Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Writer's Block--Do You Suffer From it?

I just read a really good blog about writer's block and though I left a comment I really wanted to write more so thought I'd do it here.

Though I don't really suffer from writer's block, I do procrastinate about clicking on Word and my latest work in progress. Instead, I check my e-mail, read posts on Facebook and write one or two, read some blogs I'm following, and maybe write a blog or two.

Though I don't work outside the house, I do some writing jobs that bring in money and if I have one of those, it will always come first. (Yes, my books bring in money, but not right away like some other things I do.)

If there is some housework jobs I really need to do, I'll probably do them before I write. One of the reasons I do that comes from my bringing up--mom made sure we'd done all of our work before we did something fun. And since writing is something I truly enjoy, I don't feel right doing it until all the more tedious jobs are done. (Funny how moms can still influence us even when we're really old--and in my case, mom has gone on to her heavenly reward.)

Fortunately, I long ago figured out a way to not have a problem knowing what to write when I finally do open up that work in progress and that's to stop in the middle of a scene, that way I know exactly what to write next.

Another trick is to go back and read what you wrote last making it easier to just continue on when you get to the blank place.

I truly love writing and with the book I'm working on now I have so many ideas for it they are spilling out of my brain. What I should do is change my schedule completely and write first--then do all the other things that need to be done. I'll try, but I don't think my many years of training and habit will let me.

I know a lot of you do your writing at night. Wish I could, but by evening I'm done. Brain is no longer functioning well enough to do anything challenging like writing.

Do you have trouble with writer's block? If so, what's your cure?

Marilyn

2 comments:

  1. My "cure" is what you've already proposed: do my writing first. I write in the mornings (I'm useless in the evenings) and I make myself achieve my word count before doing laundry, lunching with friends, gardening, etc. It works 95% of the time. :-)

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  2. I haven't found a cure yet. I just force myself to start writing and sometimes I can continue and sometimes I can't. I need to be more business-like about my writing and stop waiting for the mood to strike.

    Rhonda
    aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
    http://www.evelyndavid.com

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