This is a question for all you writers?

Question:

This is a question for all you writers?

Member since: July 13, 2006
Total points: 150 (Level 1)
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Dionna S
S This is a question for all you writers.?
HAve you ever exsperienced a time when you wanted to write badly but something inside of you was holding you back? How did you over come this? What was this time like? How do you express yourself? Please be as decriptive as possible. Thanks for you time, effort , and thoughts. I will choose a best answer.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well, you know... there's a hundred different reasons for not writing.

Sometimes what you're writing is simply difficult. Like I've got my character right now in a compound picking off her adversaries one by one, and I just realized I have no idea how to get her out of there without a deus ex, which I obviously don't want to do. I keep going back and looking at it and trying to write and it's difficult, but I have to get her out of the situation or I won't get the chapter finished. Meanwhile, while I mull over the problem I'm outlining what two other characters will be doing next chapter. I've given myself about two more writing sessions of dinking with it, then I'm just writing "any old thing" and will fix it later if it's dumb.

("Fix it later" will help you in about 30% of your writing roadblocks. It gives you permission to write incomprehensible doo-doo, which means you can get over the hurdle you're at and move on. And you can, of course fix it later.)

Sometimes what's holding me back is a reluctance to deal with the topic. Maybe it's personal to me and difficult, and I find it uncomfortable to write about. Here too, I go for the "write fast, think later" option, while giving myself permission to never show anyone what I've written. Obviously I will, but sometimes the "anonymous author" ruse works. If that doesn't work, I talk to someone about my reluctance and why, and sometimes articulating it makes it easier to face and do. Finally, I remember that the most difficult things to write are often the most real and vital, and will resonate strongly with my readers. I think to myself "someone may be glad and appreciative that I wrote this" and that helps, too.

Sometimes what's holding me back that feels emotional is really a dozen little hobgoblins like fatigue, having to write after a long days' work and taking care of two children, or anxiety about money or maybe I'm hungry.

I try and take care of my immediate comfort... like getting myself a nice cup of coffee just like I like it, and making sure I'm wearing comfy clothes and have good music on. I take a little care of myself, then say "now you're OK, so jump on in."

If that doesn't work, sometimes it's just a difficult writing day. In that case, I put my behind in the chair, my fingers on the keyboard, and make it happen.

Ultimately, writing is work. It's fun work, good work, but it's a discipline like anything else. Sometimes you don't feel like it, sometimes you get discouraged.

You keep going, because you have something to say, and when you *do* get it out it's almost always worthwhile.