Jul 14, 2017

Blank Mind Means Blank Page

How do I get from this.....


To this.....


I never have trouble sitting down and starting a new story. There are usually ideas for at least one going on in my mind at any given time. But my latest book has taken weeks to even get the first words on Page 1.
Or what I really mean are words that I'm happy to put out there.
I have never suffered from writer's block before and I'm hoping I never do again. Having returned home from seven weeks tripping around Europe I was ready to get into my office and start working on a story.
But it was a fail. I tried my usual things I do to nut out a problem with plot like taking a long walk. Zip. Nada. So in the end I went on Facebook and asked my writing friends if they had any suggestions. Thank goodness for them. The ideas kept coming and after trying bits and pieces of some ideas I finally wrote a page I could accept, then another and another until today I sent in three chapters to my editor. the relief is enormous.
Mind you, she might not like it and I'm back to the beginning, though this shouldn't be as difficult as the past few weeks were. but hey, that's the crazy life of being an author.

Have you ever got stuck in your work or something else that you absolutely have to find a way through?

Watch out for Falling For Her Fake Fiance, due out in October.
 
 

15 comments:

  1. Oh God, Sue what a nightmare!! One I suffer on a regular basis--blank head, no ideas, nothing. I usually try to do all the suggested things like taking a walk, being near water, just writing a stream of consciousness and usually whatever is stuck unsticks. I'm so glad you go through it and I'm sure your ed will love the three chapters!!

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    1. Thanks, Louisa. Fingers crossed the chapters are okay, but there's this nagging feeling going on in my gut that they're not, but at least I've got something to work with now. Better than where I was at a couple of weeks ago.

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  2. Hi Sue

    I am glad that it all worked out it must be very scary for writers to go through, for me I often am trying to come up with a word for a review and nothing works for me thesaurus helps me thank heavens :) And I will be looking forward to your new one

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Thanks, Helen. Where would we be without the Thesaurus? It's a must.

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  3. It's a scary feeling isn't it? I always have that horrible "what if I never have another idea" thought - but things always get moving eventually. I find taking a shower (as odd as it sounds) always helps! Seems to stimulate the creative brain :D

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    1. I'm not laughing, Stefanie, as I've found the shower helps too. So does ironing but since that's my least favourite past time it's a last resort.

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  4. Hi Sue,

    So glad the block has passed. I think something our minds as well as our bodies just need time to relax and not be pushed too hard. Having said that, it's really scary, isn't it? I don't usually sit and stare at a blank page. My difficulty is before I get to the computer - on those occasions when I consider my book ideas and don't feel like any will work. :)

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    1. Totally with you on that sense of ideas not working. Scary for sure. This was my first experience of not being able to write for so long and hopefully the last.

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  5. Oh I know that feeling Sue. Like Stef I often get ideas in the shower. Must be all those negative irons (or whatever they are). I also get ideas on walks to the Byron lighthouse. Sometimes I start having conversations (out loud) between the hero and heroine and forget to stop when people walk past me - they tend to give me a wide berth! Hilarious!

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    1. That's why the locals look at me funny - I talk to myself too. We are a weird bunch, aren't we?

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  6. Pleased you pushed through your block, Sue!
    Like Annie, I sometimes struggle with how to start, how to articulate the idea from the get go but once I've mulled it all out, it usually flows!
    Fingers crossed it continues ;-)

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    1. So am I, Amy. It was so frustrating when all I wanted to do was write a darned story. Hope it doesn't happen too often.

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  7. So glad to see you worked through your block, Sue. So horrid when that happens. On my last story, I was okay at the beginning but got totally blocked in the middle. I just went blank. After wasting two days staring at the screen and worrying about the deadline, I gave up. Once I stopped the pressure the ideas came. Horrid experience though!

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    1. Glad that worked for you, Kandy. It's very hard to give though, isn't it? I worry I'll never get started if I do that.

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  8. Hugs on the writer's block, Sue. So glad you finally managed to push through it. I have to admit that my thesis is an exercise in frustration and torment at times. The whole staring at a blank screen without the ability to form a coherent thought in my head. Walking helps. So does chocolate and chips. ;-)

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