Samantha Bruce-Benjamin
Fortunately, I have never suffered acutely from writer's block to the point where I couldn't work at all. I am usually so driven toward the goal of realizing or finishing a draft, having prevaricated over the thought of starting it for as long as I can, that I am continuously under pressure to finish it! A fear of failure and of missed opportunities/letting people down is always a great motivational incentive. I actually think I deliberately delay writing drafts in order to push myself to the point of no return. Over the course of three novels, I have found that I work best under pressure.
For me the mental process of devising a novel takes months, even years, so by the time I do come to write everything down, I know where I want to take the story. That said, I do hit stumbling blocks and have been known to stare at a blank page for hours trying to fathom how to evolve the narrative. I won't leave my desk, however, until I have written something, even a sentence. Yet, sometimes I do give up and go out for a walk, or take a few days off. Then the horrifying reality of having lost time, compounded with a much needed rest, spurs me on to finish what I have started. I am probably far too hard on myself, but this approach has served me well so far!
For me the mental process of devising a novel takes months, even years, so by the time I do come to write everything down, I know where I want to take the story. That said, I do hit stumbling blocks and have been known to stare at a blank page for hours trying to fathom how to evolve the narrative. I won't leave my desk, however, until I have written something, even a sentence. Yet, sometimes I do give up and go out for a walk, or take a few days off. Then the horrifying reality of having lost time, compounded with a much needed rest, spurs me on to finish what I have started. I am probably far too hard on myself, but this approach has served me well so far!
More Answered Questions
Mallory
asked
Samantha Bruce-Benjamin:
In the book, so many characters are perceived to have acted in one context but internally describe their intent in a very different manner. As a reader, you had to constantly reevaluate what you thought of the characters. Were you always intending to slowly twist the ways in which certain characters were perceived?
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