- Obstinately try to get through it (= staring idly at the screen, hands poised over the keyboard.)
- Read what I’ve written from at least seven pages back.
- Jump ahead to a scene I know I can actually write.
- Reorganise my numerous book-related files.
- Sulk.
- Make hot chocolate while singing. (Night-time + no one around = added bonus)
- Blare a bitta Beyonce and dance like a crazy woman. (My sisters sometimes think I’m moving furniture or repeatedly leaping off my bed.)
- Listen to mopey music*. (Recommended for use with number 5.)
- Lie in the dark, in silence, under the covers, and imagine scenes from my book.
- Abandon ship and work on another book.
- Read a new book. Oddly enough, I find my younger sister’s YA fantasy novels ideal in this situation.
- Reread and old favourite. Most often it’s Pride and Prejudice.
- Draw my characters.
- Go wild with acrylic paint. (Rarely resulting in a work of art, but still.)
- Prettify myself and go people-watching/ shopping. Friends optional.
- Sprawl on the couch and watch a movie or an episode or ten of one of my shows**.
*Songs may include At My Most Beautiful-REM, Samson and The Call-Regina Spektor, Stop Crying Your Eyes Out-Oasis, Jar of Hearts-Christina Perri,The Reason-Hoobastank, Fix You-Coldplay, Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol. (I realise these are not overly mopey, but they’re not exactly Shiny Happy People now are they?)
** Shows may include Vampire Diaries (Stefan or Damon, I just don’t know! Both?), Bones (Season 7 Promo had me crying with laughter), Criminal minds (Now that JJ and Prentis are back), Supernatural (Season 7 is disappointing me so far, as much as it pains me to say. CASTIEL! :o), Terra Nova (New show…rawr.)
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These are all great. I suffer more from a lack of drive than a block of ideas. In fact, sometimes it's too many ideas that stop me being productive.Hope your writing is going well, Ro.
Great post! Your such a good writer.:)Much love from the SABO SKIRT girls! SHOP: http://www.saboskirt.comBLOG: http://www.saboskirt.blogspot.com
I am so with you on Number 13
#6 I make coffee, lots and lots of coffee, it doesn’t affect me, so I can make it at 1am and still sleep, it would be the lack of writing that keeps me up. lol
#9 when I go to bed that night. Brain storming in sleep, it helps.
#12 My fave is DragonLance Chronicles or Legends
#15 I’m not big on the prityfying myself, but I will head out for a walk or something away from the house.
I also:
Have my eldest child (12yo) help me act out parts
Have my smaller children play sword fighting and dragon hunting. (I write fantasy)
and Cook, I like to cook, it helps me think
Miniature sword fights and dragon hunting!
And here I thought children wouldn’t aid writing! How wrong I was.
I’m sure you know some agents and publishers have a symbol of a dragon with a line through it to say they don’t take fantasy. Their loss! I actually had an epic half-asleep dream about dragons this morning, think it might be my next series!