Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Writer's Block

Lately I've been suffering from a severe case of writer's block.  So much so that I can't get anything from pen to paper.  It's not that I don't have any new and fresh ideas, I just can't seem to get them into a story.  I write a few paragraphs that I believe are brilliant.  I'm so proud of myself and how far my writing abilities have come.  And then there it is, that huge brick wall.  The story stops and I can't get it to go any further.

Since I am so full of fresh new ideas, I put that story aside and move on to the next idea.  And the same thing happens.  I find myself staring at the page, switching back and forth between the stories and going nowhere.

That novel about Cleveland has been sitting around waiting for some more polish.  It's already 78,000 words but still has significant holes in the story.  I had put it aside also since I felt like I was over thinking that story too.  Seeing that nothing else was working, I looked at it again.  I changed the names of the main characters, hoping some sassier and more interesting people would emerge.  I found I missed Mandy and Violet and wanted them back.  But the holes in their story persist.

I have even started to wonder if I have what it takes to be a successful writer.  It's been my dream for so long but is it really what I'm meant to do.  Maybe it's time to move on to a new dream.  Nothing however comes to mind that excites me any more than creating interesting characters, putting them into an unusual situation and seeing what happens.  I'm always surprised by the outcome.

The writer's block will pass.  At least I hope it will.  And sooner rather than later.  I have to keep plugging away at it.  What does it say on my coffee mug that I start each morning with?

                            A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.

1 comment:

  1. I empathize with you. I did a lot of research to be able to write a novel. I posted it all on blockedwriters.com. I am now 49,000 words into my novel. I'm not blocked and I'm having fun, too. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete

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