Words make sentences. Sentences make paragraphs. Paragraph make pages. Pages make chapters and chapters make a book.Sounds easy. And some days it’s so easy you can’t stop writing.
Other days, your fingers don’t fly across the keyboard, the screen is blank and the cursor is just taunting you.
We all go through this. I refuse to call it Writer’s Block. It just plain sounds too negative to me. I prefer to call it a hiccup in the writing process. Of course, it would be easier if I could just drink some water and it would be gone, but I have my methods.
I talk to my characters. And I do this out loud while I swear I hear their voices in my head. Yes, I’m sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with me. But it works for me. What do they want me to write? What do they feel needs to be done next. And, horrors, what am I doing wrong. And they will tell me, even if it hurts. I’ve written scenes that won’t work no matter what. I ask the characters what’s going on and once I’m told where I screwed up and I fix it, all goes well. Who knew a character could be so blunt you’d want to hang your head in shame.
Years ago, I was the intense writer, pressured myself into writing even when it was hard and as a result, I later looked at my work and realized it wasn’t as good as it should be. Now, I relax more, listen to all my inner muses and follow their lead.
Maybe you have that internal word count you want to reach each day and it’s fantastic when that happens, but don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t. Who says you won’t go over and above that expected word count the following day and it comes out even better than you expect.
Remember this: don’t agonize over your writing. Yes, you will, easier said than done. But if you agonize too much you won’t enjoy what you’re doing and that lack of enjoyment will show up.
Just write as in automatic writing. Editing can come later. Write down what your characters tell you to write, write what comes to mind. You might be very surprised at what comes out.
Linda
Note from Ally: Don’t forget to check-in below. It’s Friday! That means a week in review. How’d you do? Come on, you can tell us.
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Hi Linda,
My characters talk to me all the time. I don’t plan anything if I do they shut up. So I just go with what ever they give me. They even change their names if they’re not happy with the ones I’ve given them. They want sex when I’m not ready fort hem to have it. So I just write the scene and move it about later. :whistle
You are so right about just write what comes to you. Write what ever your characters give you. But most of all enjoy your writing. :write
My word count for the challenge so far is 11,037 that was up till this afternoon. I’m going to do another hour or so now.
Happy writing everyone.
Hugs
Sandie
Sandie, that’s fabulous! :clap
Linda, I totally agree with the automatic writing. When I want to switch off my internal editor and just write, I use an Alphasmart. It’s fabulous for churning words out fast.
Does anyone else use one?
Yep…Checking in at 4056.
I rarely get writing time to myself. Most days I just writie in the living room or in bed next to hubby. But last night…while my guys went to see Iron Man, I got to sneak off to Borders.
Two and a half hours to myself. I have learned to use this kind of time whether I am in the writing mood or not. So in that time I cranked out over 2K words.
It’s all about using your time wisely..
This is Leila signing off.
Leila Brown
http://www.leilabrown.com
leilabrown.blogspot.com
Great Sandie!
I’ve had my characters tell me they’re not happy with the names I’ve given them. I truly think we do much better if we listen to them.
Linda
A friend has an Alphasmart, Nicola and loves it. She’s actually on her second one. I keep notebooks all around the house and I’ll jot down notes when they occur to me.
Linda
Fantastic Leila! And you’re right, you grab what time you have. I’ve even been know to write longhand while dinner’s cooking. Or waiting for dh to come home with take out. :> Even waiting at the dr’s office. It’s great even if I just write buzz words to remind me what’s going to happen next.
Linda
Great post, Linda. I talk to my characters too (thank God they don’t talk back… except on screen LOL).
I tend to check things over too much and my internal editor is a ferocious beast. I’ve tried but it won’t shut up… even if I’m plotting! I’ve tried to silence it many ways but it’s not happened so I’m kind of used to it now.
I didn’t write anything yesterday. I felt ill and cranky so I watched TV all night instead! And I feel better for it today
Hi ladies, back from Paris, jet-lagged and utterly besotted with the place (except the prices, whew!). I’m barely coherent, but wanted to jump in and say rah rah and hope everything is going well! I’ll be starting a novella for Harlequin special projects on monday so I’ll be slaving away with all of you all too soon.
In the meantime yes, I have an Alphasmart and I love it, not for editing but for times when I have to get a lot of words down without fussing over my perfectionist self and NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET which is my drug of choice.
I’ll be around tomorrow, just wanted to say hi I’m back and half my brain is too!
Cheers,
Isabel
Yay, Sandie and Leila! :clink *toasting you*
As for me, I’m at just over 866 for the day (not bad after a grueling day at the edj), and about 6,400 total.
I’m hoping to get around 4k this weekend.
Great post. I especially needed the reminder not to beat myself up if I don’t make the word count goal that’s in my head, but rather focus on what I did accomplish.
That said, I’m around 5300 words since May 1. I think the exact total is 5317 (It’s hard to be exact because my Alpha doesn’t do word counts. Oh yeah, and a good chunk is hand written.)
Great post everyone! I haven’t even started to write. No excuses except I just started a new job and I sold a book to The Wild Rose Press.
Tomorrow I’m going to force myself to continue writing, now more excuses.
Theresa
Hi Isabel!
Time for you to jump into the fray, m’dear. But you should have all that inspiration from Paris, lucky lady!
Linda
Awesome, Cassandra! You’re rolling along.
Linda
That’s the thing, Barb. There’s times I’ve written like crazy, exceeded what I hoped to for the day then I read it over and delete most of it. While days I’ve written less can end up pretty much intact. Just be happy you’ve written.
Linda
Theresa,
Congrats on your sale! :clap
Linda
Okay…well, I’m up to 7,362 since May 1st.
Not too bad, but a little behind. My characters took a turn I didn’t anticipate. I had to rein them in… I’m sure I’ll pay for it later.
Recently I’ve labeled myself the queen of complication. The simplest things become so…complicated.
Keep is simple is my new mantra.
Here’s what I need to do…just :write
Theresa, Congrats on the sale!
Linda, thanks for the great pep talk.
Lara
Wow, last night was an intense writing night for me. Even if I did finish somewhere around 4am. About 2500 words, or thereabouts.
This article definitely spoke to me, especially about listening to the muse. Too often it feels like it’s TOO HARD, and then I get into a flow and the words just fly out. Except for spelling errors that I notice right off the bat, I try not to let my inner-editor dictate my writing until AFTER I’m done.
*chuckles* And I find that my characters often do things I’m not expecting. When I’m writing, sometimes my fingers will fly before I think of what to write and my character will be panicking in the middle of a love scene. It’s interesting, to say the least.
So, here’s my WC for the day:
Beginning WC for day 9: 10,010 words
Ending WC for day 9: 12,030 words
And that marks the end of my story! Now I have to start working on a synopsis for it…and to start on its prequel! *squeals!*
I think I’ll just go ahead and sign off for now. Hope everyone else fared well!
Blessings,
Dena
Lara,
Oooh, arguing with your characters. Good luck! Mine believe in “what I say is right”.
Linda
True, turning off an inner editor isn’t easy, but better because then your work doesn’t slow down. I always figure I can fix things when I edit. Some make me nuts and yes, I fix. Others, I put off.
Linda
Checking in with a craptacular 354 words thus far for week 2. :bad
Total to date: 8248.
Derailed when a publisher asked for one of my manuscripts, so I stopped to give it a final once-over and format to their guides. A happy dilemma, but it kind of short-circuited the flow I had going on the current story. Anyone got a pair of defib paddles? ::CLEAR…ZAP::
Derailed, my foot! You needed to get that done, right? And now you’ll be back to your challenge writing.
Linda
Congrats on your sale, Theresa
Hey, what happened to the dancing guys? :dance
Here you go, Theresa, these were supposed to be on my last post!
Great going, everyone.
Keep those words coming
And Isabel, that’s exactly why I love Alphie too. Just get the words out without editing or interruptions. Love it!
Lisa – congratulations on the request from the editor. That’s fabulous news and a totally legitimate reason to divert your attention. :goodjob That happens all the time in the publishing world — you have to stop what you’re writing and do some urgent edits, write a dedication letter, etc. It’s not uncommon to be working on a proposal or two, a current story, and edits for one or two sold books, all at the same time — PLUS promotional things you’re doing. It can get crazy!!! That’s why you can’t always focus on the word count. But it does underscore the need to make the time at the computer count. Anyhow, slog on! :moped
Theresa – fabulous news on the sale!!! :clink I have friends who write for Wild Rose. Congratulations!!! Celebrate big!!! :cooldance
And Lara – I totally sympathize. My editor’s favorite thing to say to me is “you’re overthinking this.” I have to constantly tell myself to keep it simple! :wall
Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms, and even to those who aren’t, because why not?
Barb, 5K words in a week is most impressive, ditto Lara with 7K! Mon dieu! (see how French I am now? I think I even had a dream I wore a beret last night). Lisa, many congrats on the request from an editor. It’s like being touched by royalty isn’t it? Theresa, congrats on your sale to Wild Rose! Tell us about the book? Is it written?
I’m lazing around today, but tomorrow Ka-THWACK, the whips and chains come out. Flip of a coin whether I knock off a novella due in August or start a new proposal. Either one means BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard, and NOT e-mail, Isabel).
Cheers,
Isabel
playing with her new dehydrator today and making beef jerky and fruit leather
Dena – I always tell myself that no matter how bad it is, I can always make whatever is on the page better later. And some days are definitely easier than others!!!
5410
Great Emily!
Linda
Lisa,
I think you should copyright ‘craptacular’
And congrats on your request!
I’ve been deep in editing mode since late last week, hoping to get manuscript off to my ed tonight.
Then it’s onto the next!!
Gail,
you are sooo right about attention being diverted by other publishing things.
It can really disrupt the flow of a story…
Isabel,
good luck with BICHOK
My wordcount so far is 6931. I’m behind and didn’t write as much on the weekend as I would have liked.
Well, I finished my BDSM erotic romance. Since I started it 5,271 words in, I began my count at that point, and that small story has a final WC of 12,051 words. That makes 6,780 words currently.
I still need to do the synopsis, but I want the story read over by some trusted friends first. LOL, they’ll tell me if it’s just so much crap.
On a brighter note, I’ve started another story that’s been percolating in my mind for quite some time. It’s a paranormal story with a semi-complicated structure. So I’m glad I started!
Beginning WC: 0
Ending WC for 5/12: 813
Well, better something than nothing, right?
Blessings,
Dena
Angie, even if you didn’t meet your personal goal, you kept working. That’s what matters.
And Dena – did you celebrate ending the book? Isn’t it a fabulous feeling? :partyhat
Yay, Dena :clap
:partyhat This is me, because I just sent off my finished manuscript to my editor. :cooldance
Now onto the next…!
I missed Friday’s check in but I’mhere today. I worked 8pm until 5am Thursday night-Friday morning. However my word count until Fridya was 6,692 and for my Monday check in I added (does anybody get aggravated with the way 2007 MS Office works besides me?)2,886 making my totat for the wip 9,578. I found myself pushing at it last night and deicded it was time to call a screehing halt.
:pound :pound :pound
:goodluck to Theresa on her man :cooldance uscript call and atta girl award for you :dance
:cooldance I added a chapter challenge as well to se how much will pop out in a week. :cooldance
:pound Of course it has to be my week with a twelve hour day on Thursday. :pound But as the song goes I will survive. :wave See y’all on Friday if i can remember to post.
You’re all doing so well! :wave
I think we all need a challenge to get writing. Get that inspiration fired up. So no relaxing! :bath Time to work! :write
Linda