It’s an awful place to be. Stuck.
I got nothing.
Nothing going down on the blank page. Nothing running through my brain for blogs… I’m out of words. And that is such a bad place to be. It leads to …
Panic!
Which I am working very hard to push away. Obviously if the words aren’t coming, the stories aren’t unfolding, the work isn’t getting done and the books aren’t heading out the door to be published. Without new books there aren’t new readers finding my writing. It’s such a bad place. I’d like to think it’s the time of year … but it’s been “that time of year” for nearly a year. Of course being in limbo since the spring of 2011, with no place to settle and now no job for Mr. Nina. (Fingers crossed that situation is changing soon.)
I’m floating around to other writer blogs and they’re announcing their new releases… I’m happy for them… or they’re talking about the book they just finished… you go author… or how their book was a huge sell this month… yay… or how another indie-pubbed author just bought a new house … see me enthusiastically celebrating with them… NOT!
Now don’t get me wrong. I truly don’t begrudge them their successes, a part of me is happy for them, but a bigger part of me wonders why I can’t have that? Ideas and words falling onto the page and success just banging down the door.
I’m impatient.
I know this. It’s one of the really bad things in my personality that I work hard on. I see it. I want it. And hell and be damned if I have to wait for it.
*Sigh*
But that’s the name of the game in publishing. Patience.
It’s an awful cycle. The block, the panic, the depression. Okay, so I’m not depressed… but the situation makes me mopey. Since it seems to be the topic on several panels, I suspect I’m not the only one in this situation. Little Boy Blue thinks I need some time away from my computer and maybe he’s right (pretty smart for 21). A little time to decompress and regroup. A change of scenery. Perhaps I’ll take the boy’s advice and choose some books from my HUGE TBR pile and just veg in the sun. A good read is always good for the soul.
So how’s you’re September going? This week is the official beginning of autumn … and it’s beginning to feel and look just like that outside my window! Let’s hope the change of seasons brings a change in my mindset!
Question of the day … is your laundry basket overflowing?
Okay, for those of you tripping on this hoping the erotic romance writer is talking about some sexually fun topic … forget about it. Just get your minds out of the gutter. I’m just rambling today about writing. Because what I’m discovering about this writing gig is the longer I’m doing it, the harder it’s getting. (Seriously, quit giggling and get your mind out of the bedroom.)
Now stay with me here.
When I first started writing I could sit at the computer for hours typing pages and pages. I didn’t worry so much where the plot was taking me or how the characters were behaving … I just wrote. Blissfully. Stupidly. My stories meandered here and there until I reached an end. It was so easy. Then I got published. Not once, but several times.
Okay, now I had an editor and a series going and wait … there are readers out there looking for my next book. Yay! What a thrill. It is, it really is, but now when I sit down to write I have this niggling anti-muse looking over my shoulder saying things like “the reader’s going to see that twist, don’t bother” “oh, he would say that?” “that’s not a good plot it’s been overused” “they’re not going to like this as much as the last book” “they’re going to slaughter you on Goodreads for that”.
Yeah, you get the idea. The whole nasty negativity stealing away my creative juices. So here are a couple ways I’ve learned to combat it.
1. Turn the music up louder. That’s right drown out the negativity.
2. Keep typing, everything can be fixed in edits
3. Type without looking back. Don’t allow yourself to turn around and second guess the day’s writing.
4. Even if you’re a pantser, take 5 minutes before you write and jot down the important points of the scene/chapter you’re working on. You’ll be surprised how much that will increase your productivity.
5. And if all that fails … gag the bitch and tell her to shut the f%*&@# up!
Whew I feel better. I hope those tips help. As for me, it’s time to find that gag and write out a couple of scene points and finish up the book I’m working on. I know readers are waiting on this one.
Oh, and just so you have something to discuss … what’s for dinner? (I’m always looking for ideas.)
In the seven years since I began this journey I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I think I’ve hit the proverbial wall. I knew I had been limping along for awhile (since I spent the end of 2011 re-editing and publishing the Tilling Passions series), but I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until the other day when I opened a manuscript I started a year ago.
I’ve got the story. I know what the characters want and you know what? I couldn’t write a word. Nope, not one. I think I have to admit I’ve run head long into writer’s block. I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but I know I’m there. Hard core.
I have several books already started. Even a couple more stories that are continuations of series where I already know the characters. But I just can’t seem to get myself to settle down and write. Of course the turmoil of my personal life certainly has something to do with it, but I’ve got to stop letting that get in my way.
So today I’m pulling out the stops and trying a couple of different things. Since I love to write off visual cues, one of the tricks I’m going with is finding a picture and writing a short story. If that doesn’t work, I’ll pull out a book I’ve been looking to re-release and begin reading and editing through that.
I’ve done this story thing before. I know I can do it again. I just need to figure out how to let lose the words that are inside. Wish me luck. Because I’m going in …
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