When Your Novel Is Just Not Working: An Author’s Take

I recently suffered a writer’s crisis.


It was bad. Like, slam-the-laptop-closed try-not-to-scream bad.


Thankfully, it wasn’t writer’s block, but I’m starting to wonder which is worse: not being able to write at all, or being stuck in a vicious loop of writing stuff you hate. What do you do when you find yourself so far off track that you’re left staring blankly at the computer screen, seething with self-loathing, ugly thoughts of throwing everything away and starting from scratch gnawing at you...

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Published on August 11, 2012 18:11
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message 1: by Cecilia (new)
Aug 20, 2012 10:11AM

Cecilia I have not written a book...I've written some short stories in college, however, I don’t consider myself a writer by any means. Thank goodness…it’s tough work! Your article about how difficult it is to write a story without getting bogged down in unnecessary 'extras' really rang a bell with me just from the experiences I've had when trying to write anything, even book reviews.

You have some great tips for writers having 'writer's hysteria' in remedying stories that just aren't working. I thought your advice was interesting as a reader, too, especially the comparison of what a driver of a truck too tall to pass under a low overpass could/should do. Also, it sounds like you have a great sounding board in your husband, too! You're lucky in that regard as I'm sure you know...:>

Yep, I'll leave the craziness, creativity and hysteria to all of you writers that I very much appreciate...and I'll enjoy the fruits of your labor...and it is labor, too...:>

Great article, Ania!


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