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!
Loved this, Jackie! I've been struggling to write lately. I think I'm just burned out and I just don't WANT to play with my imaginary friends, but I'd better get over it soon :-)
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping for better days ahead.
DeleteHugs,
Jackie
Oh, yes, imaginary friends can be very vindictive. *grin*
ReplyDeleteVivian
Vivian, It's so nice to hear from you, and so happy to see that your humor follows you everywhere, even through very hard times.
DeleteHugs,
Jackie
Vivian, do you RV?
DeleteThey sure are mad at me, Vivian! Dang it.
ReplyDeleteWhen my characters won't speak to me, I take them to a different room. Sometimes they just get bored in my office. They like to sit on the front porch on warm days. Oftentimes they beg to take a walk.
ReplyDeleteThen, before they realize it, they've started chatting amongst themselves and I eavesdrop and all is well!
Good advice, Linda. Thanks so much.
DeleteI have done the same thing. Thank God for laptops! Before they were invented, I used to lug my big ole computer to the sunporch and run an electrical cord through the house out to it! But it worked. And it usually made life more cheerful, put me in a better mood, and got my creative juices flowing again.
DeleteI love reading your blogs, Jackie. You cut to the chase and tell it like it is.
ReplyDeleteHi there smalltownworld, you're a doll and thanks for dropping by.
DeleteAlice, Sorry for the problems you've been having, but at least you have a good excuse. You've had a terrible time with getting your detached retina repaired. Since I had two and both went okay (Urgh! Horrible things detached retinas.) Here's hoping for better days ahead and less cranky fictional friends.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jackie
Debby, Thanks so much for inviting me into your world of ON WRITING. You've always been my hero...the woman who writes no matter what; and the woman who has always made her living with her pen and her wit.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jackie
Jackie, it is such a pleasure to share your words of wisdom with others.
DeleteBless you!
Those words sure fit me today. On deadline for a mag article and doing everything possible it seems to avoid working on it. Where are my imaginary friends when I NEED them to play with me? Your blogs are always so good, jackie. Thanks.
ReplyDeletecarolyn
www.carolynbleonard.com
Hi, Carolyn! I enjoyed your book Who's Your Daddy because I am researching my family tree on Ancestry.com It has been challenging to say the least! But your wonderful book helped me so much.
DeleteThanks!
Debby
Hi Carolyn, I guess all writers struggle with putting our butt-on the chair and our fingers on the keys. Some days it's magic, some days it's tedious. The interesting thing is, a couple of weeks later a person can't tell the difference between the fun days and the uphill ones.
DeleteAnd I agree with Debby, Love WHO'S YOUR DADDY.