(Muse speaks in a blue font. Siren in red. And Jenn? In boring ol' black. Don't know what we're talking about? Check out this post: Does Your Creativity Have a Name?)
How was your Labor Day? Mine was interesting to say the least. Siren and Muse totally battled it out today.
I figured I had an extra day with my hubby home to take care of our little one so I could write and write and write. But instead, Writer's Block took hold. What do you have to write about? This story is going in totally the wrong direction. No one's gonna want to read this. Stop it Siren! I will finish this story!
Hours pass. For some reason the lack of productivity totally drags down my spirits. I want to nap. And cry. That's right, you're a failure. You're wasting your time.
So I do what I like to do when I'm experiencing Writer's Block or feel my spirits sinking. I go for a walk. Commune with nature. Pray. I must have walked for an hour. It was a gorgeous day. I watched the sun set, a beautiful display of pinks and oranges, fading into darkness.
And then I stepped in! Thanks for letting me come out and play! And so when you got home you wrote and you wrote and you wrote (as I knew you could!) and you finished your story! We must have worked for 3 hours!
That's right, folks! I finished it! Woohoo! I just need to go back and revise the last few pages. Then give the entire thing another once over. Maybe let some trusted friends read it and offer their feedback. But I'm done! Thanks Muse! Take that Siren!
What do you do when you have Writer's Block or are feeling low? What helps raise your spirits and help your creativity flourish?
Congrats on finishing the story Jenn!
ReplyDeleteI find talking to myself really helps. I really do! I talk to my chapters, I talk to my characters, I give interviews and lectures to invisible people. But, it gets me going again.
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Thanks Katie! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Clarissa, great idea! I talk to myself all the time. Maybe I should try talking to the characters instead.
FINALLY made it here from the BBQ. It's nice to meet you. And congratulations on breaking through the block. As much as I hate writer's block, I think it can be necessary because writing shouldn't be easy. I love that feeling of triumph when I finish something.
ReplyDeleteI exercise! It gets my brain flowing. I either take a brisk walk or hike the dog. I have a playlist specifically for whichever piece I am working on. I listen to the music and I visualize. Usually, I come up with some ideas to help with the rewrite (or just writing a new scene). I find that it's helpful to be away from pen, paper or computer during that time so that I can really think through things before putting them down.
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