That was the year I announced on my work blog that not only would I once again attempt NaNoWriMo, but I would post my progress on the blog. Want to guess what happened? I started like a fiend, wrote 10,000 words in the first week, then stopped, cold. Why? I don't know! If only I could really blame NaNoWriMo.
The truth is I kept getting involved in projects that had nothing to do with my writing, and with a full-time (often stressful) “paycheck job,” my writing time frittered away. I’m not blaming anyone other than myself, but now I need to get back in the game.
I’m so in awe of those of you who crank out multiple books every year (or even a single book every year). That, I believe, is the real secret to success in this business–being prolific, and producing good, well-written stories. If you only have a handful of titles, and none in a series, you have few options when it comes to the promotional tools that are most effective these days (e.g., the 99 cent strategy Jannine mentioned a few days ago). I want in!
So what have I done to cure myself? I joined the Insecure Writers Support Group book club on Goodreads. My thought was that reading books outside my normal preference and talking about them with other writers would wake up my muse...if I still even have one.
When it was announced that our first book is “Chapter by Chapter: Discover the Dedication and Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams” by Heather Sellers, I was a bit miffed. I want to read a story. More importantly, I don't want to face my lack of discipline! But sooner or later, something has to wake you up, and this was it for me. Hopefully.
I forced myself to check it out. Here's part of the blurb: “Chapter After Chapter shows you how to build on your good writing habits, accrue and recognize tiny successes, and turn your dedication to the craft into the book you always knew you could write if you could just stay with it.”
I’m taking this turn of events as a message from the heavens that’s it’s time to buck up, time to face the real reason behind my lack of production: me.
Amazon tells me my copy of the book is on its way, so hopefully by my next turn in this blog, I’ll have some positive news to report. Wish me luck. I think I need it!
Anyone else facing (or recovering from) the writing doldrums? I'd love to hear about it!
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16 comments:
We are definitely twins separated at birth. I just rejoined the IWSG this month too. Onward!! Hopefully. In my case, though, I have a novella due in a few days and a second in a series novel due by October. (Whatever was I thinking?) Gotta run. Those words won't write themselves. Good luck with your renewed progress on the work.
Sending positive thoughts of word production your way, Margo! :-)
I hear your pain Leah. I've been paddling along thru health problems snd wedding planning by writing 2 novellas last year and 2 so far this. I've never understood how authors can knock out multiple books a year. But why not try Julia Cameron's method of writing anything at all first half hour of your day? See her books on Amazon especially The Writers Way
Leah, my sympathies. These are not easy matters, what the brain chooses/chooses not to do. I would have had a hard time writing while I was still working as a principal...up at five in the morning...not returning home until 10:00 after meetings and sport events. Be kind to yourself. I've turned out to be a 1 and 1/4 a book a year kind of author...we all have our own pace.
I hope the book inspires you to get back on track. Have you tried working on something else? Sometimes a book is nearly impossible to write. Maybe your WIP is part of the issue, especially if you've been working on it for a loooong time. It may not be fresh. Have you thought about starting something new? Or switching lengths? Writing and finishing a novella just to get something new published might kick you into gear and provide motivation. I feel like changing things up when you're in a rut can be necessary. Whatever you do, I hope your writing takes off again!
I recall the first Wild Rose Press writers retreat Calvin and I attended. Rhonda and I spoke privately a little. She recommended I write one long and then two shorts so I didn't burn out. I thought it odd advice, to be honest, but I took it. The break of internal stress between thinking 80,000+ words to only 35,000 or so words was rather healing. I mean there are books I've finished on deadline and could barely speak a coherent sentence afterward. I'd sleep round the clock for a couple days. I'm at the age, I don't know if I can handle the stress of deadlines again...but we know how quickly that can change. Offer me a contract and I'm back on deadlines. LOL
My best advice? Keep writing. Duh! No, find free writing prompts through a google search. Some only require a short write. Limit yourself to a scene. Start small. I joined the Insecure Writers Group, too, and am waiting for the same book. My writing ego took a major hit from the editor and her boss at LoveSwept. When you're told you write "old" and "slapstick" and "your sex scenes are hilarious" and on and on, your feelings about your talent take a direct hit. It's hard to keep going. You question everything you write from that point on. For me, it was several weeks of can I write anymore? Meanwhile, I kept writing because that's who I am. I write. Crap though it may be. I didn't write like me anymore, because those editors had beaten my style out of my prose. I had to find me again. Have I? Honestly, I don't know. I'm writing, but is what I'm writing any good? I think maybe it is, but I'm so insecure I carry major doubt with me every day. It sits by my left elbow as I write, whispering nasty things to me. I have to work through those issues every day.
So, I get your pulling away with work and life in general. Outside influences do make a great impact. But you are such a great writer, Leah. Try dipping your toe in the Jersey cold shoreline of writing. A little at a time. A scene at a time. Write about your job as if you were fresh out of college and a tad air-headed or an old broad like me who has a morning cup of "grump" before coming to work. How would either one of those handle your job...the phone calls. That could make for a fun exercise until you see you can get some wordcount down again. Good luck, hon.
Leah, PLEASE report back with your thoughts on the book. I've been stuck where you are, just not for as long. After I released Boiling Point last October, I didn't write at all, except for our Christmas story, for the rest of the year. I told myself I was taking a break to do promotion, etc., but in truth I was stuck in an emotional quagmire brought on my national events. I started my new book in January with every intention of charging into it, but I'm struggling to get any momentum going. Maybe we should set up some kind of email check-in to hold each other accountable for making continuous progress, no matter how small.
Chiming in again. Great idea, Alison. We could use our ROP loop to launch a support group. I do the same with my RWA chapter.
That's a really good idea. Create an email group where we report our progress each day. I've been having trouble keeping up on my word count due to real life issues. If I knew I had to report in each day, I'd probably squeeze out a couple hundred more. We can take this idea to our loop to get organized if a few people are interested.
Hi, everyone - I just took a quick break from the day job to check the blog. It's been a crazy day, I've been stressed, and I logged in to find all your wonderful, supportive comments. I appreciate every bit of advice. Obviously what I'm currently doing isn't working, so I'll be sorting through all these and trying to figure out what might work for me.
Andi - I'll take a look at that book. I currently get up really early (like 4:30) theoretically to get some writing in before I got to work, but I don't. Maybe juggling my schedule around might help. I'll check the book out!
Thanks, Rolynn, for commiserating with me. I don't go until 10 at night (I'd probably be dead!), but the job is so fast-paced, and I answer to so many people, I'm drained by the time I get home...barely coherent. Most nights I'm asleep by 8:30. (Such a party animal.)
Jannine - I think you might have a point that I've been working on this book for so long, maybe it feels finished to me emotionally. Something to consider for sure.
Vonnie - Those "editors" of yours are full of crap. (Am I allowed to say "crap" on this blog?) You'll get your wonderful, funny natural voice back; I'm sure of it. I might just try your advice to write about my job, too. Just this morning someone broke the water line in the office complex, which shut down the water to the building (and the bathrooms) and prompted the fire alarm to go off, which caused us to evacuate the building...while we're under a tornado watch. (I kid you not.) :-)
Alison - I'm sorry you're stuck in the doldrums with me. I love the idea of a support group!
You ladies are the best. :-)
Leah, I read this twice. How very brave. I think the very first step in pulling yourself out of a funk is acknowledging that you're in one and opening yourself up to other options. Hang in there, you're a great writer, it'll come back to you.
Vonnie ... I have to say: Your voice is back. Personally, I can't wait until everyone gets to see it. Your editors were idiots.
Thank you, Leslie, for those kind words. :-) I appreciate it so much. (And ditto on the Vonnie's editors were "idiots" comment.)
Leah, I hope the book for IWSG book club will help. I plan to order it as soon as I get to our son's. No way am I using hotel internets to input my credit card #. For the past 5 years, I was releasing 2 books a year. Last year, only a novella. My impetus to write on my full-length novel had slowed to a stop. You have an excuse--that paycheck job. I don't have that. Julia Cameron's "morning pages" has helped a lot of writers. Good luck!
Thanks, Diane. I'll be glad to have some friends in the book discussion group! I'm definitely going to look into Julia Cameron's book, too.
I don't get the doldrums, Leah, but time has always been my enemy. In fact, I'm going to post about that. Anyway, presently I set myself a reasonable word count each day. It's working for me. Good luck!
Leah...I'm sorry I'm late to this post. And, as one of your biggest fans, you KNOW I'm rooting for you to get out of the writing doldrums. I've loved all the comments. Definitely worth thinking of a support group of some kind. I am afraid no matter what kind of checkpoints I've put in place, I end up ignoring them like I do everything else. sigh...
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