Sent off the Tarot book to yet another publisher. So won't wait for the rejection letter, I'll get straight back to the writing.
See, I'm learning.
"Don't wait." is rule number# ...? something. According to ... someone or other professional's blog I read ages ago.
Way hey! At least I've learned that much. :)
Showing posts with label Writer's Block. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writer's Block. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Running on empty
Working every hour there is has managed to pay the bills so far. But, it is physically draining. - - And then about 3 weeks ago I finally exhausted the tank and I've been running on empty ever since. ... Which was kind of okay; with Christmas coming up I was due two weeks off from one of my jobs, so that would have been a nice restful break. I could have stoked the furnaces and then got right back to it. :)
However that job has just informed me that my services are no longer required. The credit crunch just bit me! Ouch! And my first reaction was an overwhelming sense of relief.
I have officially been told that I can relax.
The problem is, I think I relaxed too much and something important went SPANG!
The last time I felt like this was the day after I finished my English 'O' Level and my ability to spell the word and evaporated. I knew it had three letters and that there was an 'n' in it, but I sat there looking at the sentence I was writing for 10 minutes and I could not figure out how to write it. In the end I left a three letter space and kept writing. A paragraph later the word the threatened to do the same thing, so in my best inner Monty Python general's voice I said "Stop it! That's silly!" and the sprang back into sharp focus, and and jumped back in at the same time. I went back and filled it in.
Never had that problem again until just now. But instead of it being just the word and, I seem to be having a global creativity failure. I can't tell if anything I'm writing is good anymore. I read it, and it's just ... words. Maybe it's a variation on writer's block?
I'm fairly sure that I relaxed the wrong muscle in my skull and my brain has fallen out.
If found please mail it back to me?
Eleanor Piper
High Security Ward
The Assylum
The Wilds of Devon
PO5 7AL
Thanks!
However that job has just informed me that my services are no longer required. The credit crunch just bit me! Ouch! And my first reaction was an overwhelming sense of relief.
I have officially been told that I can relax.
The problem is, I think I relaxed too much and something important went SPANG!
The last time I felt like this was the day after I finished my English 'O' Level and my ability to spell the word and evaporated. I knew it had three letters and that there was an 'n' in it, but I sat there looking at the sentence I was writing for 10 minutes and I could not figure out how to write it. In the end I left a three letter space and kept writing. A paragraph later the word the threatened to do the same thing, so in my best inner Monty Python general's voice I said "Stop it! That's silly!" and the sprang back into sharp focus, and and jumped back in at the same time. I went back and filled it in.
Never had that problem again until just now. But instead of it being just the word and, I seem to be having a global creativity failure. I can't tell if anything I'm writing is good anymore. I read it, and it's just ... words. Maybe it's a variation on writer's block?
I'm fairly sure that I relaxed the wrong muscle in my skull and my brain has fallen out.
If found please mail it back to me?
Eleanor Piper
High Security Ward
The Assylum
The Wilds of Devon
PO5 7AL
Thanks!
Monday, 17 November 2008
Holding your breath ...
... is universally a bad idea.
Aside from the whole turning blue, keeling over, and waking up with a bunch of strangers staring at you worriedly thing. - - That's normal. Bunch of strangers staring at me worriedly happens every day*. Virtually everyone I meet or pass on the street reacts like that. - - Aside from that, there's the whole time wasting aspect to it (which could be classed as procrastination I suppose, or maybe a variation on writer's block?) where you are waiting instead of doing.
In this case I have not been wholly holding my breath as I wait for the verdict on The Grim; I've been mulling other projects, but not actively working on them the way I should have been. Bad Eleanor!
Producer No#1 was kind enough to let me know there has been no decision as yet, because they are having a BIG RUCK over the script. He loves it as is. The folks behind the scenes want to transfer the setting from the UK to the USA. - - Hmm. If you've read the story you'll realise that I think Producer No#1 is a man of rare insight and spectacular story know-how who should be listened to at all times.
... However, if it really comes down to it, I can always write them a brand new script about a monster eating people in the USA it just won't be this monster. Maybe it's cousin?
So, it looks like interesting times (the Chinese type) are headed my way. Again. Oh joy.
I'd better pull my finger out and get back to working on the other story with my American co-writers ... before they lynch me for falling off the face of the planet. :)
*Well, every day that I venture out of my cave into the view of other people.
Aside from the whole turning blue, keeling over, and waking up with a bunch of strangers staring at you worriedly thing. - - That's normal. Bunch of strangers staring at me worriedly happens every day*. Virtually everyone I meet or pass on the street reacts like that. - - Aside from that, there's the whole time wasting aspect to it (which could be classed as procrastination I suppose, or maybe a variation on writer's block?) where you are waiting instead of doing.
In this case I have not been wholly holding my breath as I wait for the verdict on The Grim; I've been mulling other projects, but not actively working on them the way I should have been. Bad Eleanor!
Producer No#1 was kind enough to let me know there has been no decision as yet, because they are having a BIG RUCK over the script. He loves it as is. The folks behind the scenes want to transfer the setting from the UK to the USA. - - Hmm. If you've read the story you'll realise that I think Producer No#1 is a man of rare insight and spectacular story know-how who should be listened to at all times.
... However, if it really comes down to it, I can always write them a brand new script about a monster eating people in the USA it just won't be this monster. Maybe it's cousin?
So, it looks like interesting times (the Chinese type) are headed my way. Again. Oh joy.
I'd better pull my finger out and get back to working on the other story with my American co-writers ... before they lynch me for falling off the face of the planet. :)
*Well, every day that I venture out of my cave into the view of other people.
Saturday, 3 May 2008
So, how do I do that...?
... I'm talking about Bill's suggestion to use your personal problems to fuel your writing.
Well, you know what, that works great for new projects - where it is possible to do what he suggests and line your story up with your emotions. :) Excellent!
However, not so great for existing ideas with different emotional emphasis. So working on the rewrite? Still not really happening at the moment. Concentration is difficult, and what I am writing on it is frankly crap.
In the few moments I have to myself each day I find I'm either chewing over solutions to the finance issue, distracting myself with other activities, or (Hoorah!) writing an outline for the next story.
Well, you know what, that works great for new projects - where it is possible to do what he suggests and line your story up with your emotions. :) Excellent!
However, not so great for existing ideas with different emotional emphasis. So working on the rewrite? Still not really happening at the moment. Concentration is difficult, and what I am writing on it is frankly crap.
In the few moments I have to myself each day I find I'm either chewing over solutions to the finance issue, distracting myself with other activities, or (Hoorah!) writing an outline for the next story.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Lack of focus - a variation of writer's block?
I recently read one of Bill Martell's script tips on writer's block:
"But sometimes we experience writer's block because of things happening in our personal life that have nothing to do with our scripts. Often writer's block is a symptom of depression or anxiety in our every day life. As writers we use OURSELVES as our tools, so when things go wrong in real life it may screw up the writing, too. This is the hardest stuff to deal with, because even after you realize "Hey! The reason why I have writer's block is because I caught my wife in bed with my best friend!" that doesn't solve the problem. If you are fighting serious personal problems it will be difficult to find the energy to write. Financial problems, relationship problems, health problems, family problems - stuff like that takes time to get over. But sometimes you can find a scene that matches your mood and write that - use whatever your personal problems are to fuel your writing." Read the full script tip here.
It struck a real chord with me...and I realised that one of the varients of writer's block that he describes - excerpt above - is what is currently happening to me.
D-YA-AARGH!
*gnashing of teeth*
I don't get writer's block. I refuse point blank. ... I shall use my personal crippling financial problems to fuel my writing. Okay, great.
...
How, do I do that exactly?
Between starving and getting evicted I mean... Okay, I exaggerate flagrantly. That's not actually happening.
In actual fact a second job is looking to become a reality -- in the heart of the wilds of Devon, even getting an interview is a bit of a miracle -- of course I could be jumping the gun, but I have a good feeling about this opportunity.
On the down side, it does mean I'll be working every hour there is. The up side is that it will keep the wolf away from the door. And junior doctors will probably still be jealous of the amount of down time I get... probably. And I can already feel my creative drive metaphorically opening a new pad of paper and sharpening its favourite pencil. :)
First things first though: murder all the competition so that I am the only applicant, and then shine at the interview. :)
Sorted.
"But sometimes we experience writer's block because of things happening in our personal life that have nothing to do with our scripts. Often writer's block is a symptom of depression or anxiety in our every day life. As writers we use OURSELVES as our tools, so when things go wrong in real life it may screw up the writing, too. This is the hardest stuff to deal with, because even after you realize "Hey! The reason why I have writer's block is because I caught my wife in bed with my best friend!" that doesn't solve the problem. If you are fighting serious personal problems it will be difficult to find the energy to write. Financial problems, relationship problems, health problems, family problems - stuff like that takes time to get over. But sometimes you can find a scene that matches your mood and write that - use whatever your personal problems are to fuel your writing." Read the full script tip here.
It struck a real chord with me...and I realised that one of the varients of writer's block that he describes - excerpt above - is what is currently happening to me.
D-YA-AARGH!
*gnashing of teeth*
I don't get writer's block. I refuse point blank. ... I shall use my personal crippling financial problems to fuel my writing. Okay, great.
...
How, do I do that exactly?
Between starving and getting evicted I mean... Okay, I exaggerate flagrantly. That's not actually happening.
In actual fact a second job is looking to become a reality -- in the heart of the wilds of Devon, even getting an interview is a bit of a miracle -- of course I could be jumping the gun, but I have a good feeling about this opportunity.
On the down side, it does mean I'll be working every hour there is. The up side is that it will keep the wolf away from the door. And junior doctors will probably still be jealous of the amount of down time I get... probably. And I can already feel my creative drive metaphorically opening a new pad of paper and sharpening its favourite pencil. :)
First things first though: murder all the competition so that I am the only applicant, and then shine at the interview. :)
Sorted.
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