When the Words Won't Come

                                                            I do not like to write - I like to have written. ~ Gloria Steinem





I would never have applied this feeling to myself until recently.  I have said whenever asked, "I have always loved to write.  I love creating characters and stories."  But lately all I want to say is, "Bleck."




I am a teacher, so my summers are free from the structured 8 hour work day.  My plan this summer was to finish the two works I have had started for over a year.  Over a year!  Every night I go to bed thinking, "Tomorrow morning I'm going to get up before the kids and spend that quiet time writing."




Nope.  It hasn't happened yet.  And while I have pulled up both works on the screen and have spent some time on each this summer, that "ah-ha" moment where the flash happens and I can't type fast enough for the action going on in my mind just hasn't hit.  You know, those times when you finally tear your eyes away from the computer screen to realize it's 4:00 pm and you've been sitting at the computer in your pjs all day.  Your children are walking around in a dazed stupor because you haven't fixed them anything to eat.  Yeah.  That's hasn't happened this summer.  



In fact, every time I sit down to write something has interrupted.  The phone rings.  The cat decides its time to be fed.  One of the neighbor kids bangs on the door (then the ensuing noise from excess children in my house just makes trying to write laughable).  Has this ever happened to you?  Are you feeling my pain?  




So I can say, at this point in my life, I would agree with Ms. Steinem.  I would rather have either of these stories finished.  Then I could go back and work on some editing.  At least that would be a concrete place to focus.  




In desperation, I began looking at some sites on writer's block.  There are tons of suggestions, blog posts, articles, even books on the subject.  One of the best things I read was in an article that I lost the link to.  (Sorry.)  But this gentleman said he actually writes out sentences he knows good and well will not end up in his book, just to be writing something!  This sentence isn't going to stay.  It knows it.  I know it.  We're both good with that.  But writing this sentence at least allows me to say I wrote something today.  You get the point.  I thought it would at least be something better than looking at that obnoxious blinking cursor on my computer screen.  




Here are a few sites I found with suggestions for beating writer's block.  If you are experiencing the same frustration I have had, perhaps these will help!  Or if you have tried and true tips of your own, please share them with those of us who are still beating our heads against the wall.  Or keyboard.




http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/brainstorm_block.htm

http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingroadblocks/tp/block.htm

http://www.pgtc.com/~slmiller/writersblocktips.htm



Happy writing,



Karina Harris

www.karinaharrisauthor.comLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com