Do You Suffer from Writer's Oppositional Disorder?

  Do you suffer from Writer's Oppositional Disorder?

    Has "NO WAY" become your favorite theme--at least in your head?

Check out the following symptoms:

Stage 1. Do you have too much to do? Writing, editing, marketing, family, holidays coming?

Stage 2. Does it just keep piling on?

Stage 3. Have you gone past the stage of seeing each task as a challenge into temporary paralysis or writer's funk?

Stage 4. Have you even passed stage 3 to procrastination or even open defiance? Where ANYTHING is preferable to writing that next book, chapter or word? Where the final edits loom like an insurmountable gulf?

      Then you just might be suffering from WOD: Writer's Oppositional Disorder, an urge to indulge yourself in inaction or finding excuses to avoid whatever you're supposed to be doing.

      Not a good place for a writer to be, but it doesn't need to be fatal. I admit to suffering from WOD every now and then, especially when there are multiple tasks from multiple sources demanding my attention. By trial and error, I have found a few sure cures that work for me. Sometimes one is enough; sometimes it takes several.

      I would probably come out of writer's funk on my own—because I can't imagine not writing—but I think these seven WOD-busters speed the process.
A. Take a deliberate break, especially if your guilt tells you not to. If you're up against a deadline, keep the break short, but take a few minutes to step away from anything connected with writing. Get your hair cut, visit friends, or try out the new manicurist. Hit a few balls at the putting green or go shopping for something you don't need.

B.  Read a good book. Sometimes I get inspiration from the great writing of others or even thinking how I would have written that dialogue or that scene differently.

C. Skip to a new scene in your WIP or switch to a different manuscript that interests you.

D. Write that query letter for a manuscript that's been sitting on your shelf. If your manuscript is polished, then send your query. It will give you a sense of accomplishment, and waiting for a response will give you something else to think about.

E. Commiserate with another writer. No one understands those moments of doubt like another writer. We've all wondered if it's worth it. It is, but you have to get past the WOD first.

F. You might try writing with pen and paper--or at a different spot: your deck, the library, the local coffee shop.
NaNoWriMo 2013 G. If you're not under a deadline, committing to a writing challenge with other writer friends or doing NaNoWriMo, the month-long writing challenge just might be the spark you need. (NaNo began November 1. I'm there again this year as Iowagal. It's not too late to join us!)

      When you're ready to return to the keyboard, take the time to prioritize the tasks that have been overwhelming you. I almost never write from an outline, but I love lists.  I make a priority list and try to put one or two easy items at the top. Checking them off gives me a great feeling of success—the perfect mood for a great writing session.

      These are a few of the methods I've tried—the successful ones. Of course, there are temporary fixes that are fun and often indispensable...like chocolate, ice cream or wine, but they rarely do the job long term. :)

     When you get overwhelmed with life, whether you're a writer or not, what gets you focused again?


                                       Have a great and productive week! Thanks for stopping!