Nothing can stop him . . . June, 2010
I’m currently in the pits of hell.
I mean, I’m stuck in my manuscript. And have been. For months.
Fortunately, I don’t have the luxury to loll about in my stuckness, as I have a deadline. But I am still stuck, even if I’m determined.
I feel as though I’ve tried two dozen different strategies. I’ve re-read my favorite books. I’ve re-read craft books. I’ve Googled “writers block” and ‘inspiration” and “fiction, raising the stakes.” I’ve written cold, hard, un-pretty words, using Dr. Wicked Writer or Die. I’ve plotted until my brain hurts, then gone to the other end of the continuum and written nonsense words without forethought. I’ve upped my hero’s stakes, widened my heroine’s arc, intersected secondary characters’ goals, and made the clock tick down faster. And I’m still stuck.
I’m sure some of it is working, but like a medication: the effects may take some time to show. And if you stop too soon, well, you’ll never notice them at all. But which do I keep doing, I wonder.
And of course, the worst wondering of it is: Have I lost it? Is She (i.e. the Muse) gone forever? Am I dried up, washed out, done in, dried up? Have I tapped the well, smoked the pipe, struck out, gone the last mile, or otherwise lost lost what matters to my writing?
Have you ever felt like this? It’s a really scary place.
Experience helps in grappling with this beast, though, as I know I’ve felt this way before. There’s been times I was certain ‘it’ was gone. I knew I’d never have another good idea, and that the best I could do was say “Boy Meets Girl, Girl Runs Screaming” and call it good.
But, no matter how badly I write, no matter how sad my ideas are, I know the cure: I keep writing. As long as I keep showing up, I always get in again.
Skeptical? Check this out: (It’s 20 minutes, but so worth it. Still, though, wait until you have 20 to spare.)
What kinds of things do you do when you’re stuck with your writing? And how do you keep the faith?
Kris Kennedy writes sexy, adventure-filled medieval romances for Kensington and Pocket Books. Her debut book,THE CONQUEROR, came out May ‘09. Her second, THE IRISH WARRIOR, winner of the 2008 Golden Heart Award for Best Historical Romance, releases June ‘10. She loves hearing from readers–stop by her website , sign up for her newsletter , and say Hi!
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When I went through a writing crisis a few months ago, (I swear I thought my muse had been kidnapped and her organs were being sold to the highest bidder), one of my dearest friends called me and in a loving, but firm voice told me “Turn off the computer, now back away from your desk. Take all of your writing books, your manuscript and notes and put them all away where you can’t see them. Clear your desk and your work table completely and close the door to your office and stay away for at least a couple of days.” I sobbed as I did this, but I followed her advice. I worked on everything else including my taxes and even though temptation lurked, I stayed away for a week. When I finally returned to my computer I was anxious, but I sat down and wrote and wrote and wrote. If all else fails – try it!
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Liz,
Thank-you for that idea!! LOL on your muse being kidnapped and her organs being sold. I know the feeling!
I always imagine my muse is not being held forcibly, but is more like a mermaid, deep-sea diving, ohh-ing and ahh-ing over shiny things, Meanwhile, I’m flailing around on the shore, covered in sand. LOL
Taking a break is so hard to do, isn’t it?, especially when there’s this looming deadline. But you’re right: sometimes it *is* better to ‘waste’ the time and step away, so you can come back 100%, rather than keep plugging away at 20-25% indefinitely.
You may be right on this. I think I’ll hammer out what I can today, and if it’s still like slogging through mud, I’ll take a break on Friday & the weekend. Get some Easter stuff for my son, have fun with family, then hit it hard again on Monday.
Thanks for taking the time to offer something that may really help, Liz!
btw, did you check out the video? Maybe you’d seen it before.
Kris,
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. I was at that point last week. I had plenty of ideas for stories, but when I started writing I’d get stuck. I’ve got 5 different stories started, but only a page or two written on each. I became depressed. I was depressed to the point that I had decided not to get out of bed. That’s when it happened. I was dozing, in that state where you’re not really asleep but not awake either, and I saw my next story. As soon as the “movie” playing in my head was over, I jumped out of bed and raced to the computer. It was one of those moments where you don’t think, you just write.
So, my advice, relax, let your muse get some rest and she’ll come back to you with the most remarkable story.
I will keep my finger crossed for you.
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Tammy~
Thanks for your thoughts and the finger-crossing (and sorry for the delay in my reply! Our web goddess Jeannie had to take the site down this weekend.)
Your moment of inspiration sounds wonderful! It’s been awhile since I’ve had one like that. Recently, mine are more the “Bang-your-head-against-the-wall-Does-it-hurt-yet?-Have-an-idea-yet?” variety, but hey, that’s just me.
I agree that some of this may be the trying-too-hard thing. Ack! Deadlines are good, but they are also bad! LOL
Thanks Tammy!
HI Kris!
You can do it
I have faith in you. I didn’t get a chance to watch the video yet, but will be back later today. You are so good at making yourself still write. Whenever I get ina slump I avoid my computer, my desk, ANYTHING, even cleaning the bathrooms feels better…. But you’re right, sitting down and actually doing it, even if its rubbish on a page is the only way to get it done. I have to sit down and get some writing in today. No more excuses…
HUGS!
Eliza
HI Kris!
Thanks for sharing the clip. I’m going to watch it later tonight at my critique group. I know the ladies will enjoy the info, too.
I know you’ll conquer this. You’re an awesome, awesome( yes, double the awesome!) writer! You CAN and WILL bust through the block. I have no doubts about that!
Happy Easter! Thanks again!
Twitter: violaestrella
says:
Hi Kris,
Just watched the video. Wow, what a great way to look at the creative mind. It sort of gives us permission not to be brilliant, but, like she said, just show up and do our job. Love it! Thanks for sharing! And I hope you get unstuck soon. Some good advice that I’ve received is side-step what blocks you and then come back to it later. Write a scene that’s further along in the story and then put the pieces together after that. Not so easy but it’s worth a shot.
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
VIOLA!
What are you, crack??? Are you insane, telling a mist-flying panster like me such a thing?? :Shakes head. Sobs softly: Now I’m going to have to do it–go write a random scene.
It’ll be beautiful, and fun, and exciting, and it won’t fit anywhere, so I’ll have to re-write OTHER scenes, so it *will* fit, because of course it will be oh-so-*necessary*, and that will drive me toward an plot hole that becomes inevitable if I keep the new plot with the old character arcs. When I finally admit I am again stuck (anywhere from 4-84 days later) I’ll write ANOTHER random scene that is fun, and exciting, and completely incompatible, which will require a complete rewrite of the preceding scenes, because of course, the new stuff is oh-so-*necessary*. . .
Twitter: jeannieruesch
says:
It’s definitely a good method to get unstuck…although if you’re like me, I tried that. I had a chapter that I just couldn’t quite figure out the elements at, so I put it aside and moved past it. Now, I’m somewhere around chapter twenty-something and chapter seven has yet to be finished. LOL
I keep trying! LOL It seems to get more and more elusive. I might just finish the last chapter before I get the darn Chapter 7 written.
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Eliza~
Oh, I definitely have those times too, where I avoid rather the ms. Oh, my, yes I do. LOL
I think I’ve figured out my problem this time, and there’s nothing to be done about it. This is another one of those older stories that I’m trying to re-fashion (re-plot, re-character-arc, re-pace, re-etc, etc). I swore I’d never do this again, but then, I didn’t consider that I surely *would* do it again, if someone bought the book. LOL
Thanks for your faith in me!
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Sarah~
I know, isn’t that video the BEST?!!? I watch it every few months, just as a reminder. An I *always* have tissues. LOL
Thanks for believing in me.
Twitter: jeannieruesch
says:
I WILL watch this movie. I WILL watch this movie… LOL Probably the next time I try to write chapter 7 *see above reply to Viola lol*
But it sounds very much like a workshop I attended by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She said, and I paraphrase here, give yourself permission to put crap on the page.
And then, to quote The Nora, I can’t fix a blank page.
Sometimes, those are daily mantras. LOL
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
It’s so true, and I think of that Nora thought often. I am pretty comfortable writing cr*p.
I find when I plot, I get stuck. When I write, things move.