Guest Post!

Writer's Block!
By Jackie King
“Writer’s Block: When your imaginary friends won’t come out and play with you.”

I laughed at this post on FaceBook; then I frowned. Something wasn’t quite right, but I was in a bad mood, and therefore perhaps, a poor judge.

Finishing my second Grace Cassidy mystery seemed impossible, and I was at that point where I’d decided the book was unsalvageable. The plot wouldn’t come together, the characters seemed wooden, and each keystroke was forced. I’m not ever going to be able to write another book, I thought. Despair swept through me.

Then some small voice from deep inside said (my belief is this whisper comes from God), “Buck up, pour some glue in the chair and sit down. You’ve been here before.”

These were true words and I knew it. I also knew the reason I was in such angst, panic and immobility was because I’d let other things get in the way of my writing every day. My imaginary friends had become sulky and now were refusing to come out to play. (Light bulb moment!)

I resolved then and there, that whether my writing went well or felt like slogging through almost-set concrete, I’d show up to play with these friends, come hell or high water. (Okie speak.)

This resolution meant I had to learn to say two words, “Wait” and “No.” Both are hard for me, since I’m a natural born people-pleaser, but I’m learning. And guess what? The next book in my Bed & Breakfast Inn-sitter series is coming together! Oh the miracle of creative thought.

So I revised the lead quote:
“Writer’s Block: When you don’t show up to play with your imaginary friends and they get even by refusing to speak.” (Or is that Writer’ Lazy Butt?)

Hugs,
Jackie King
Author of The Inconvenient Corpse


http://amzn.to/gMv7CH Link to Amazon Kindle

http://bit.ly/fovbLR Link to B&N Nook


Jackie King is a pal of mine and an excellent author and hard worker. She knows what it takes to grind out page after page until a novel is born. If you aren't already a fan of hers, please do yourself a favor and buy one of her books. You will be delighted!

Time for February

China tea, the scent of hyacinths, wood fires, and bowls of violets --
that is my mental picture of an agreeable February afternoon.
-- Constance Spry

How well do you manage your time? We all have the same amount of it every day, but we certainly don't all use it the same way. This month think about time -- saving it, savoring it, and jealously guarding it.

*Give yourself the gift of time -- allot time every day to write.
*Begin a new tradition -- stop saying negative things to yourself. Instead of feeling defeated because you didn't meet a writing deadline you set for yourself, congratulate yourself for trying to reach the goal and getting something written. Every day you manage to add to your latest work-in-progress is a banner day.
*Celebrate Valentine's Day by making your own valentines and sending them to friends and family, baking heart-shaped sugar cookies, and watching your favorite romantic movie.
*Re-read your favorite love story this month. Can you recall the thrill you experienced the first time you read it? Indulge yourself!
*Think back to the first time you decided to be a writer. Has it lived up to your expectations? Do you still enjoy being a writer?
*Read a book set back in time and lose yourself in history.
*Zoom forward and read a book or watch a movie set in the future.

This month's "block busters" or questions that can spark your creativity:

How has writing shaped my life?

What book made me want to be a writer? What was it about that book that stirred something in me?

Words have power and this is why I know this to be true . . .


February is a shorter month, but it is Leap Year, so we all get one extra day. How will you spend it?