Saturday, June 18, 2005

It finally happened - I can't write

So I pick up one of my current seven works in progress (well, two are working in my head, five on computer.) I thought I didn't really feel like writing, but figured once I started, I'd kick right into it like usual and I'd knock out another chapter or so.

HA!

For the first time EVER, it's like pulling teeth. And what I'm writing SUCKS. I realize I can go back and delete it all (thank God for computers, eh?) but the entire SENSATION is just......weird!!! I've HEARD of writers having this problem. Heck, my idol Stephen King wrote about it, I read his thoughts on it, but of course, it's Stephen King, so you don't really think it's that hard for him and he's placating the rest of us peons, right? I'm not so sure anymore.

I'm going to keep going. I can always ditch the scene, right? Right. And really, this is my own fault. I got out of the writing "process" and just like anything, it takes daily work on it to keep the muscles working well. I'm sitting here like one giant brain cramp.

Uncool.

7 comments:

Karyn Lyndon said...

Nevertheless, I'm proud of you for writing...and it's not even August yet! Don't erase it. Maybe it's not your writing that's off...just your judgment.

Laurie Larsen said...

Brenda, keep writing! You may think it's bad right now while you're in the midst of it, but I promise, when you go back and read it tomorrow, or next week, you'll say, "Hmmm, it's not really that bad!" And it will be immediately clear what to do to fix it. (The whole "I can fix a bad page but I can't fix a blank page" thing). So keep going!

Laurie
a fellow author with occasional writers block!

Anonymous said...

Keep at it. Every day. It will come back to you! And it might not look as bad after a few days...

Duke_of_Earle said...

Gee, Brenda. Everybody says "Keep writing." Well, OK.

But I need a day, or even a week off from it every now and then. What I find is that my mind keeps working over the project I'm stuck on, and soon the next "perfect" twist, or way out, or event, or dialogue is there and I'm happily tapping away at it again.

Whatever works for you, girl!

John

Linda Winfree said...

Oh, Brenda, honey, I can empathize! And you're right, it's the most awful feeling. But you're pushing forward. Trust me, sooner or later, it'll give.

Kelly Boyce said...

Don't you HATE that?? I call those my "See Spot Run" days, where everything comes out sounding like it should be in some primer book for beginning readers. Keep at it though and eventually you'll break through. Sometimes I'll just go off on a tangent even if I know I probably won't keep what I'm reading, just to loosen up the muse and get her working properly again. Good luck!

Randy said...

Brenda, make sure the Internal Editor in your brain is set to the "off" position. :) Sometimes, the more we learn the more it paralyzes us.