Wandering Thoughts of a Writer: #authorlife

Showing posts with label #authorlife. Show all posts

I know what it’s like to have writer’s block. I've experienced it many times.

Some people claim that writer’s block is bullshit.

Whatever.

If they've never experienced it, good for them. However, I have and so have all the authors I know, and I’m friends with quite a few.

So how do you overcome it?

I’m going to tell you how.

We’ve all been there—at least us mortals have—where you’re cruising along in your story and BAM! It’s as if your brain suddenly clogged up.

WTH?

You sit there, staring at the computer screen for a while.

Whom am I kidding?

For an hour or HOURS and nothing comes to you.

Now what?

Here are six tips you can try the next time you experience the dreaded *stage whispers* writer’s blog.

1.) Walk away!

That’s right. Save what you've already written and walk away. It does you no good to sit there and stare at the screen. So do something else. Clear your head. Relax. Then go back to it later.

2.) Read.

Read a book in the same genre you’re writing in. You’ll be surprised at how well that works and the inspiration it’ll spark within you.

3.) Watch a movie or TV show.

Watch a movie or TV show similar to the type of story you’re writing. It works the same way as reading a book.

4.) Read what you've already written.

You don’t have to read everything, just the chapter you're working on or the one before it. Sometimes reevaluating scenes will make you realize there are things you need to change to make your tale much better.

5.) Be honest with yourself.

Maybe you hit a brick wall because you’re not into the story. Your passion has fizzled. Maybe you need to strip the whole tale and start over or make some major changes.

6.) Get a good night’s sleep.

Maybe you’re tired and need a break, which is fine. There’s nothing wrong with that. Set your manuscript aside, eat a good meal, have a relaxing evening, and get a good night’s sleep.

How do I combat writer’s block?

I read a book in the same genre as the one I’m writing in.

It works for me.

So try it or any of the other suggestions I've mentioned. You’ll be surprised and pleased with the results. J

#author, #authorlife, #books, #create, #creativity, #writers, #writersblock, #writing, 0 Comments

I can’t speak for all writers, but this is what my internal world is like as an author.

I have a loud mind.

Stephen King once said quiet people have loud minds. I don’t know. I mean, I’m quiet when I have nothing to say, and I don’t ever have the need to hijack someone’s conversation . . . so yeah, now that I think about it, I do have a loud mind.

My thoughts constantly scatter.

I can have a conversation with my husband and think of other things at the same time. Where I get into trouble is when he’s telling me something I’m not in the least bit interested in. I’ll focus on my thoughts instead and not hear a word he’s saying.

My mind always turns an unexplained noise or situation into a story.

This is so true, and nine times out of ten I’ll tell the person with me about it. And yes, that person looks at me like I grew another head—unless it’s another author I’m telling it to.

I'll compare real life situations to fictional ones.

I’ll compare a situation someone is in or was in or something that happened that’s relevant to one of my characters, and I’ll talk about it.

Self-induced stress.

Sometimes I become anxious and irritable when I have so many things to do like edits, rewrites, posting, marketing, etc. and not enough time to do them. Basically, I get overwhelmed, and my thoughts won’t stop whirling.

I have stories racing through my mind.

I have so many stories I want to write but not enough time to do so.

I’m never bored.

It's very rare that I'm bored. I have too many things to do to get bored.

Crankiness.

If I’m not working on a story, I get grumpy and depressed.

Anxious.

I get nervous and scared when other people reads my story.

I'm a serf to my imaginary friends.

My character’s talk to me, and they can get demanding to where I have to appease them. I am their slave.

Happiness.

I get excited and giddy when I’m creating a story.

My characters crack me up and make me weep.

I laugh when one of my characters does something funny. I also cry when something bad happens to them.

So do I like being an author?

No.

I frickin’ love it.

Why?

Because despite the anguish as an author I go through to churn out a novel and market it, I created something out of nothing. I have the ability to transfer what’s inside of me, onto paper, and into other people’s minds. I can share with them worlds and characters they never knew about. I can teach them lessons or at least get them to think on topics they never thought about before. I can make them laugh, cry, smile, and get frustrated. I can entertain them. I’m giving something to this world that more than likely will last well after I’m gone, which rocks.

Yes, I’m overwhelmed.

But . . .

Being an author makes me happy and want to do a silly dance.