BOTB2

6/3 - Ok, so I'm going to shoot for one post a week. Here goes...

Today I'll share about the complex, emotionally turbulent state of writer's block (made exponentially more difficult without Colby flavored Cheez-its; I'm just keepin' it real, folks).

Writer's block is, in fact, an unpleasant hot mess. It can produce copious amounts of frustration and anxiety. I say 'can', because it's a choice. Not necessarily an easy one mind you, but a choice nonetheless.

The understanding that I have no deadlines to an editor or publisher help tremendously, but I still want to write, to feel productive. I'm excited to see where the story goes and what gets revealed as much as the reader.

Writer's block scared me during the first book, because I was afraid I'd be stuck forever. This time around, I find myself relaxing and letting it take its course. If you try to force creativity, you get crap, which then results in a ton of re-writes. Ain't nobody got time for that.

So, step 1 in dealing with writer's block: don't panic - which is exactly what Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy teaches us. It really is sound advice.

Step 2: Devote your attention and energy wholeheartedly into something else for a short time. In this way distractions are practically medicinal. I feel that it gives the part of your subconscious that's completely committed to the book a chance to reboot.

Don't worry; it'll let you know when its fully reloaded, which is why I mentioned that the distraction should only be for a short time. A long time means a part of you has given up. A short time means you trust your subconscious to work through its hang-ups.

For me, this is anywhere from a week to a month. If inspiration hasn't flounder-slapped me in the face after a month, then I'll sit down and force myself to write something, anything, just to prime the pump. And yes, it's usually garbage, but in those rare occasions it's the exercise that counts, not the content quality. Don't allow yourself to atrophy, but let me stress that it's rare that this happens - maybe twice over the six-year period of writing the first book.

I actually started writing this post yesterday because I'd been hung up on a major plot logistic involving Keila's storyline. So I put down the keyboard(?) and walked away. It's been about two weeks. The solution to the problem popped into my head this morning (after two cups of coffee, of course).

I'm not sure if said progress makes this post ironic or not, but I'm ready to change one element slightly and move forward, which is often times the issue with writer's block. Be willing to reconsider your structure: three guys walk into a bar at night. What about two? What about three girls? What if it's not a bar? How about noon? That kinda thing.

Wow, so this is my longest post EVER...which isn't anywhere near impressive since I've only made like eight of these. Hopefully it was encouraging to fellow writers and entertaining to everyone else. Until next week...