For the last 48 hours I’ve done a great many things. I’ve written my columns for the day job. I’ve edited them, along with a few of my co-worker’s. I’ve ordered holiday flowers for my editors and some out of town friends. I’ve made some new recipes. Baked cookies. Done some laundry. Paid bills.
I’ve done everything except write fiction.
Yes, the Queen of Sit Down and Write has been finding everything to do except write.
Why?
I might be just a little afraid.
I think it happens to most of us at one time or another. Fear sneaks in and we aren’t even aware of it. I keep telling myself, “You really need to sit down and write.” The next thing I know it’s four hours later and I’ve done everything except that. Now, I have a crazy busy life. I juggle multiple careers in print, radio and books. But if I set aside time to write and it’s not getting done, then I have to take a hard look at what is really going on.
So that’s what I’m doing with this blog. It’s come to my attention that after two days of “trying to write” and nothing getting done, that maybe I should come clean.
There is no such thing as writer’s block. There is only fear. That means, I’m afraid of my story. Actually, to be more specific, I’m afraid of what comes next. It’s funny, because I’ve written a synopsis so technically I know EXACTLY what comes next. My problem is, I need some kind of motivation and goal for this particular chapter and I’m not sure what that is. I don’t believe in transition chapters, and that’s my hangup. I need to start with a bang and end with a bang.
And hello, just typing that helped me see what I need to do. Sometimes getting through those bumps in the road can be as easy as that. Talking it through on paper or with a friend. Many times you need to identify what it is you are afraid of, and move on from there.
It also helps me if I pull out one of my spiral bound journals and start writing. It doesn’t feel like “real writing” if I’m using a pen for some reason. I’ve written entire books that way.
Something else that helps is to move on to the next thing I do know. Maybe it’s a specific scene later in the book, or even some dialogue between characters, but writing “something” is what is important. I used to write chronologically, but these days the ending might be the first thing I write in a book. Or a scene in chapter 22. I never know.
Moving forward can often help us see what we need to do to get there. In other words, if you write that scene that you know needs to happen in chapter 22, then you can figure out what has to happen in the chapters leading up to it.
So this post is going to be a little short this week, because I really did figure out what I need to do with my witch and her two hot boys!
Share with me what you do to get over your fears… Doesn’t have to be writing related. Tell me, I really want to know.
