Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Road Trip Wednesday- Writer's Block? I don't have writer's block. Do I?




 
This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic:
How do you beat writer's block?
Do you go for a jog? Read a book? Go to a movie? Come on, share your secret - we're dying to know!
 
 
I'm very lucky (so far, at least) that when I sit down, even for just an hour, and write, I get stuff done, I get into it, I enjoy it.

The biggest problem is getting that time to sit down and write.

The problem within that problem is figuring out when life has taken over my writing time verses when I'm letting life take over my writing time.

When I get past the weekend-burning softball tournaments and dance recitals or my house guests have left and I'm still not back into writing on a regular basis, that means my lack of progress is probably more about my story than my life. That's my true writer's block. 

My solution? More research.

I tend to research a book before, during and sometimes even after a book is finished...finished, meaning, "shelved for the time being".

But more research when I'm stuck (and not just stuck for time) is the thing most likely to get the ideas flowing, it inspires me and gets me moving again on a project.

What about you? Why do you get stuck? How do you get unstuck? 

7 comments:

  1. I agree. And when I don't have the time to sit and write because I know I'll be distracted every few minutes, I research. I find pictures of where the story takes place, the local high school, etc. It gives me ideas to deepen the story and help explain the surroundings. :)

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  2. "The biggest problem is getting that time to sit down and write." Totally agree. Once I am in my chair and writing, I'm okay. Carving out the time in the chair--that's another story.

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  3. Yeah often getting stuck is the result of not knowing what comes next. That's when I pull out the spreadsheet and start plotting out my roadmap.

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  4. This is a good idea. I don't tend to do as much research but It would probably be a good way to get unstuck.

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  5. Research is a great idea-stimulator! But I find that when I start researching one thing, that leads to something else. Which leads to something else. Fascinating, but can be a time suck for me.

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  6. I wholeheartedly agree that creating the time to write is a bigger problem for me than writers block. It's so much easier to blame it on an obscure concept beyond my control than to admit that it's just me not having or making the time to write...

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  7. I've used to get up at 5am every morning and write until about 7am, when I had to get the kids ready for school. It was fantastic! I love to have a certain schedule because I follow it.

    But back in April I injured my back and neck and couldn't sit for any extended period of time, so the writing suffered. No more getting up at 5am, no more tight schedule. Now, after months of physical therapy, I feel better and finally I'm writing again. I'm not back at 5am regime just yet, but I'm working toward it. As soon as the kids are back at school, it should be easier to fall back into that routine :-)

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