This week the topic is:
‘How do you move past writer’s block?’
That’s easy … I don’t start another novel until the inspiration strikes again!
Readers can always tell if you’re writing just for the sake of trying to write something. What usually comes of this is shite. Sometimes it will take me 6 months to come up with another idea, but until then I’m happy writing blogs, reading more and writing reviews.
I don’t feel the need to be writing all the time. This is a hobby for me, and so it becomes less pleasurable if I’m trying to force words out because I feel guilty if I’m not writing. What’s the point? I’ve got my paid work to keep me occupied, and I like taking long walks to see if inspiration might strike, but hey, if it doesn’t then I’m not really that worried.
I now write one or two stories per year. I have a 30,000 word novella that I’ve just completed, and I’ve written the first chapter of another novel that I’ll finish probably some time next year. As I grow older the ideas take longer to arrive, but at least they still are arriving and I’m pleased about that!
How do other blog-hoppers cope with writer’s block? Click on the blue button below to find out, or add your own blog or just a comment.
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Stevie Turner 
I’m still trying to find the right balance between turning off my inner editor and not writing total garbage!
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Once again, I’m with you, lol. I’ve been writing a novella length book for a few months when I finally got my mojo back, but seem to have lost it again to daily interruptions lol. The only pressure is the pressure we put on ourselves. 🙂 x
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Too right. We don’t have to write if we’re not in the mood. I wait, and sooner or later inspiration strikes!
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Absolutely! And one of the perks of being self-published – no pressure! 🙂 x
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Yay!
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Your attitude makes sense, Stevie. I also write as a hobby although I prefer it to my day job most of the time, it doesn’t earn anywhere near the money so it has to take its correct place in my life. I haven’t had a shortage of time, to date. I have a shortage of time.
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Yes, I prefer writing to my day job, but as you say, it pays the bills.
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Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak.
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I think there are a variety of ways to avoid/overcome writer’s block and those might be different for you than for me. I cannot wait to be inspired before I write. It goes against what I learned in journalism classes and as a reporter. But there’s always some rattling around in my head that wants to be written. It almost never is the case that I am completely empty. There’s a really BAD poem about birch trees I wrote during the final draft of “Gathering In” (which comes out in October). I couldn’t take another hour of slogging through all the little fixes, so I tried peeking in on about four other projects and nothing happens, so I wrote the poem. I’m not a poet, it doesn’t do birch trees justice, it will never see the light of day and shouldn’t — but it greased the skids and I finished “Gathering In”. It’s what works for me.
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Thanks Lela. I can’t force the words. I have to have a good plot first.
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See, I’m the opposite. I don’t require a plot to get started. I just require characters telling me their stories, which provides the plot. It’s interesting how different writer brains work.
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Works like that for me too!
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I had to learn to turn off my internal editor when writing.
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I quite agree. I agonise over everything, every word. Is it good enough? Trouble is, if I don’t write it all down, it just keeps going around in my head.
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