What to Do When You Hit A Wall With Your Writing
Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“Our job isn’t to be perfect; it’s to get the story down.”~ Jim Hines, Author of Revisionary
Have you ever felt like you hit a wall with your writing?
Photo Credit: Quotesgram.com
When you put your manuscript aside for two months, choosing to not even think about, let alone write about it…
That’s me after finishing my first draft of my work-in-progress second memoir about being the mother of an addicted son.
I’ve never run a marathon but I’m told by those who do that they “hit a wall” around the 20-mile mark.
Writing, like a marathon, requires preparation, training and endurance…but what happens when you hit your writing wall after months or years of hard work? How do you break through your “20-mile mark” to get to that finish line?
I know this is part of the writing process and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is more common with memoir writers because of the emotional aspects of reliving one’s life story.
I stepped away because of the emotionally-charged aspect of reliving painful events and uncovering hidden memories. It also involves my children who have a stake in it. They are a key part of the story and deserve the time to process the information.
I know deep in my core that my story is important. I need to see it to fruition. I want to let it go.
My strong belief is that being connected to your purpose for writing your story will propel you through the ups and downs and get you to the finish line.
My two months is up and I am at a crossroads of deciding where to go from here while figuring out how to get there…
Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons
Here are a few ways I have dealt with my hiatus-not from writing -but from my story:
Read, especially in other genres:
I just finished Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, a graphic and gripping portrayal of slavery in America, then I visited my favorite local bookstore, The Book Hound ,and gathered some contemporary and classic reads: Annie Lamott, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Wolff and May Sarton.
I’m looking forward to more reading by the wood stove!
It seems to me a writer is always working, even when not writing. Reading fills the creative well.
Turn to other creative activities:
Playing the piano, even though it’s one-handed at the moment due to my healing fractured left wrist. One of my Occupational Therapy treatment goals is be able to play two-handed. Progress not perfection.
Coloring in my Adult Coloring book for mindless, playful entertainment. It strikes me that doing a mindless activity can help you be more mindful..of the present moment.
Get outside, away from the computer:
This autumn has been a glorious time to soak up the kalaidoscope of colors and enjoy the brief, shining moments of my favorite season.
Keep writing on a daily basis, even if it’s only commenting on someone else’s blog or writing in a journal.
I had the opportunity to attend a fabulous local women’s writing workshop– Women’s Writers and Artists Matrix (WWAM)–over the weekend at Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY. Though I was only able to attend for one day, it was just what I needed to get those creative juices flowing again.
Workshop Takeaways…
Writing teacher (one of my favorites), June Gould explored, through the lens of poets Solmaz Sharif and Tony Hoagland, “What Women Are Writing About”. She reviewed Post-Modernism which defies convention, noting you don’t need to write what you know. “Meaning is made in the presence of community. It is up for grabs. ” Simply stated, trust the reader to fill in the blanks.
Story teller and story teacher Marni Gillard immersed us in the world of storytelling and discussed the concept of “delightful listening and appreciation”which we practiced with a partner. It was magical for me as I felt the wall I had hit starting the crumble. This opened the door for me to reconsider the heart of my story. It’s still a work-in-progress but I sense a new pathway developing. Stay tuned…
The WWAM Book Event:
It’s always a thrill to see my book displayed alongside those of fellow authors.
It’s even better to network with fellow women writers. Here I am with Lin Murphy. Lin is a Spiritual teacher and guide and gives Consciousness workshops in area colleges and churches.
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We all have choices…
November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), WNFIN (Write Non-Fiction in November) and National Memoir Writing Month. I admire my colleagues who have taken up the challenge of writing every day and achieving a specific word count on a deadline. Maybe someday, I’ll participate but this year, I’m going with the flow and trusting in the process.
My best advice from this hiatus is:
Don’t fight it.
Turn to other creative activities…including a writer’s event if you are able.
Engage in self-care..massages, lunch with friends, sitting on the porch and soaking up the quiet and beauty of nature…whatever works for you.
Trust that you will get back on track when you are ready and when the story that has been marinating calls you back.
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How about you? Have you experienced hitting a wall with your writing? What helps you break through your writing wall?
I’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~
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This Week:
Thursday, 11/10/16:
“An Adoptee’s Search For Her Roots: An Interview with Memoir Author Gloria Oren.”
Gloria is the author of Bonded at Birth: An Adoptee’s Search for Roots. Her guest interview is part of the Bonded at Birth blog tour during November 2016 which coincides with National Adoption Month.
Next Week:
Monday, 11/14/16:
“Freedom in Forgiveness by Laurie Buchanan, PhD”
Laurie is the author of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Pathway To Growth and Gratitude. She will give away an autographed copy of her book to a commenter whose name will be selected in a random drawing.
