To think or to write? Courtney Conant – Guest Blogger

Every author has a different way of going about things, different tricks and tips that they might share for getting past writer's block. What works for me? What is my tip? Stop thinking about it and just do it!

For me, I don't write; my fingers do. I've always found that when I actually try to think when I'm working on a piece, it turns out to be more like word vomit than anything worth reading. I had attempted to write a novel many times. It had always been a goal of mine, ever since I was a small child. I always dreamed that I would write the next best seller and that my book would be on shelves around the world. More than twenty years after the dream burrowed its way into my head, it still has not come to pass.

I spent many wasted attempts working on that novel. Each attempt had many hours of planning and plotting behind it. I would write up a concept for the book, put together an outline, build character descriptions and backgrounds. I put so much work into the book that by the time I got around to writing it, I had already lost my way. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not actually WRITE the story I wanted to tell. After having this happen to me several times, I decided to go about it a different way…

When I went to write The Blood Moon of Winter, all I had was the opening line. I had no concept of characters, plot, nothing! I decided to let my fingers do the work on the keyboard, with no thought in my head as to where I wanted the story to go or what the story even was. I knew that I wanted the words to flow as naturally as possible, to give the book a more comfortable feel. I didn't want my 'voice' to intrude. The only way to do this was to have no voice at all.

I was actually able to pull myself completely from what I was doing and just type away. After typing out the opening sentence, I let my fingers walk and the next thing I knew, I had several pages done and five characters. I didn't stop and read what I had written. I just let it ride and left it to chance. I found that once I let go of controlling the story, it seemed to write itself. As the story grew, the genre began to change and turn from what could have been chick lit, into a paranormal fantasy in which I created a whole new world.

I found myself quite amazed that in just over two weeks, I went from having no thought in my head (other than wanting to write a novel) to having completed an actual novel. The story took over and it wouldn't let me stop writing once I started. I've never been good at relinquishing control, especially if it is regarding something that has my name on it. This was my first ever attempt at doing so and I am so glad that I did. The novel is finished, published and starting to get some good feedback. Sometimes less planning can actually lead to more results (and better ones)!

So I say WRITE, don't think… Even if you only write a paragraph here, a short story there, it doesn't matter. Start letting your fingers do the work and see what may come. You never know until you try. Don't let writer's block get hold of you, like I did.

www.courtneyconant.com