I’ve
been struggling, wrestling, fighting, and being bludgeoned into a pulp by the
first chapter of my next book, Flesh of Legends, a follow up to Blood of Heroes. I have no idea why I can’t figure this
out. I’ve gone through seven different
attempts, completed around 6,000 words and realized it wasn’t working.
I
might need to go back to some of my older efforts, like The Second Cut (about historic female samurai Tomoe Gozen) and see what’s going on there. Work my head around a different problem before
I come back to this one.
I find when I leave something alone for a while and come back to it, I have a better shot of sorting it out. However there's something to be said for grabbing a nut and powering through it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. Sometimes I can power through, but sometimes I do have to put it down. The trick is not leaving it there for years (which I've done).
DeleteIf you're struggling, that means you're not "in it". You've got to get yourself IN it to be able to write it. Says me. Of course, I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteOne trick I've used when stuck: come up with three words - any words, random words - and challenge yourself to somehow include those words within the next two pages or so. Even better if you are completely off-the-wall with selecting the words: "I'll open this Calculus book and select the first three eight-letter adjectives I see." If nothing else, it makes you think about it differently. Good luck!
Thanks Michael. That's a good one. I've seen a dozen other exercises to "break the block", but I'll definitely give this one a shot.
DeleteIt's a goofy one, but it has worked for me on occasion - even if I end up taking those words out - the important part is that it gets me going. I hope it works for you!
ReplyDeleteSo, I was doing a little search - very little - is "Blood of Heroes" published? What all have you written? I never know where to start to find books I might like, so "I know the author" is as good a reason as any for me to try something new! Plus, if it's at Amazon, I'll write you a review - I'm a "Vine Voice" there (under the name "magicskip").
Your research was not in vain. "Blood of Heroes" is still "in review" by my beta team. I've been eagerly awaiting their responses. "Tears of Heaven" (my urban fantasy novel) has been submitted for publication, and I'm waiting to hear back from them. (There's a trend here, if I can just put my finger on it . . .)
DeleteSo, in the meantime, I'm doing what every advice book and published author tells an unpublished writer to do: drink heavily . . . no, I mean write something else.
But you'll be one of the first to know as soon as any of my books become available (or don't, in which case I'll just send you a copy).
Have you tried sacrificing to the god of writer's block? I think a male hare would do the trick.
ReplyDeleteMale hare? I thought it was Scotch whisky, nothing less than 18 years?
DeleteAll those poor whiskys, wasted . . .