Notes from the Author: Fighting Writer's Block

Welcome intrepid readers. Thanks for being here.

Philip the Bard will return monday. Today I’m writing about writers block.

I’ve attended many writer’s conferences in a number of venues. One thing that seems to come up often is “the fear of the empty page”. It seems to be on the minds of many writers. As often as I’ve heard it mentioned it must be a significant problem.

I have my problems as a writer (spelling, punctuation) but writers block is not one. There are several reason for that and I hope that by sharing something about what I do may someday help a struggling writer faced with a blank page.

First of all have a great story to tell. I’ve written seven books. Six of them are a series and one was semi autobiographical. Writing “The Best in Each Other” was simple enough as I was drawing stories from my life and writing them the way I wanted them to have turned out. The rest of my books comprise “The Harappan History Project”. I came up with the germ for these stories over forty years ago and I am totally in love with the people and places that are in my universe, at least most of them. (planet Lava sucks and I’m not too fond of Blake Fitzgerald) When I sit down to write about these stories I am so eager to see what happens to my imaginary friends that I am compelled to tell their stories. 

When I sit down to write I already know what I am going to start with. I think about my stories all the time. When I go to bed, before I fall asleep, when I’m driving, when I’m watching TV. I do my best work when I am doing nothing.

One trick I learned is to stop a writing session before you complete what you are working on. That way when you sit down to the keyboard the next time you already have something to start with.

Some writers insist that they must be in the proper environment to write. Asimov wrote in a plain empty room so as to not be distracted. I’ve heard other writers describe their perfect writing environment. A cabin by a lake or an old English library. I say, forget about that. Learn to write when ever, where ever. I work very well while being distracted. I like to work with the radio or TV on as a noisy drone in the background. Forcing my consciousness to the page is one way I find the concentration to write.

When I begin a new story I start by figuring out what the ending will be. Second, I come up with as interesting a beginning as I can. After that the writing is all about filling in the “middle”. You don’t have to use this method but have some plan for your story. Use an outline if you have to, but try to come up with some way to organize what you hope to accomplish with your story.

And, most importantly, love what you are doing. 

Never mix red wine with Oodo.

Earth Year 2014