Lois McMaster Bujold
There are two kinds of block for me. One I might dub a "local block", where I am stuck for a time on what turn the next bit of a work in progress should take, because I haven't yet thought of a good enough one, or I've thought of a bad one and my characters go on sit-down strike till they're offered better wages. It may last for weeks, but by now I recognize it as part of my normal process. It was only a problem back when I had deadline pressures, though a story does have its own internal narrative drive as well -- "the work demands its own completion" is the way I've phrased it.
The other is more internal, or perhaps global, what a friend of mine dubs "a general disinclination to write." I may be in one of those at the moment, though it's kind of hard to distinguish from "being retired". Or maybe just being tired. It would go away on its own if I had an idea that gripped me harder than whatever life distractions I have, I suspect.
Ta, L..
There are two kinds of block for me. One I might dub a "local block", where I am stuck for a time on what turn the next bit of a work in progress should take, because I haven't yet thought of a good enough one, or I've thought of a bad one and my characters go on sit-down strike till they're offered better wages. It may last for weeks, but by now I recognize it as part of my normal process. It was only a problem back when I had deadline pressures, though a story does have its own internal narrative drive as well -- "the work demands its own completion" is the way I've phrased it.
The other is more internal, or perhaps global, what a friend of mine dubs "a general disinclination to write." I may be in one of those at the moment, though it's kind of hard to distinguish from "being retired". Or maybe just being tired. It would go away on its own if I had an idea that gripped me harder than whatever life distractions I have, I suspect.
Ta, L..
More Answered Questions
Pax Oncel
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
First, thank you for all you've written, especially the Vorkosigan Saga; Aral and Jole and Cordelia's relationship meant a lot to me; I've been in a similar position to Jole's re: Aral (age, power, love), and "but he's ooold! it's immoral! how dare?" But re: the Betan herms. I know they're not intersex, but I am, and reading them meant a lot to me. I'd been wondering if there was any early Moravian influence there?
Wicket
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hey, I was wondering if there are any future plans to release your Penric novellas in the UK, either individually or together in a volume? I really enjoyed the three Chalion novels and would love to read the novellas - it's just that I can't get along with reading from a screen: I'm old-fashioned and need a paper book! Thanks and apologies if you have already answered this question here somewhere.
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