Writers Block
"Writing is the voice that calls us from dreams, that peeks out of the corner of our eyes when we think no one is looking, the longing that breaks out hearts even when we think we should be happiest, and to which we cannot give a name." Judy Collins (1939) U.S. Folk Singer, Film Maker….
Well, here I am, back from holidays. HA! What a lame excuse for not posting on my blog last month. The truth is far more sinister. The real reason is that I had a severe case of Spring Writers Fever Block, or maybe Writers Fever Spring Block. Whatever. I can't seem to keep my hands off of gardening or remodeling tools.
Sunup finds me wandering about my property, checking on the progress of flowers, bushes or trees I planted last week, as if in a week they'd spring up to full plant maturity. I don't know what's worse, writers block as a newbie writer or as a "seasoned veteran". Well, I've found that in the past, what works for me is to let it run it's course.
Oh sure, I daily head for my computer, put butt in chair and get ready to write something profound. After about a half hour of typing out the purest vacuous nonsense, I decide that I'm a total failure, my muse has deserted me and I'm doomed to write drivel for the rest of my life. A short story that normally takes me a week to write, (2000 words) now takes a month and even then I get no pleasure from it, knowing that it's horrible.
Luckily for me, I belong to one of the best writing groups (see below) in the world, IMHO. Each month I write a short story. Each month I critique the works of other members and they, in turn, critique my work. At the end of the month I, and they, usually have a story that has been edited to the point that it's ready to send to pubs. One of the major advantages of this group is that it's small. Each sub-group only has seven or eight members which makes it easy, (usually) to deal with.
Even thought I am my worst critic, I usually wind up letting positive feedback flow from others, thus shoring up my waning ego and enthusiasm. Finally, my fingers have once again found the tactile pleasure of punching keys and seeing stories flow onto the screen, stories that I can be proud of, stories that I can send on their way to publishers and contests, looking for a home…. If any of you newbies are reading this, DON'T GIVE UP!! If you're trying to become a writer on your own, don't! It might take several tries to find a group that works for you, but by all means, join one. At the very least, it will keep you writing..
Writers block doesn't last forever and there are as many ways of getting over it as there are writers. I've found that what works for me is to just acknowledge its presence and wait it out, all the while pounding out as much literary crap as my fingers can muster..
Sites to see, places to go, freebies to try and groups to join
MyWriting Friend:mailto:writingfriend@yahoo.com
Nick Daws Writers Circle:Click link on this page.
Writing Workshop: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
Newbie Writers: http://www.newbiewriters.com/
Writers Prompts: http://writingfix.com/
Duotrope Digest:http://www.duotrope.com/digest
Beginners Guide:http://www.beginnersguide.com/freelance-writing/
A Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
E Literary Agent: http://www.e-literaryagent.net/
Freebie Writers Tools:
Auto Crit Automatic manuscript checker: www.AutoCrit.com
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
----------------------------------------
Written by "Aelf" for the Aelf's Bloggery.>
Copyright © 04/20/07
Well, here I am, back from holidays. HA! What a lame excuse for not posting on my blog last month. The truth is far more sinister. The real reason is that I had a severe case of Spring Writers Fever Block, or maybe Writers Fever Spring Block. Whatever. I can't seem to keep my hands off of gardening or remodeling tools.
Sunup finds me wandering about my property, checking on the progress of flowers, bushes or trees I planted last week, as if in a week they'd spring up to full plant maturity. I don't know what's worse, writers block as a newbie writer or as a "seasoned veteran". Well, I've found that in the past, what works for me is to let it run it's course.
Oh sure, I daily head for my computer, put butt in chair and get ready to write something profound. After about a half hour of typing out the purest vacuous nonsense, I decide that I'm a total failure, my muse has deserted me and I'm doomed to write drivel for the rest of my life. A short story that normally takes me a week to write, (2000 words) now takes a month and even then I get no pleasure from it, knowing that it's horrible.
Luckily for me, I belong to one of the best writing groups (see below) in the world, IMHO. Each month I write a short story. Each month I critique the works of other members and they, in turn, critique my work. At the end of the month I, and they, usually have a story that has been edited to the point that it's ready to send to pubs. One of the major advantages of this group is that it's small. Each sub-group only has seven or eight members which makes it easy, (usually) to deal with.
Even thought I am my worst critic, I usually wind up letting positive feedback flow from others, thus shoring up my waning ego and enthusiasm. Finally, my fingers have once again found the tactile pleasure of punching keys and seeing stories flow onto the screen, stories that I can be proud of, stories that I can send on their way to publishers and contests, looking for a home…. If any of you newbies are reading this, DON'T GIVE UP!! If you're trying to become a writer on your own, don't! It might take several tries to find a group that works for you, but by all means, join one. At the very least, it will keep you writing..
Writers block doesn't last forever and there are as many ways of getting over it as there are writers. I've found that what works for me is to just acknowledge its presence and wait it out, all the while pounding out as much literary crap as my fingers can muster..
MyWriting Friend:mailto:writingfriend@yahoo.com
Nick Daws Writers Circle:Click link on this page.
Writing Workshop: http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
Newbie Writers: http://www.newbiewriters.com/
Writers Prompts: http://writingfix.com/
Duotrope Digest:http://www.duotrope.com/digest
Beginners Guide:http://www.beginnersguide.com/freelance-writing/
A Long Story Short: http://www.alongstoryshort.net/
E Literary Agent: http://www.e-literaryagent.net/
Auto Crit Automatic manuscript checker: www.AutoCrit.com
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
----------------------------------------
Written by "Aelf" for the Aelf's Bloggery.>
Copyright © 04/20/07
Labels: Writers Block
posted by Aelf at 1:58 AM 
1 Comments:
Rightly said; writer's block is but a temporary sickness. Once you start writing, past the jerks of the block, ideas flow in smoothly as though you never met with any obstacles.
Thanks for the advice anyway.
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