Dear Reader Column 08-31-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Telling a story is easy when you're sitting across from a friend, "You won't believe the funny thing that happened to my Aunt Nellie last weekend." But sometimes when you sit down to write that same story--suddenly facing a blank computer screen makes it feel frightening and the words get all jumbled up.

Today's column is made up of notes I wrote to myself on a day when I was thinking, 'Suzanne, you'll never be able to write again.' I'm sharing this glimpse of a writer's bad day, in case you haven't entered this year's "Write a Dear Reader Contest." Perhaps you haven't entered yet because you're experiencing writer's block, or maybe you're just plain scared to even try? But don't worry. If that's what you've been feeling your fears are completely normal, and after you finish reading "Notes from a bad writing day," you'll be inspired to begin. Because even though I write for a living there are days when that blank computer screen frightens the bejeebers out of me, too.

Notes from a bad writing day...

Can't seem to write anything. I start writing, running with an idea and then I fall off the cliff. Can't remember what I intended to do with it. Maybe it just sounded better when I first thought of it, like the dress that looked so cute on the hanger, but when I tried it on, what a mess!

Usually when I sort through things I recognize the difficult part I'm facing, but I always face that part, that's nothing new. I wade through the hard part of writing, but today I can't find my way. I want to write, want to feel the high of being in the groove, but it's just not anywhere that I can grab a hold of it.

There isn't any other option but to continue on until something becomes clear to me. I have a daily column that's due, so unless I want to post a sign, "Writer Temporarily Out to Lunch" or "Writer Temporarily Lost her Mind" I'm going to have to churn out a column. I used to tell myself if I sit in the chair long enough "IT" will come. And IT always does show up eventually, but right now my Mojo isn't within reach.

What do you do when IT won't come to you? Well if IT isn't going to come to me, then maybe I'm going to have to go looking for it. Maybe it's hiding out down by the water, I could walk down there and take a look. Maybe it's hiding out in my cookbook? Instead of "Where's Waldo?" Where's Suzanne's IT that allows her to write? Perhaps I'd find IT in the fingertips of a massage therapist, or shopping for shoes?

Those notes (and I confess, a new pair of shoes) helped me find my missing Mojo. So if you've been having problems getting started on your Write a Dear Reader Story, you've now been given permission to get a massage or buy some new shoes. What a deal! But don't forget about the actual writing part--because there's only 13 days left to send your entry and I'm looking forward to reading your story.

To see the prizes, read last year's winning entries and to get the details about the "Write a Dear Reader Contest," go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: John Shors, Dragon House; Michelle Moran, The Heretic Queen: A Novel; Jane Velez-Mitchell, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life; James R. Benn, Evil for Evil; Maureen Lang, Look to the East. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Comments

[Chellie Campbell]

Oh, I surely can relate to the "writers block" days! I even wrote a page about it in my book "The Wealthy Spirit":

117 Distractions

“Writing is like anything else. You fall, you pick yourself up, and you try again. When you’re discouraged, you eat ice cream.”—Anna Quindlen

It’s time to write now. I’m going to write. I stare at the blank page. Blank page. White. Snow. Weather. I wonder what the weather’s doing today. Cold. My hands are cold. Think I’ll go downstairs and get a cup of coffee to warm up my hands.

Trudge, trudge down the rust carpeted steps, click, click, click my shoes tap on the kitchen tiles. Make coffee. Look around kitchen. Notice dishes and dirt—no fun, ignore. Notice newspaper—ahhh, maybe something interesting to write about in the newspaper. A good activity, research. Valuable. I’ll do that.

Thirty minutes later: Feeling too guilty to continue reading paper. I should be writing! Back to the stairs, click, click, back up the stairs trudge, trudge. Blank page.
The phone rings! Saved by the bell! Hello? No, thanks, I don’t want to change my long distance carrier. Disappointment. Phone in hand, I want to talk to somebody. Who’d be fun to talk to? I know, I’ll call my friend, Carol. Nope, she’s not home, how about Susan? Hey, Susan, how’s doin’?

Forty-five minutes later: Lunch time! Trudge, trudge, click, click. Look over refrigerator selections, put together fine luncheon for one, turn on the television, surf and munch.
One hour twenty minutes later: Click, click, trudge, trudge. Blank page.

I’ll never make any money this way! I’ve got to get busy and write so I can make money and pay my bills…I wonder how my bank balance is doing. Do I have enough to pay the bills this month? Oops, I haven’t reconciled my bank statement yet, better do that. Better update my budget, too, while I’m at it…Where is that bank statement? Somewhere under this pile of paperwork. I should do this paperwork. I’ve got to get organized, then I can write….

Two hours later: Blank page. Oh, it’s almost time for Oprah!
One hour later: Where did the day go? Well, I got some bookkeeping done, made some phone calls, did some research, got organized.
Tomorrow I’ll be ready to write.

Does this sound familiar? Does it accurately depict some of your afternoons—or days? Sure, once in a while, we’re going to have an off day, a day where no inspiration comes, where nothing works. One of two things is usually going on: You’re avoiding something, or you’re creating on the subconscious level instead of the conscious. If you’re avoiding something—look at it now and handle it. If your creativity is cooking subconsciously and needs more time before you take it out of the oven, give yourself a break. Inspiration will probably wake you up later. Be ready for it when it comes.

Today’s Affirmation: “I am inspired by my creative vision every day!”

Love & hugs,
Chellie

[Generic Viagra]

Also I have problem when I write but there are people like Isaac Asimov that he just sit and he starts to write and he doesn't stop to write. It is great skill that he had.