspective.)
This isn't exactly motivational, but it got my brain churning and thinking new ideas, so it still counts. Finding Your Perfect Writing Method by Jennifer Blanchard
Writers tend to be introverts, but staying indoors in our pajamas could hurt our creativity. Alexis Montgomery tells writers to Cut the Cord to stimulate that muse.
Lilith Saintcrow never ceases to inspire me and her blog post on the Importance of Dreams is no exception. She even uses one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams." (Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka)
and, from the same source:
If you want to view Paradise
Simply look around and view it.
Anything you want to, do it…
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
to it… (Willy Wonka)
January 24, 2011
Still Blocked? I Have More!
Like I said, there's a LOT out there about writer's block. These posts address some common issues related to writer's block or they analyze the process.
Beth Revis addresses the age-old, impossible-to-really answer question: Where Do You Get Your Inspiration? Maybe her answers can help you.
Stuck In the Middle: the Novel Doctor is one of my favorite bloggers. He posted about that ever-present hump that seems to pop up around 40,000 words with every. Single. Book.
Joanna Penn's blog is also in my top 5 favorite writing blogs. Ask Your Inner Voice: How to Call on Your Muse Just When You Need Her. This post is thorough and organized.
Beth Revis addresses the age-old, impossible-to-really answer question: Where Do You Get Your Inspiration? Maybe her answers can help you.
Stuck In the Middle: the Novel Doctor is one of my favorite bloggers. He posted about that ever-present hump that seems to pop up around 40,000 words with every. Single. Book.
Joanna Penn's blog is also in my top 5 favorite writing blogs. Ask Your Inner Voice: How to Call on Your Muse Just When You Need Her. This post is thorough and organized.
January 21, 2011
How to Beat Writer's Block
It seems like everyone has their say about how to beat writer's block. So of course, I'm going to post a bunch of opinions! (It's what I do.) There's a lot of overlap, but I wanted to post them all so you can see what works for a lot of people. (I'd try those first.)
Personally, if I'm a little blocked, I take a pen and paper and write whatever comes to mind. It's like my Muse is holding the good stuff hostage until I put down what she needs to vent. Or something.
10 Ways to Beat Writer's Block by Tina Morgan has some questions to ask yourself to help you figure out if you're really blocked or if you're just in a little slump. (I didn't even know there was a difference!) Then she gets into some ways to break through that block. I especially like that she says I should take a nap.
James from Men with Pens has some tips. (This post is short and sweet.)
Barry Lyga has some advice about writer's block: Don't Worry About It! (I love this guy's voice and sense of humor. It's worth a read, even if you aren't blocked.)
Write On…with Steve Gottry! gives 17 Sure-Fire Solutions to Writer's Block. He has a few I've never heard of, like listening to music or radio hosts that you don't normally listen to/like. Who knew?
Stick-with-it-ability on Genreality takes unblocking from a structural point of view. Good stuff, as always.
Amy and the Pen talks about what to do if you just don't know how to write something. She says: Write What You Know.
Personally, if I'm a little blocked, I take a pen and paper and write whatever comes to mind. It's like my Muse is holding the good stuff hostage until I put down what she needs to vent. Or something.
10 Ways to Beat Writer's Block by Tina Morgan has some questions to ask yourself to help you figure out if you're really blocked or if you're just in a little slump. (I didn't even know there was a difference!) Then she gets into some ways to break through that block. I especially like that she says I should take a nap.
James from Men with Pens has some tips. (This post is short and sweet.)
Barry Lyga has some advice about writer's block: Don't Worry About It! (I love this guy's voice and sense of humor. It's worth a read, even if you aren't blocked.)
Write On…with Steve Gottry! gives 17 Sure-Fire Solutions to Writer's Block. He has a few I've never heard of, like listening to music or radio hosts that you don't normally listen to/like. Who knew?
Stick-with-it-ability on Genreality takes unblocking from a structural point of view. Good stuff, as always.
Amy and the Pen talks about what to do if you just don't know how to write something. She says: Write What You Know.
June 12, 2010
Do You Need Some Motivation? (What Writer Doesn't?)
We all need a little boost every now and then. Most of the good stuff is posted in November, during NaNoWriMo season. (Let's face it, we need it.) But the summer months tend to dry up when it comes to mood-boosters.
Suzanne Young did a guest post on Delightful Reviews on How to Keep Writing. It's not easy.
Elana Johnson reminded her readers last month: You Can Do Hard Things.
If you tend to fizzle out in the middle of your projects, you'll appreciate Staying Faithful to Your WIP by Christopher Jackson. He helps writers keep the love for your story burnin' ;)
Writers can be insecure, especially with all the rejection we face. This article was retweeted over a hundred times and will be a classic go-to for me. Writer Unboxed: The Only Way to Know If You'll Be A Successful Writer
and
There Are No Rules: Read This and Tell Me What To Do (Same message, from a different perspective.)
This isn't exactly motivational, but it got my brain churning and thinking new ideas, so it still counts. Finding Your Perfect Writing Method by Jennifer Blanchard
Writers tend to be introverts, but staying indoors in our pajamas could hurt our creativity. Alexis Montgomery tells writers to Cut the Cord to stimulate that muse.
Lilith Saintcrow never ceases to inspire me and her blog post on the Importance of Dreams is no exception. She even uses one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams." (Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka)
and, from the same source:
If you want to view Paradise
Simply look around and view it.
Anything you want to, do it…
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
to it… (Willy Wonka)
Suzanne Young did a guest post on Delightful Reviews on How to Keep Writing. It's not easy.
Elana Johnson reminded her readers last month: You Can Do Hard Things.
If you tend to fizzle out in the middle of your projects, you'll appreciate Staying Faithful to Your WIP by Christopher Jackson. He helps writers keep the love for your story burnin' ;)
Writers can be insecure, especially with all the rejection we face. This article was retweeted over a hundred times and will be a classic go-to for me. Writer Unboxed: The Only Way to Know If You'll Be A Successful Writer
and
There Are No Rules: Read This and Tell Me What To Do (Same message, from a different perspective.)
This isn't exactly motivational, but it got my brain churning and thinking new ideas, so it still counts. Finding Your Perfect Writing Method by Jennifer Blanchard
Writers tend to be introverts, but staying indoors in our pajamas could hurt our creativity. Alexis Montgomery tells writers to Cut the Cord to stimulate that muse.
Lilith Saintcrow never ceases to inspire me and her blog post on the Importance of Dreams is no exception. She even uses one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams." (Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka)
and, from the same source:
If you want to view Paradise
Simply look around and view it.
Anything you want to, do it…
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
to it… (Willy Wonka)
April 17, 2010
Possible Cure for Writer's Block?
First off, a quick announcement! I've been writing a lot about Holly's How to Revise Your Novel class, but I know the price can be a deterrent. SO she's offering a 7-day Crash Revision course for $5!! The link is here, if you're interested.
Now. Down to business.
Julia Cameron, author of the bestseller, The Artist Way, has a tool for overcoming writer’s block that I'd like to try: Morning Pages. I heard about the method from Jennifer Blanchard. She explains the process in detail here, but I'll summarize:
Every morning when you wake up, before you do anything else, you write 3 pages. Hand-written, stream-of-consciousness... whatever is on your mind, write it out. Usually my mornings start off with "oh my goodness I have so much to do today, where do I start?". So I would write that down.
The beauty of this process is that you turn off your inner editor. This is stream-of-consciousness writing, so anything goes, it doesn't have to be "right" or "perfect" or even nice. You write whatever is on your brain. This process will tap into your Muse, giving it a chance to pour out creativity without having to battle the ever-editing left brain.
And apparently, all that stuff that you worry about, all those negative thoughts, will be voiced first thing in the morning, helping you to move past them and have a more productive, more positive day. (Who couldn't use that?)
Instructions:
Now. Down to business.
Julia Cameron, author of the bestseller, The Artist Way, has a tool for overcoming writer’s block that I'd like to try: Morning Pages. I heard about the method from Jennifer Blanchard. She explains the process in detail here, but I'll summarize:
Every morning when you wake up, before you do anything else, you write 3 pages. Hand-written, stream-of-consciousness... whatever is on your mind, write it out. Usually my mornings start off with "oh my goodness I have so much to do today, where do I start?". So I would write that down.
The beauty of this process is that you turn off your inner editor. This is stream-of-consciousness writing, so anything goes, it doesn't have to be "right" or "perfect" or even nice. You write whatever is on your brain. This process will tap into your Muse, giving it a chance to pour out creativity without having to battle the ever-editing left brain.
And apparently, all that stuff that you worry about, all those negative thoughts, will be voiced first thing in the morning, helping you to move past them and have a more productive, more positive day. (Who couldn't use that?)
Instructions:
- Place a notebook and pen/pencil by your bed.
- First thing when you wake up in the morning, grab your notebook and write 3 pages. Whatever comes to your mind.
- Don’t do anything else until you write your pages. In fact, you might as well just sit in bed and write them.
- Once you’ve finished three pages, close your notebook and get started with your day.
Simple enough. I want to try it.
Now, I'm not a morning person. Never have been. So giving up some of my precious sleep time will be difficult at first, but I'm sure it'll pay off. And it'll probably help me get onto a more consistent sleeping schedule, which I've been meaning to do for a while.
After two weeks, I'll report back and let you know how it's working. Now... where to find a blank notebook...
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