Write Anyway

While the change of venue last week was a great jump-start to overcoming a weird case of writer’s block I was suffering, getting back into a routine is proving just as challenging. I spent some time over the weekend looking through my notes and I think I have some good ideas for taking some fiction in a different direction.

Now, to do it.

I need to warm up again, so let’s try a prompt from one of the places I go to occasionally for inspiration – wakeupwriting.com. The prompt for today: Close your eyes and think about your favorite scent. Try to capture the smell in your mind. Now journal a memory that you associate with that scent.

I will post my warm up entry using that prompt tomorrow. Until then, have a great day – and write anyway!

BitS, warm up, writing, write anyway

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Man, oh man, I am so glad today is Friday. After being gone all week at a conference in Pensacola and trying to keep up with work and writing “remotely,” I’m all in. The experience was a good one, and I am glad I went, but I need a week to catch up with myself.

In your writing, do you ever get to the point where you look around at everything you need to do for family, for a job or for whatever, and shut down? I have reached that point and I am more than a little overwhelmed with it all. There just is not enough time! If you come up with a way to go without sleep – or if you discover a way to stretch 24 hours into 36, let me know.

Write anyway, ok? I will and I will be back in the saddle Monday. See you then.

TGIF, write anyway, writing, overwhelmed, week in review

Do feed the writers: get the feed!

A steady diet of seafood at a variety of local restaurants in Pensacola has me feeling a bit under the weather. That, and all of the frozen alcoholic concoctions, I suppose. Since I am traveling home from the Gulf Coast, not much writing will happen, even though I have several days worth of “experience” and a days worth of time on an airplane/in airport(s) to kill.

So I’ll ask you – what kinds of writing issues are you dealing with? Discuss.

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anything goes, write anyway, writing issues, travel, Pensacola

Something that I may not have honestly explored is the impact personal fantasy has on the writing process. Now before you go all x-rated on me, this word “fantasy” could be as simple as a daydream about your life – or a life of one of your characters – that can spin the plot possibilities in another direction.

For example, today, during one of the breaks I was on during the conference I am attending, I stole back to my hotel room and stood on the balcony to watch the yachts putt-putt around just beyond the breaking surf. I imagined myself as the captain of one of the larger yachts and imagined where I was going, who was on the boat and the minutia of what it must take to maneuver such a beautiful and expensive piece of property. Then, since I could not help myself, I imagined I owned the yacht and could afford such an extravagant boat and, for good measure, a full staff to operate the boat and take me wherever I wanted to go on a whim.

Hmmm…getting a beautiful tan with a drink in hand while on that yacht…and by the time I included a personal chef, bartender, wait staff, full crew and I had to stop myself before I bankrupted my own fantasy. But it was fun to think like that and got me wondering how I could finagle a way to do some research…on a yacht. I would not even have to own it.

Fantasy: what a great way to get over that hump in the week!

Does “fantasy” or “daydreaming” help your writing?

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write anyway, fantasy, daydreaming, inspiration, hump day

Part of the free writing assignment I gave myself for Monday is below. Remember – this is raw: no edits, no wordsmithing, and not much sleep:

The white sands are soft and cool on my bare feet. Walking on the beach is relaxing – more relaxing than I remember from the last time I was on the Gulf coast just over a year ago. Soft southern drawls are everywhere and people go out of their way to point out the regional attractions, including restaurants, beachside bars, and shops. On a lark, I picked up a real estate business card that was left on the table of the hotel where I am staying. I could never afford to live here, but I can still want to.

Sunny, windy days with bronzed (probably locals) or pinked (obviously tourists) bodies wandering around gives me the impression of perpetual leisure. Even the barkeep is laid back – as if his job was a vacation. And while my conference is stressful, with so much to learn and not much time, I can feel my steps slow, my heart rate drop and my blood pressure moderate from hearing the surf crash on the beach, just beyond my balcony door.

What moves you to write? Your surroundings? Your friends or family? Your life?

move me, beach, Pensacola, free writing, relax

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Breaking through a bout of writers block, this time, for me, took a drastic change of venue. For my job, I am in Pensacola Beach, Florida, at a conference where even the president of the company putting on the conference presents wearing cargo shorts and flip-flops. These are SO my people. No suits, heels, or dress clothes came anywhere near my suitcase and I am very much ok with that!

I have to tell you, walking on the beach, feeling the sun on my shoulders, and now that the sun has gone down, hearing the waves hit the beach just beyond my balcony is having nine kinds of therapy on my withered writer’s soul.

(The very potent “Beach Sex” and “Pain Killer” frozen cocktails are rather therapeutic, too. The dorm fridge in my hotel room, well stocked with Diet Coke, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and a few other things are not hurting either.)

So for a writing prompt, I am going to free write about the beach. Since I am in a conference, I will write in fits and starts – and probably on backs of napkins during breaks, but this is so good. I cannot wait to see where it goes. I’m back in the saddle. How’s it going for you?

write anyway, writers block, Pensacola Beach, venue change, free writing, beach

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To say that this week has been difficult is an understatement like I have never known. So while I will be struggling through all this writers block and packing/traveling to a conference on the opposite end of the country this weekend, you take some well-deserved time off. Ok?

I’ll be back in the writing saddle next week (provided connectivity is not an issue). Have a great weekend.

TGIF, write anyway, writers block, week in review

Do feed the writers: get the feed.

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

Still suffering from serious writers block, I am grasping at straws. I can no longer bring myself to rewrite anything and list making, free writing, and other tried and true “warm up” type exercises leave me cold. Everything that has worked in the past to get me beyond this wall, this barricade is failing me.

So when I get to this point, I turn to Dr. Google. The internet won’t fail me, right? I search for the terms “writers block” and BLAMO in 0.09 seconds I have over 2,780,000 results.

Of course, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, offers me a definition of the phenomenon I’m experiencing. I’m leaning dangerously toward hypochondria the way it is; I do not need to know depression and anxiety are associated with writer’s block, so I am moving on now, thanks. But not before taking note of the list of “various strategies for overcoming writer’s block” – that are, of course, suggested by non-cited authorities.

After a little more surfing around, I discover www.writersblock.com – home to musicians, poets, songwriters, writers, etc. It looks friendly enough and their forum topics are positive and constructive in nature. I may have to go back and register on that site later. You never know where you might find some inspiration – or similar, suffering souls.

Finally, there are the ads and swindles (and I’m paraphrasing, satirizing, and refusing to link):

“Buy my inspirational writing software!” (that eats your computer from the inside out).

“Write and publish a book in less than a week writing ONE hour a day using my inexpensive customized program! Guaranteed!” (Uh-huh.)

“Learn from a Pro and follow your writing dream down the yellow brick road of success, glory, riches and fame!” (Ok – I am really losing my grasp on reality here.)

Regardless of what my searches found out there on the vast ocean of websites, I will get beyond this writers block. I am not sure what is going to do it for me yet, but something has to work. Eventually.

What do you do when you experience writer’s block? Help a girl out? Please?

anything goes, writers block, Google, Wikipedia, writersblock.com, help, write anyway

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Sporadic writer’s block is killing me. Instead of writing something new, lately, I find myself going back through old warm-up exercises and drafts and rewriting parts of them. I must be really stonewalled if I am – gack – rewriting.

Hey – I’m writing. Right?

One way I take on the dreaded rewriting is by printing out the draft, cutting the paper up, rearranging everything. I explained this before. That works well if I have some time and want to look at something other than a computer screen. A faster and less dangerous way (paper cut anyone?) is to use Microsoft Word functions called “track changes” and “highlight text.” I know – not earth shattering, or even the only ways to mark up a virtual doc – but it works for me.

What I end up with looks awful, but I can save it with a variation of the original file name and keep track of the piece as it goes from draft to semi-polished to ‘perfect.’ Perfect? Well…no. As I can always find ways to improve my drafts.

What strategies do you use to rewrite?

hump day, rewriting, drafting, MS Word, track changes, draft variations, write anyway

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Sometimes the thing that “moves me” to write is just too poignant or painful at the time. I need some space, some distance between whatever it is that moved me to write and the actual writing. Working in journalism does not often allow that luxury of time, which is why I admire people who write under pressure of a deadline while in difficult, horrible situations. Like what happened yesterday in Virginia.

Writers who write under those circumstances must possess a level of professionalism that moves them beyond their own feelings to push for details, to ask for the whole story, to demand the who-what-when-where and the all-important “why?” I hope the writers covering this event as part of “their job” will be able to answer for us all why this happened and by doing so, be able to help us all find a little peace.

move me, write anyway, Virginia Tech

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How do you manage your writing time? Do you have goals for your writing? Do you set a schedule and treat it like a job? Or is it your job? How much writing do you do? Two, five or fifteen pages every day? So many pages per week?

I read recently that people who write for websites often use the “publish to the future” tool and have everything written for the week – the WEEK – on Sunday night. (Overachievers? Um, yeah.) Provided you are not writing ‘current news’ that would probably work really well. Considering my writing muse is usually trying to help me locate lost shoes, homework assignments and clean school clothes for Monday morning, getting all that done and writing five posts to publish ‘in the future’ would probably drive her to drink.

Regardless of how you manage your writing time or how you are required to manage your writing time, it can be healthy to develop a schedule (with the understanding that schedules change, of course). Set aside some time everyday just to write, preferably not as I have to do, which juggles work, kids, and constant interruptions. Be sure to include enough time to warm up, brainstorm and focus in on your goal, whatever that may be. But write anyway!

BitS, writing, scheduling, “publish to the future”, writing goals

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I don’t think I’m going to take the weekend off, this week.

Ok – now that you’ve picked yourself up from the floor…I KNOW! Strange! However, working through some serious writer’s block this week has me all inspired and excited about working on a project I have been futzing around with since October. Once the momentum gets rolling, I tend to roll with it, just as a gambler will with a lucky streak. You just do. (Might not hurt that it is Friday the 13th…or maybe it will. I don’t put much to luck.)

Looking back over the week, though, we did accomplish a lot. So if you decide to take a break from writing, you earned it. If not, keep the momentum going and write anyway!

TGIF, week in review, writing, momentum, luck, write anyway

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Until Timothy McVeigh used part of the poem Invictus by the British poet William Ernest Henley in his goodbye to the world and kind of ruined it for me, I always admired the poem for the message of calm determination to persevere despite overwhelming circumstance.

In case you are unfamiliar:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I still like the poem, despite the association with a – well – a very disturbed individual. I find it quietly inspirational in a dark, brooding way.

What poetry or passages of prose do you admire? Anything goes.

anything goes, poetry, Invictus, admire

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Inspiration does not often come as a “thunder bolt from the sky.” Getting inspired takes a lot of work, which is probably why when I turn to Google with the words “writer” and “resources” it comes back in 0.14 seconds with over 30,300,000 results. Holy Hanna, where does a blocked writer start?

Well. Anywhere you like. If you are serious, try Coffee House for Writers. There are online workshops, communities for everything from poetry to peer reviews, and motivational free writing email (that last one sounds new-wave religion, but we writers all worship our muse/god/demon of choice, no?). Not a bad place to start.

Another good place to look for inspiration is WritersDigest.com. Fiction, nonfiction, children’s, poetry, scriptwriting and the ever helpful writing prompts, Writers Digest has free email newsletters, a wordy, but well organized website, and a magazine.

If you are looking for ways to procrastinate or if you just want a good laugh or two, I have been a fan of NotWriting.com longer than I care to admit. Peruse a list of resources, where Chris links to all kinds - well - procrastination stuff. You can kill all kinds of time there, and still look busy.(Another good way to procrastinate? Completely dismantle your online blog/journal thing, roll up your pant legs and wade through html code and then find yourself up to your neck and sinking fast…what, I’ve never done that to avoid writing before…really.)

No matter where you find your inspiration – and it may well come at you as a thunderbolt, but I am not holding my breath – just remember that writers write. What you write today may never see a printing press, virtual or otherwise, but it gets you one page closer to what you are meant to write. So – write anyway.

hump day, writing, inspiration, help, Coffee House for Writers, WritersDigest.com, NotWriting.com, write anyway

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