Week 2 Wipmadness-Obstacles
This last Thursday was the start of the Winter Olympics. What I love about the Olympics isn't so much the sports but rather the stories behind the athletes. In this case though it's the place, Soshi, Russia that has been making most of the headlines.
There's been rumors of terrible housing, yellow tinted drinking water, bees in the honey, bare chested Russian leader Putin paintings and even threats from terrorists.
My question for this week is what do you do when you come across barriers when writing?
Do you do like some athletes at the Soshi Olympics and still plow through the distractions and barriers? Or like some just pack up and go home?
Meg Cabot in 2008 Cosmogirl once said on writer's block:
Usually writer’s block arises when something is wrong internally with the story. Maybe you took a wrong turn somewhere in your plotting (remember writer’s GPS — the best path to writer’s block is not knowing where you’re going or how to get there before you get started). Taking a few days off from the project and re-plotting, or just letting it sit on the back burner, can help.
What do you guys do when you come up against this in your own writing? Share!
I think fellow YA author Jeannine Garsee said it best in her last Grapemo post:http://onegrapeshy.livejournal.com/538005.html
Repeat after me: "THIS IS TOTALLY NORMAL."
It happens to all of us. Sometimes it's the Plot Weasel (more on this later this month.) Sometimes it's our environment.
Sometimes it's just...us. Sigh.
Whatever the reason, DO NOT give into it. Take a short break if you have. Or simply sit there and work through it. Don't you dare use it as an excuse to say "I suck. I give up."
...Jeannine Garsee
Exactly! Remember we all at some time feel this way. I know these past two weeks this has been me.
Have any of the rest of you felt like this:
© Vadkoz | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images
That your story is just over the corner and all you need is a strong hammer to break through to get back on track?
Remember we've here to cheer you on!!!!
****
Now the winner of last week's post is....
SHARI GREEN
Email me at ixtumea@gmail.com for your choice of which book you'd like and I'll send it to you! Send me your snail addy!
This week's book shares are:
TEEN SPIRIT by Francesca Lia Block
or
The dystopian anthology AFTER
There's been rumors of terrible housing, yellow tinted drinking water, bees in the honey, bare chested Russian leader Putin paintings and even threats from terrorists.
My question for this week is what do you do when you come across barriers when writing?
Do you do like some athletes at the Soshi Olympics and still plow through the distractions and barriers? Or like some just pack up and go home?
Meg Cabot in 2008 Cosmogirl once said on writer's block:
Usually writer’s block arises when something is wrong internally with the story. Maybe you took a wrong turn somewhere in your plotting (remember writer’s GPS — the best path to writer’s block is not knowing where you’re going or how to get there before you get started). Taking a few days off from the project and re-plotting, or just letting it sit on the back burner, can help.
What do you guys do when you come up against this in your own writing? Share!
I think fellow YA author Jeannine Garsee said it best in her last Grapemo post:http://onegrapeshy.livejournal.com/538005.html
Repeat after me: "THIS IS TOTALLY NORMAL."
It happens to all of us. Sometimes it's the Plot Weasel (more on this later this month.) Sometimes it's our environment.
Sometimes it's just...us. Sigh.
Whatever the reason, DO NOT give into it. Take a short break if you have. Or simply sit there and work through it. Don't you dare use it as an excuse to say "I suck. I give up."
...Jeannine Garsee
Exactly! Remember we all at some time feel this way. I know these past two weeks this has been me.
Have any of the rest of you felt like this:
© Vadkoz | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images
That your story is just over the corner and all you need is a strong hammer to break through to get back on track?
Remember we've here to cheer you on!!!!
****
Now the winner of last week's post is....
SHARI GREEN
Email me at ixtumea@gmail.com for your choice of which book you'd like and I'll send it to you! Send me your snail addy!
This week's book shares are:
TEEN SPIRIT by Francesca Lia Block
or
The dystopian anthology AFTER
Comments
BTW... I love me some David Duchovny!
Happy writing / revising, Wipsters!
As for this week's progress...it's slow-going, but mostly because I have a book releasing and I'm being taken over by the Promo Monster. I'm still slowly working away at my MS a little each day, but it's taking longer than I'd like.
Ooh, I like 'writer's stumble' so much better!
Right now reading a contemporary YA that Chronicle books sent. Helping a little!
This month so far has been so hard. I don't know why exactly. I also went and read some GoodRead comments on my latest book. Most were good but one really got me down. Husband told me though that it was more an opinion and not really a review.
I do think there is a hiccup in Act 3 that I just need to get to. I have to be brave to delete more words too.
You nailed it. After reading that one review and some other feedback, I'll like, "OMG, who am I fooling?" **Wants to hide under quilt for a while. But someone once said that you want people to discuss your book be it good or bad. The kiss of death is when no one talks about your book.
I so know about getting into the Promo mode. Good luck with your latest book! And I can't WAIT to read your upcoming YA.
Sorry for the wee hours post. In my defence, I had a good writing day and lost track of time. :)
That said, I've had my share of obstacles. Sometimes it was my own doing (read: defeatist attitude) and other times, I 'd overwhelm myself with so many ideas there wasn't any room for the kitchen sink!
To remedy this, I try and break up my daily writing quotas/goals into manageable pieces thus making a goal more attainable. Once I start checking off boxes on my "To Do/Write" list, the momentum picks up and I get second and third winds.
Other times, it's a sign I need to take a step back from the project, even if for a little while. I'd either work on another project, do something else creative, or just completely relax and clear my mind.
Before long, ideas start brewing, especially if I'm really passionate about a scene in the WIP, and before long I'll be back either writing or typing with renewed energy.
Fortunately, I'm on a good streak this month and I hope it continues.
Have a great week, everyone!
Tonette
Très bien, merci.
Let me know when you start your class. We can practice our composition skills. :)
Yay, for being on a writing grove! Isn't that the best feeling?
Thanks for the suggestions! Right now I'm taking an online class from RWA on seeing why story might not be selling. So far teacher said the comments I've been receiving probably means it's a story problem. Yup, I can see that now.
Oh, on the French? Hoping to sign up for a class in May. It would be fun to try what I learned on someone else!
Anyway, I'm here now, reporting in with an apology.
I've been poking at a new story recently, without any significant progress to report. But it's coming along slowly. My only February goal is to get the plot sorted out enough to be able to run with it during March. Hope everyone else has a good, productive week.
When I'm in the midst of a project, I'm pretty good at ploughing through distractions. Between projects, though, I can definitely get stalled by the I-Suck wall, or the I-Don't-Have-Anything-Worth-Saying wall. I've learned not to beat myself up too much, and to honour my "process", which tends to involve a lot of mulling time and pre-writing time. But there's a limit to that...at some point, I need to give myself a swift kick and get writing! ;)
Good plan. I'm taking a RWA online class to do just that and it's helping so much!
Thanks for checking in and hope your week is productive!
Congrats!!!!
And I so know about the give self a swift kick and just write!
Thanks for stopping by!