How have you been faring through the quarantine? Has much changed for you? Have your writing habits changed? For me, my writing came to a screeching halt. I developed writer's block.
This was the perfect chance to give myself more outlets for my writing but I couldn't think of anything creative to write at all. I should have kept a journal but did I? Nope. I should blogged about it. Did I? HA! I guess you've noticed that I haven't posted anything at all lately. That's why. I just didn't hit a brick wall, like you do with a regular case of writer's block. I lost my desire to write. As of today, my writing is s-l-o-w-y coming back, but I'm not 100% yet.
My friend, Marilyn L. Rice, from England, developed a great way to deal with the quarantine. She posts a weekly diary of exactly what she does during each day. I really should've followed her lead. As I said, I'm far from being 100% yet.
This raised a question that I posed to myself. Do I treat this as an ordinary case of writer's block? I don't think so since it wasn't caused by an ordinary situation. I think my writing was a victim of Covid-19. But it's not going to be a victim that stays down. Oh, no! I will regain what I lost! Would you believe it? Facebook has helped me. Yes, Facebook!
I found out on Facebook that other authors lost the desire to write, although they've since gotten it back. A few of them have even published unfinished manuscripts. Good for them! I got my determination going and thought, "If they can do it, I can do it." Others, like myself, are still on the mend.
I remembered today that years ago I'd written an article on writer's block. I think this is the perfect time to re-visit that article. I hope it'll help some of you as well as myself. So, I'll go find that article, brush it off, and post it here.
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WHAT TO DO ABOUT WRITERS BLOCK
What is writer's block? Wikipedia defines writer's block as a condition primarily associated with writing, where an author loses the ability to produce more work or experiences creative slowdown. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_block. You never know how long your block is going to last. It's been known to clear up in a few hours and last a few months.
Could this also be called the writer's struggle since it happens to everyone who has chosen the writing path? Yes.
A writer's struggle sounds much more realistic since when it strikes, it really is a real struggle to get something written or get a work-in-progress just right. We put our butt-in-chair, turn on the computer, and try to write. As hard as we try, and nothing happens. It's like hitting your head against a brick wall. Who among us, who has experienced this, and has instead gone to Facebook to play a game, go outside to garden, or whatever else interests you? I admit it, I'm guilty of this, myself. Believe it or not Facebook games and gardening are just two ways to banish this demon. Here are some other ways:
Take a good look at the list above. I realize some of these things on the list might seem are silly, but they have something in common: focus on something else for a while. It does wonders.
It might be that it might take a week or more to get your muse back again. That's fine if it does. Take that time off to do other activities you enjoy. Concentrate on YOU during this time.
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I see that I've tried a couple of these ideas since our quarantine started. I do yoga and attend a weekly yoga class. I've also developed a new hobby. Sewing. I've started making masks for people in the area. I'm focusing on something other than writing.
How has all this affected you and your writing? Is your writing a victim of Covid-19? I truly hope not, but if it is I do hope that my little article about writer's block helps you!
This was the perfect chance to give myself more outlets for my writing but I couldn't think of anything creative to write at all. I should have kept a journal but did I? Nope. I should blogged about it. Did I? HA! I guess you've noticed that I haven't posted anything at all lately. That's why. I just didn't hit a brick wall, like you do with a regular case of writer's block. I lost my desire to write. As of today, my writing is s-l-o-w-y coming back, but I'm not 100% yet.
My friend, Marilyn L. Rice, from England, developed a great way to deal with the quarantine. She posts a weekly diary of exactly what she does during each day. I really should've followed her lead. As I said, I'm far from being 100% yet.
This raised a question that I posed to myself. Do I treat this as an ordinary case of writer's block? I don't think so since it wasn't caused by an ordinary situation. I think my writing was a victim of Covid-19. But it's not going to be a victim that stays down. Oh, no! I will regain what I lost! Would you believe it? Facebook has helped me. Yes, Facebook!
I found out on Facebook that other authors lost the desire to write, although they've since gotten it back. A few of them have even published unfinished manuscripts. Good for them! I got my determination going and thought, "If they can do it, I can do it." Others, like myself, are still on the mend.
I remembered today that years ago I'd written an article on writer's block. I think this is the perfect time to re-visit that article. I hope it'll help some of you as well as myself. So, I'll go find that article, brush it off, and post it here.
----------------------------------------------------------
WHAT TO DO ABOUT WRITERS BLOCK
What is writer's block? Wikipedia defines writer's block as a condition primarily associated with writing, where an author loses the ability to produce more work or experiences creative slowdown. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_block. You never know how long your block is going to last. It's been known to clear up in a few hours and last a few months.
Could this also be called the writer's struggle since it happens to everyone who has chosen the writing path? Yes.
A writer's struggle sounds much more realistic since when it strikes, it really is a real struggle to get something written or get a work-in-progress just right. We put our butt-in-chair, turn on the computer, and try to write. As hard as we try, and nothing happens. It's like hitting your head against a brick wall. Who among us, who has experienced this, and has instead gone to Facebook to play a game, go outside to garden, or whatever else interests you? I admit it, I'm guilty of this, myself. Believe it or not Facebook games and gardening are just two ways to banish this demon. Here are some other ways:
- Join an online or physical conference in the genre that you write in. Brainstorm with these other writers. You'll be surprised at just how freeing this is just to be with likeminded people. I've found this out myself and have more finished picture book manuscripts to prove it!
- Work on another WIP. This frees your mind to think about something else besides that WIP you're stuck on.
- Read a book in the genre you're writing for. Reading books in your genre gives you so many ideas on how to continue on with your story. It can also provide the 'aha' moment whether or not to toss that manuscript and start all over again. If this happens, you'll be able to visualize your story exactly as it should be written.
- Read a book to review. Again, make sure it's in the genre you write for. You're giving your brain permission to focus on something else.
- Take a day off to go to the library, Barnes & Noble, or another bookstore. In this case, like most of the others below, you're granting your brain permission to just relax.
- Are you a freelance editor or proofreader? If you are put your WIP away and do that.
- Go for a walk outside (if the weather's nice enough) and don't forget to take a notebook and pen! You never know when your writer's block/struggle will clear up and you get an idea.
- If the weather isn't nice enough to go outside, exercise indoors. Nothing clears your head and reboots your energy like a workout. This does work!
- Visit with a neighbor. There's nothing as good as a visit with a friend.
- Can't visit that friend because of the nasty weather mentioned above? Call him/her. A good talk with a friend gets your mind off everything else.
- Go to the dog park and play Frisbee with Fido. Again, you're freeing your mind.
- Cook that new recipe that you just clipped out of the magazine.
Take a good look at the list above. I realize some of these things on the list might seem are silly, but they have something in common: focus on something else for a while. It does wonders.
It might be that it might take a week or more to get your muse back again. That's fine if it does. Take that time off to do other activities you enjoy. Concentrate on YOU during this time.
-------------------------------------------------
I see that I've tried a couple of these ideas since our quarantine started. I do yoga and attend a weekly yoga class. I've also developed a new hobby. Sewing. I've started making masks for people in the area. I'm focusing on something other than writing.
How has all this affected you and your writing? Is your writing a victim of Covid-19? I truly hope not, but if it is I do hope that my little article about writer's block helps you!
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