My house is clean, fridge is full, laundry is folded. Blog is updated, email checked, friends talked to on the phone. I've watched a movie, written in my journal, and made a pitcher of peppermint iced tea. All I have left is to write.
So why can't I make myself pick up my pen? The notebook is on the table, pulled off its shelf, the pen is resting on its cover. I've cut my writing goals in half in an effort to eliminate the fear that I won't write enough each session, and that seemed to help for about a week, but here I am, not writing.
I've tried to be honest with myself and questioned whether my hesitation is coming from the story itself, but I'm still very excited about the overall idea. I can see my character doing the things I have planned for him and I'm looking forward to the upcoming scenes. Maybe I need to skip ahead and work on those? I'm making very little progress with my current linear plan, so it can't hurt.
That doesn't resonate with me either, so I think for now I need to just sketch out the basics and worry about filling out the details later. At least that way I'll make some progress.
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7 comments:
Whatever works. Sketch out the basics, just write a few paragraphs a day, maybe even fill out a character questionnaire. Anything to get in a habit.
Now get going, darn it.
This is why I loved The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear by Ralph Keyes...I didn't think it was fear getting in my way but the book has a lot of insight on the topic.
I can't write linear either...I've tried. I guess it's because I don't always know what is going to happen next. But I do know things that will happen or be said later so I will jump ahead and write those scenes.
Because of the jumping around I add a descriptive title or summary before each scene so that when I do go back and fill in or eventually rearrange I can easily scan the doc and find what I need.
Good Luck Mel!!
Thanks Wendy and Jenna. :)
I didn't write anything last night but I did crack open my Strunk & White. I'm getting closer to feeling motivated.
Yeah, try to tackle it from another angle. Something unexpected from your original pace and structure may push you forward. But remember this troubled phase is natural, and don't be too hard on yourself.
Sometimes I have to jump around. Sometimes I have days and days where I write snippets, and I can't get a complete sentence to come out of my fingers to save my life.
Ah, well. speaking of which. I gotta get to it. I wish my house were clean.
I think part of my problem is stemming from my decision to write this draft by hand. By skipping ahead I won't be able to come back because there won't be any room. I could leave a few blank pages but I don't really like that idea either.
I like my pages to look pretty. :) I know it's stupid but that's part of what's tripping me up.
With my new project I haven't had an outline like I usually have to write from...so I've had to really force myself to just get butt in chair. Good luck--it will come!
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