Earlier this year, I was having a superproductive writing period. Writing most days, cranking out a high word count. Things were going well.
Until they weren’t.
Somehow I found myself more than 100,000 words in my novel, with no end in sight.
What went wrong, and how could I fix it, short of scrapping my manuscript and starting over?
Part of the problem came from writing in a vacuum. I was so focused on word count that I was writing blindly, without a plan and without any feedback or guidance. As a result, my motivation flagged, and I found myself fixated on the sheer awfulness of my draft in progress.
It was a recipe for disaster.
I finally gave myself a break and decided to indulge in reading for pleasure – something I hadn’t done for months.
Not only was it fun, but it also helped jumpstart my own creativity. And I could see how these successful writers were crafting their stories. Sure, I’ve always known that reading is huge in learning to become a better writer, but I had completely slacked because I wanted to finish this darn draft.
As a result, I was draining my creative energies without recharging them.
The result was the mental equivalent of a long-ago July 4th. We had used the last of the fuel taking our sailboat to the middle of Greer’s Ferry Lake near Heber Springs, Arkansas. As soon as we cut the engine, the wind died, leaving us stranded under the baking summer sun.
Out on the lake, we went swimming and made rum drinks.
This week, I’m trying some different tactics:
- Read fiction. I’m having fun and taking note of things like point of view, pacing, dialogue, character development, etc. Reading also reminds me of why I’m writing the novel in the first place – so I can offer the same entertaining escape to others.
- Read about craft. Like any writer skilled in procrastination, I’ve got a slew of books on writing fiction. Several specifically discuss the art of chick lit, the genre of my current manuscript. These books remind me of pitfalls to avoid and offer advice for fixing my mistakes.
- Connect with other writers. Classes and other writing groups offer support, reminding us that we’re not alone. I recently joined the Mystery Writers of America, and I’m also dipping my toes in the Writer’s Digest online community.
- Write anyway. It’s okay to suck. Really. It’s painful, but there’s no other way to become a better writer. So I’m doing all of the above and plodding ahead, convinced that my next draft is going to kick butt. And if not, then I’ll rinse and repeat.
What are your favorite ways to refill your creative well?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I completely forgot about Writer’s Digest, but back when I was more serious about my writing, I would read it from cover to cover, and I remember how much I used to get out of it. I bet with the online community now, it’s probably even more useful.
In answer to your question, though, I would have to say just getting out and doing other things besides writing. They give me inspiration for my writing. Also, just changing the locale of where I write helps too.
I find myself stuck in the quandary of squeezing in time for everything that goes with the writing, in addition to the writing itself. Something has to give when you’re juggling a full-time job and family and exercise and life and writing… And I know I should stop whining. J.K. Rowling managed it. So did Stephen King and countless others. Grisham wrote his first novel on the train.
Where are your favorite places to write? And do you still head out on field trips to help get the creative juices flowing?
It’s been awhile since I purposely went out somewhere to write, but my favorite places were this one particular coffee shop a couple towns away, and then an historic site that has a mansion with a lovely porch, where I would sit and write with my back pressed up against one of the posts and my feet dangling over the side. Here’s a picture of it, though, not a very good one.
That’s gorgeous! Very inspiring… That’s one thing that saddens me about living here in the Northeast. Many of the houses here are pretty darn ugly. I had never seen the “salt box” style while living in the South (for good reason).
My favorite place to write is a quaint coffee shop in my hometown, Mara’s. They have the best cupcakes, and they’re great about letting you sit and sip and write. (But it’s family friendly, so you have the occasional screaming child or adult patron who still hasn’t quite learned the concept of an “inside voice.”)
Next up, I’m planning to add reviews of writer-friendly locales. If you’d like to share one, I’d love to include it. (Hint, hint!
)
I’ve checked out two of the three coffee shops in my newish town, and I don’t feel the same coziness that you do, so they wouldn’t do for a review. I’ll let you know if the third one is the charm, or if the one I just spotted in the next town is a winner
I usually read blogs like this one, or Skye’s for inspiration.
It doesn’t help make me a better writer but it’s nice to see how really good writer’s suffer..
Mistina, thought you may be interested in reading a blog I just heard about through a publisher I know. It’s called Through the Keyhole, and she’s currently doing a series of posts featuring writers’ desks. She posts pictures of their writing area and adds a little write up about what it says about them. So far, I’m finding it a very interesting read, and it’s making me want to set aside a specific writing nook in my own place.
Ooh… Thanks so much for the tip. I loooove desks. They’re right up there with fountain pens and cool paper. Please share once you set up your personal writing nook!
Glen, how can you say that reading doesn’t make you a better writer?