
I have a touch of writer’s block. It nothing serious, (I hope) but I have become stuck on my novel. I’m about 20,0000 words in, and have the basic outlines and plot in my head (even down to the last line of the book), but am stuck as to where my characters should go next. So, they are stuck in the middle of the Sahara Desert (specifically, Cairo during WW1), and are falling in love…..but then, where to fall in love? Stay in Cairo? Go back to England? (where one of them is from) or reintroduce the ‘baddie’ character that appeared a few chapters back.
So, I have sort refuge in reading. I have immersed myself in magazines, newspapers and books in order to find inspiration. I sat in a writing workshop recently and gleaned some ideas, but am not fully in my ‘writing mode’ – yet. I have also enrolled on a writing course with the University of Iowa. Its a free course open to all, in which we are to discuss the works of Walt Whitman. I’m looking forward to discussing the themes of war, despair, loss and honing my creativity skills at the same time. Check it out on the university’s website, and perhaps I’ll catch you there…..http://ir.uiowa.edu/wwqr/journalannounce.html
Has anyone had this feeling of despair in writing? When they feel that creativity is lost to them, out of reach, a fleeting moment in their life that will not return?
Please share your thoughts…:)
July 26, 2016 at 9:04 pm
I love the quote by Julie Wright! I can add “badly injured on an uninhabited island” to my list of things to draw on for writing. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 22, 2016 at 3:21 am
Yes, writer’s block for me comes from time management issues. If I schedule too much in my life , my creativity suffers as my stress level escalates.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 23, 2016 at 9:19 am
I have to go into my quiet study room with no distractions. or I just can’t think (or create). Lately, family life has taken over, but I’m aiming to get back on track 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 21, 2016 at 10:36 am
I don’t get blocked anymore, but what I used to do was to make a list of ten or more things that can happen in the story. Even off-the-wall ideas because they can spark other ideas. Or, look at photos of your setting, or even photos of what your characters look like. Then let your muse take over. Good luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 21, 2016 at 9:46 pm
That’s good advice – I got a few hundred words down yesterday for a mystery I am writing bur fear it may be rubbish….I will have to go over it. As for my novel…I took a few ww1 books out of my local library and reading them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 22, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Great!
LikeLiked by 1 person