A WRITER'S BLOCK


UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Gennita Low's Writing Muse needs a voice now and then to remind Gennita about her love for writing and her battle with words. It's a dark world illuminated by the glow of creation. The Muse is that light. Sometimes she sleeps. Sometimes she's ferocious. Often she patiently waits. Pst. Never ignore her. Feed the Muse or else.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

What's your current writing block like?

You complained today that you feel like your creativity is like a washing machine in use--rinse, spin, repeat. Laundry is so easy to do--here is the machine, hit the button. Why are you complaining? Is it because I don't make you handwash like your mom used to? Use those arm muscles to wring the tears of creativity out of the big towels? Come on. If writing is like being in a washing machine, then life is good, my dear.

Any other complaints out there? Let Auntie Muse fix it with a good old-fashion talking to.

4 comments:

Leilani said...

Does Auntie Muse have any tips on how to take a boring, run of the mill story idea and make it fresh and interesting?

Anonymous said...

Have you started writing it yet? A story can't be boring and run of the mill while you're writing it!

Leilani said...

I have a few stories in various stages, although none are finished. I start working on them, get the bio sketches, outlines done then work on the first draft. That's when the story dies a lonely, cold death at the hands of my boredom and disinterest.

I thought maybe I was spending too much time in the planning stages and it was sucking the life out of the story. Then I tried the "pantser method", but that didn't help much either.

The stories don't seem fresh or exciting: kidnapped child, reunited college sweethearts, a woman going back in time to solve a murder (not all in the same book) although maybe that would make it more interesting. LOL

:) Thanks Auntie M!

Anonymous said...

Leilani,

What I would tell Gennita to do, hopefully, this will work for you too, is to find the emotion in that story that grips your heart. Because THAT is what you want to showcase. The emotion is what drives the story and once you pinpoint it, write one scene that shows this emotion. Start from there.