Writer's Paralysis By Katie Powner

All of us authors have faced writer’s block at some point. We’ve hit a wall in the middle of our story, or lost focus, or maybe we received some feedback that stopped us in our tracks and we struggled to continue.

But what about writer’s paralysis? Writer’s paralysis is like writer’s block except with a global pandemic, national unrest, record unemployment, social upheaval, and weeks of isolation piled on top of it.

Anybody have any tips for that one?

I’m not going to lie. For the past couple months, I’ve been struggling. Struggling to post on my blog. Struggling to finish my WIP. Struggling to even write a tweet without paralyzing self-doubt and over-analysis.

Writing Yourself Into a Corner by Dr. Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

I saw a mug the other day that brought a smile to my face. “Writer’s block: When your imaginary friends won’t talk to you.” Then again, maybe it’s not so funny, especially if you’re facing it.

It goes by many names. Writer’s block. Writing ourselves into a corner. Wondering what comes next. Stumped for an out. If we write enough, we’re going to face it someday. We’re going to put our heroine or hero in a situation from which we have no idea how they’re going to proceed.

This situation is probably less common in the plotter’s world, where things are laid out nicely before writing begins. But I suspect that somewhere in the plotting process even those authors stop for a time of head-scratching, wondering what comes next. If you, like me, are a pantser—a writer who plots by the seat of your pants—and especially one who writes mysteries, this problem rears its ugly head even more frequently.

What do you do if you find yourself facing such a situation? My first suggestion is to temporarily put aside the novel on which you’re working and start stringing words together on another piece. It seems that the harder we think about it and the more we try, the more difficult it is to come up with a solution. This sometimes leads the writer to doubt his or her ability. So, write something else. It may be a blog post. Perhaps it’s a magazine article you’ve been thinking about doing. The main thing is to take your mind off the current problem while shoring up what is undoubtedly the tendency for your self-confidence to fail. See? You can do it. You haven’t lost it.

It helps sometimes to step away from writing entirely—for an hour, a day, even a week— whatever your schedule allows. I’ve often found that solutions to seemingly insoluble problems come to me on the golf course. The answer depends on letting your mind rest while it subconsciously turns over the situation and decides how to solve it.

Stephen King calls it letting “the boys in the basement” take over. On more than one occasion I’ve awakened with an idea that pertains to my work-in-progress, an idea that eluded me when I went to sleep. In my current novella, Emergency Case, I had the idea of a doctor backing her car down the driveway after a snowfall and hitting what turned out to be a dead body. Good so far, but where did I go from there? Then I eventually awoke with the questions that sent me in the right direction. What if the doctor’s husband was an attorney? What if he’d been acting strangely lately? And what if the body represented one of his clients—and the police suspected him of being the killer? Thus, Emergency Case was born.

That’s what I do when faced with writer’s block. What about you?

~~~~~~

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, now writing “medical mystery with heart.” His novels have garnered critical acclaim and been finalists for ACFW’s Carol Award, both the Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year and Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Inspirational Readers Choice, and the Selah Award. He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the International Thriller Writers, and Novelists Inc. Emergency Case is his latest novella.

He and his wife live in north Texas, where he writes, works on being the world’s greatest grandfather, and strives to improve his golf game. You can learn more about him at his website, and via his blog and Facebook page.

Writing Under Pressure by Betty Thomason Owens

I don’t always work well when the pressure’s on. The dreaded deadline is looming, and my mind’s a total blank, or worse—mush. Mush is when there’s so much information, it’s difficult to separate the good from the not so good.

I type feverishly, trying my best, only to erase it all because it’s boring. If I’m yawning over it, the reader will most certainly be uninterested, too.

How do I break free from this vicious cycle?

• I get up. I get my blood flowing, either by cleaning something, or simply doing a few stretches. If it’s a nice day, I may go for a quick walk. I free my mind from the bondage of the laptop screen. Fifteen minutes, or so, is all it takes. 

• Change it up. Work on something else for a few minutes. Create a meme, write a quick blog post (I can always use those).

• Do something fun. Toss a tennis ball at the wall and catch it. Play with your pet for a few minutes. I don’t have a pet, I would have to pretend on that one, but make-believe is one of my strong points. 😊 

• Read something funny. Laugh out loud. Watch a silly pet video. Laugh out loud. 

• Spend a few minutes meditating, praying, studying God’s word, or listening to praise music. Sing along with the music. 

Each of the above suggestions can lessen the feeling of bondage I’m experiencing due to that time-constriction, which I usually despise. And here’s another odd little suggestion: Forgive yourself. Sometimes, I feel that I’m letting myself down. I’m either under-performing or maybe, I brought this penalty on myself by dragging my feet until the last second.

When I forgive myself, there’s a resulting release within my spirit. And then the words come. I’ve cleared the blockage. Now the inspiration can flow freely.

As writers, we’ve probably all been there at one time or another. What’s your favorite way to overcome the pressure? What helpful hint(s) can you add to my short list of remedies?

~~~~~~

Betty Thomason Owens has been writing for almost thirty years. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and serves on the planning committee of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. Her writing credits include Amelia’s Legacy and Carlotta’s Legacy, in the Legacy Series, Annabelle’s Ruth and Sutter’s Landing, in the southern historical Kinsman Redeemer Series. When she’s not writing, Owens is a part-time bookkeeper, who loves to travel and spend time with her family.

You can connect with her at: http://bettythomasonowens.com, Twitter - @batowens, Facebook Author Page, Amazon Author Page, & Pinterest - btowens. 

You'll also find Betty visiting these blogs:

proud to be an autism mom, August 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 16

Reading is my Super Power, August 16 (Interview)


What will it take to teach a spoiled heiress that the greatest legacy is love?

Nancy and Robert Emerson’s daughter Amy Juliana is doing her best to follow in Mom’s rebellious footsteps.

Her desperate attempt to escape Dad’s control comes at the worst possible time. A threat against their family and Sanderson Industries has Robert Emerson taking extra steps to guarantee his family’s safety. He sends Amy, an heiress and a debutante, to the country to work on a produce farm run by Aunt Rebecca. Humiliated and angry, Amy contemplates a path that will lead her even farther from home, away from Dad’s protection.

Will Aunt Rebecca’s quiet strength and unconditional love be enough to still the prodigal daughter’s rebellious ways, and open her heart to the plight of others around her?

Matt Wordsworth is the man Robert calls upon to help keep his daughter in line. She thinks the guy is an old fuddy-duddy. By the time her ideas about him begin to change, it may be too late. When an old friend tests her loyalty, she is forced to face her past to overcome a guilty conscience. But, is she playing into the hands of the enemy?

Working Through Dry Times by Jodie Wolfe

Up until a little over a year ago, I'd always heard about the infamous 'writer's block' although I'd never truly experienced it. I was used to sitting down and for the most part, the words flowed freely. But then… I got hit with multiple waves of stress levels coming from several different areas in my life. It was the kind of stress that didn't let up throughout that time period. Each day I could feel the chipping away at my confidence level concerning my writing ability. Doubts flooded in making it difficult to move forward. I felt as dry spiritually, physically, emotionally, and creatively as someone who crossed the Sahara Dessert with only a trickle of water to sustain them each day.

What got me through this difficult time? At first I just squared my shoulders to take the situations head-on, but when I got slammed with continual blasts of stress and criticism I found that wasn't enough. I prayed but didn't seem to be making any headway. I no sooner felt like I was making progress only to get punched again from a different direction. To be honest, I could identify with the man that Jesus mentioned in the story of the Good Samaritan.

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. - Luke 10:30 (HCSB)

I was bruised and wounded.

What got me out of the slump? Continuing to pray and placing everything in God's hands over and over again. I humbled myself and asked others to pray for me. I didn't always give them details of the situations but simply mentioned my need to be covered in prayer. My husband stood by me throughout the whole ordeal offering encouragement and prayer support. I delved into a Bible study and scheduled time away. I made a specific choice to let go of bitterness and not allow hurt to rob me of God's joy. I determined not to stress about the lack of words but instead trust that when it was time to write again, the Lord would provide.

It's taken a long while, but I'm finally on the 'other' side. I honestly don't know why God had me go through all the stress of this past year. But I rely on the fact that I can trust Him. I choose to walk in His joy, not in bitterness… and the words are beginning to flow again.

What do you do when you're faced with times of writer's block? How do you work through it?

~~~~~~

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) and has been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor for Putting on the New and Stitches Thru Time blogs. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

To Claim Her Heart

 

In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his 'Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn't counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.

Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.

Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.

Links:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Beating Writer's Block by Toni Shiloh

There comes a time in every writer’s life where they experience writer’s block. It’s the bane of our existence. So how do we press through it?

Pray. Regardless if I have writer’s block or not, I pray. But when my brain comes up empty as I’m staring at a blank laptop screen or staring at the lack of words being added, I start sending prayers upward left and right. I ask for prayers from my critique partners, street team, family members, etc. I tell the Lord what frustrates me and talk through the story with Him. I also open my ears to His response.

Read. Reading is great inspiration. Sometimes we read a story and our brain automatically figures out what works and what doesn’t. Believe it or not, that helps us when we write our own story. Sometimes, our brain just needs to switch creative outlets. Reading will relax the brain and take away the stress of staring at the blank screen.

Explore. Often times we have to explore other adventures to throw our characters into. Have you upped the ante enough? Is there goal too easily attainable at the moment? If so, explore ways you can make their life difficult and ultimately, add words to the screen.

Seek. Seek advice from other writers. A writer friend maybe able to offer you minutes of brainstorming or a solution to a scene you’re stuck on. Don’t be afraid to utilize your resources.

Sit. Last, sit and write. Remember, you do this to glorify God and He will show up.

What tips do you have to beat writer’s block?

~~~~~~

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.weebly.com

Finding Love 

Delaney Jones has finally started to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after the death of her husband, Parker. Just as she adjusts to a new normal, in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. When she finally makes the decision to trust him, the world deals her a heavy blow.

Sergeant First Class Luke Robinson can’t get over his part in the death of Delaney’s husband. Hoping to assuage his guilt, he offers to lend a hand. He never counted on the feelings she evokes with just a smile. Will his secrets widen the gulf, or will he finally find absolution?

Buy links – http://amzn.to/2r2NmFZ

Social media links –

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+ToniShiloh

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonishiloh

Blogs I’m part of: http://puttingonthenew.com  ; http://heartwingsblog.com  ; http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com ; www.acfwvirginia.com/blog

Writer's Block or Writer's Fear by Heidi Chiavaroli

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines writer's block as "the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc.” 

I'm not convinced I've ever suffered from writer's block. I seem to have tons of ideas—especially those juicy new ideas. 

Recently though, I've experienced what I like to call writer's fear. What I define as "the crazy notion that putting nothing on the page is better than putting something horrible on the page."

Perhaps you can relate. You have that story idea marinating in your head—it’s juicy, yummy, and you can’t wait to share it.

But hold on there. What if your idea loses its juiciness when you actually put it on paper? What if it runs out of flavor? What if it’s not even a good idea to begin with? After all, things always sound so much better in your head…don’t they?

Ridiculous, right? And yet I succumb to this fear all too often. Over and over again, I have to remind myself that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation) 

Amen! If God has given me a spirit of power, then I don’t need to fear. He’s already done the hard work. I simply need to follow his prompting, whether it be to serve in a certain way, show love to a coworker, or write! J 

So go ahead, live in power and love and self-discipline. Write that first word. That first sentence. That first paragraph. If it helps, look at the clock and see how many words you can write in thirty minutes. Any small accomplishment or mile-mark is helpful. You can do it. God himself has given you his power. 

Have you ever experienced writer's block or writer's fear? How did you overcome it?

Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, wife, mother, and grace-clinger—not necessarily in that order. Ever since taking her first trip to Plimoth Plantation with her sister, mother, and grandmother at the age of nine, she has been fascinated with history and its significance to today’s people and culture. Heidi is the winner of ACFW’s 2014 Genesis Contest, Historical Category. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Howie, her standard poodle. Learn more about Heidi on her website: www.heidichiavaroli.com.

Who Am I by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

I’m in a dry spell with my writing and can’t seem to create. I’ve managed to scrape together five chapters of my current work in progress, but it’s like fingernails digging into the rock at the bottom of the well to get any words written. There is nothing there. Not saying that my writing isn’t good. It is. I have critique partners who tell me they can’t wait for the next chapter. They say, this will be my best book yet. They claim it is so powerful… but I can’t do it.

I’ve questioned whether I’m the right person to write this book. Maybe God meant for it to go to someone else. Someone more talented. Someone better known. A *name*, an author who has a proven track record to write anything, in any genre. Someone like, maybe (insert favorite author’s name). That person is better than me. More important. More talented.

But no. God wants me to do it.

Why me? I’m insignificant. I’m nobody. Kind of like that poem we were all forced to memorize in Junior High. “I’m nobody. Who are you? Are you nobody too?”

Then God reminded me in 2 Corinthians 12:9-11

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV)

Yes, Lord. I recognize I can’t do this work without You. And right now I kneel before You, giving You this whole story. If it gets written it will not be because of me, but because of You.

Check out the beautiful lyrics of Casting Crown's classic, Who Am I, (contains links to listen on that page as well) then ask yourself: Are you feeling unworthy of a task God called you to do? Unable to complete it? Join me in turning it all over to Him, trusting Him to work in you, (and me) so that we may give glory and credit to His name.

Lord, please help me to give this assignment to You. Give me the strength to do what You have asked. Help me to say what You want me to say, write what You want me to write, do what You want me to do. And we give You all the glory, and all the honor, and all the praise. Amen.

About the Author

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Bird House

The Bird House
by Laura V. Hilton

Twenty–year–old Greta Miller's daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers' market. Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving the Amish. Three years later, he's back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta's family needs help, he steps in, hoping to win her back. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more. But as their friendship begins to grow, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves. Will Greta get beyond her family's distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?

Writer's Block Buster by Brenda S. Anderson

Tips for beating that dreaded writer's block. What could be better? Doing it in an entertaining way, of course! Today, Brenda Anderson gives her cure and something I'm going to try! -- Sandy

Brenda: If you’ve been writing for any amount of time, you’ve likely experienced the dreaded writer’s block. You stare at a blank page, fingers hovering over your keyboard, and no words, no story, no characters flit through your head, and you think your storytelling days are over.

Well, I have a surefire cure, a fun cure, one my entire family has participated in: Ten Word Flash Fiction. No, I don’t mean a story that contains only ten words, but a story that must use ten specifically chosen words.

The idea first came from an old elementary school assignment I discovered, one where I had to use all that week’s spelling words in a story. After finding that old assignment, I thought, “Why can’t I do that now?”

So I asked the family to shout out ten random words, nouns or active verbs work the best, and then I wrote whatever came to mind, paying no attention to writing rules. The story was obviously ridiculous and nonsensical and no one outside our house would ever read it, but it was completely fun.

You can even make a family game out of this. Instead of using ten words, use five words and give everyone five minutes to write. You’ll have fun while getting those creative juices flowing.

Let’s give a try right now. I don’t have family around, so I’m going to choose the first five words I see in my office. Take these five words and write the first things that come to you. I’ll give you five minutes. Please share your goofy story in the comments below.         

Literary

Lutefisk

Fanny

Rain

Jurassic

Here’s my goofy story:

Once upon a time there was a literary agent who was always hungry. She especially enjoyed lutefisk and made it for all her clients. But her clients hated lutefisk, especially the smell which took over her entire office, and they would never come visit her. But one day, Fanny Brice got brave and showed up at the office, a clothes pin pinched over her nose. While there, a rainstorm broke out and leaked through the roof into the agent’s office. The rain fell on the lutefisk making it smell worse. Then a Jurassic dinosaur, drawn by the stench, broke into the office and devoured the lutefisk. And the agent was no longer hungry.

Silly, right? And that’s the point. Ignoring all rules and constraints gives your mind freedom to roam, and once you’ve broken into that creative side of your brain, chances are your writer’s block will soon disappear.

Do you have a special way in which you bust that writer's block? Share it here.

~~~~~

Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and is currently President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She lives in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 28 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

Readers can learn more about Brenda S. Anderson at www.brendaandersonbooks.com

Website: http://brendaandersonbooks.com/

Blogs:

http://brendaandersonbooks.com/blog/

http://inkspirationalmessages.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaSAndersonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaSAnders_n

       Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/brendabanderson/

About Hungry for Home:

After a troubling encounter with a pregnant teen, Sheila Peterson-Brooks hurries from the crisis pregnancy center into the frigid Minnesota winter where she is mugged and left for dead. After a frantic search, Richard, her husband, finds her, and the police quickly nab the mugger …

A hungry, homeless teen.
The brother of the pregnant girl Sheila had just counseled.

The girl pleads for her brother, and Sheila and Richard choose not to press charges. Instead, they open their home to the boy, a move that could cost them their possessions, and their hearts.

           And, in the process, teach them the true meaning of home.

Writer's Block Breakers by Jennifer Hallmark

Do you ever have those writing times when you get so stuck for words you go into a trance while staring at the computer? I went through this recently. Today, Jennifer Hallmark offers some tips to snap us out that trance-like state. -- Sandy

Jennifer: I love to create. Penning my characters, the setting, and their joys and sorrows is pure enjoyment and therapeutic to my soul. Occasionally, however, I get stuck. I pull up the file of my latest novel, stare blankly at the page in front of me, then pull up Pinterest and start pinning cute basset hounds. Has this ever happened to you?

One way I’ve found helpful in breaking the grip of writer’s block is to create. Not characters or settings, but exploring the other aspects of my creativity. All writers have this. A writer is imaginative and imagination doesn’t begin and end with the written word.

What do you like to do as a hobby? To relieve stress? You can turn your hobby or stress reliever into a writer’s block breaker. And it can be as simple as stopping to bake a cake. Yes, you heard me write, pun intended.

When the words won’t flow, step away from the computer. Do something creative. Here are twenty suggestions to get you started.

1. Cook.
   
2. Bake.
3. Sew.
4. Knit.
5. Crochet.
6. Decorate a space.
7. Rearrange furniture.
8. Paint.
9. Doodle.
10. Shop.
11. Pot a flower.
12. Make a collage.
13. Arrange a vase of flowers.
14. Fix your hair and apply makeup.
15. Start a new photo album.
16. Work on a jigsaw puzzle.
17. Photograph a pet, scenery, or a child.
18. Scrapbook.
19. Play an instrument.
20. Sing.

But what if you’re on a deadline? It still works. Take thirty minutes and one of the above activities. You’ll enlarge the artistic side of your brain and when you sit back down, ideas should flow. At times, it might take a few hours or a day to kick start your imagination, but it will be worth it.

Who knows? While you’re scrapbooking or painting, you might create a scene right there with your main character who is struggling. Just like you. And you’ll both emerge winners at the end…

What do you do to get the words to flow? 

~~~~~~

Jennifer Hallmark: writer by nature, artist at heart, and daughter of God by His grace. She loves to read detective fiction from the Golden Age, watch movies like LOTR, and play with her two precious granddaughters. At times, she writes. Jennifer and her husband, Danny, have spent their married life in Alabama and have a basset hound, Max.

Links

http://www.jenniferhallmark.com

http://jenniferhallmark.wordpress.com

http://writingpromptsthoughtsideas.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferhallmark

https://www.facebook.com/authorjenniferhallmark

https://twitter.com/JenHwrites

Writer's Avoidance, Part 2 by Jerusha Agen

Last week, we looked at the symptoms to diagnose Writer’s Avoidance in ourselves. If you missed them, check out last week’s post here.

Though you may not go as crazy for chocolate as I do, I’m guessing I’m not alone in some of the avoidance symptoms or in my tendency to do anything but write when the going gets tough. I’m actually in the throes of an avoidance phase like this right now (guess I should’ve added writing blog posts to the list of symptoms). I’d like to think that my case isn’t hopeless, and that I might be able to find a way to end this unproductive cycle. In an effort to find a solution, I’ve started to examine why I fall into this avoidance. The reason isn’t pretty.

In my Bible reading lately, I’ve been working my way through Exodus. Pretty sad how much I have in common with the Israelites. Yep, they were avoiders, too. After God saved them and provided for them in miraculous ways time and time again, they reached the Promised Land and discovered that the inhabitants there were awfully big. And scary. So what did they do? They rejected God’s gift to them, choosing instead to avoid potential danger.

Our situation as writers isn’t much different. God gives us stories to tell and promises great results when we follow His call and write for Him. But as soon as I come to some big and scary obstacles, I start avoiding my God-given task. Why? Because I don’t want to feel the failure and frustration that goes with trying to write and not succeeding at the pace I think I should. That’s the key, though, isn’t it? My fear of the failure and frustration come from my preconceived notions about the rate and course that the progression of my novel should take.

Yet, I tell people all the time that God gives me the ability, ideas, and words to write. I say that I’m writing for His glory alone. If that’s truly the case, then why should I care when God has a different deadline in mind than I do for finishing my plot outline? Shouldn’t I want to write my novels in His time and His way? God promised His people, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I want His future and His hope for my writing and life. So when I wrap up this blog post, I think I’ll put on the Armor of God and face the looming giant of my yet-to-be-plotted novel. By His grace, I’ll face my setbacks and difficulties with trust and patience as I watch His perfect timing unfold. As long as I’m doing my best to work with excellence on the task He’s given me, then the roadblocks He intends to slow me down or show me a different route aren’t worries at all.

But I think I’ll still bring some chocolate along for the journey.

What keeps you from writing your novel? Do you have a favorite verse that you lean into before you write? Share your thoughts with us below.

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Writer's Avoidance: when I start avoiding my God-given task.
Frustration comes from my ideas of how long it takes to write a novel.
Still taking chocolate along for the journey.

Jerusha Agen is a lifelong lover of story--a passion that has led her to a B.A. in English and a highly varied career. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Jerusha is the author of the Sisters Redeemed Series, which includes the titles This Dance, This Shadow, and This Redeemer. Jerusha co-authored the e-books A Ruby Christmas and A Dozen Apologies from Write Integrity Press. Jerusha is also a screenwriter, and several of her original scripts have been produced as films. In addition, Jerusha is a film critic, with reviews featured at the website, www.RedeemerReviews.com

LINKS:

Website: www.SDGwords.com

Twitter (@SDGwords): https://twitter.com/sdgwords 

Facebook (Jerusha Agen - SDG Words): https://www.facebook.com/JerushaAgenSdgWords 

To Buy: http://www.amazon.com/This-Redeemer-Jerusha-Agen/dp/1938092562/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751823&sr=1-1&keywords=this+redeemer

Not all prisons have bars. Charlotte Davis should know—she’s lived in one for years. She can handle getting slapped around by her boyfriend, Tommy, and even being forced to do things she would never choose, but when Tommy turns on her 10-year-old daughter, Charlotte must try to escape. With nowhere else to turn, Charlotte runs to the stranger her dying mother believed would help her. Looking only for shelter or cash, Charlotte finds a family she longs to call her own and a gentle man she could learn to love. But if Tommy catches up with Charlotte, these strangers could discover the truth about her. 

Will they send her back to Tommy? Or can a Father’s love set her free?

Writer's Avoidance, Part 1 by Jerusha Agen

Writer’s block. Everyone’s heard of it—the ultimate enemy of the writer. Or is it? With my own writing efforts (notice the word choice there), I’ve come to realize that my “writer’s block” is a lot closer to writer’s impatience and that neither is really the biggest obstacle to my writing. My nastiest nemesis is—deep breath as I admit this—avoidance. Let’s call it Writer’s Avoidance (gives it so much more dignity, don’t you think?).

At first when I started to see the symptoms of avoidance, I attributed it to the difficulties peculiar to whatever manuscript I was working on at the time. “This one’s just more challenging,” I’d say. “It’s an adaptation instead of a new story.” Or, “It’s a new genre for me, a new length for me.” The list went on until recently, when I started another manuscript in a familiar genre, and the same thing happened.

For me, the avoidance kicks in when I’m in the plotting stage. (You seat-of-the-pants writers out there may not reach the avoidance stage until later on when you lose your grip on those pants and, in a weak moment, wish you’d planned out the ride.) I’m so excited about the prospect of starting a fresh story, but when I sit down to put the plot on paper, I don’t get far before I stall. The reasons are varied, but my response is always the same: I start to avoid working on the novel. After all, I only experience feelings of failure, frustration, or downright panic when I try to make progress, so isn’t it natural to stay away? The avoidance is subconscious at first, and I take a while to admit that avoidance is what I’m actually doing.

I may be the only person who has this impractical tendency. If I am, I give you leave to laugh at my idiosyncrasies, but in case there are other creative, crazy types like me out there, I’m going to give you a checklist of symptoms so you can figure out if you’ve fallen prey to Writer’s Avoidance. (Disclaimer: People with Writer’s Avoidance may not experience all of these symptoms or the symptoms may manifest themselves in alternate ways.)

1. You start eating a lot more chocolate and taking more snack breaks when you’re working on your manuscript.
2. Your house begins to look like a Better Homes and Gardens feature thanks to compulsive cleaning sprees.
3. You keep checking the clock for the approach of the nearest mealtime.
4. Those piles of papers and old mail disappear and get organized. (How could you ever be expected to write in such a chaotic environment? Organizing really could be considered necessary to facilitate your writing.)
5. You eat more chocolate.
6. Facebook and Twitter (or Pinterest) become your new best friends. (You’re only on there to market your books. It’s not a waste of time when you’re furthering your career, right?)
7. You take up walking in the middle of your usual writing time. (You’ll feel more creative if you’re healthier!)
8. You eat more chocolate.
9. You check your phone every ten minutes. (Your agent could be trying to reach you or your smartphone could be trying to tell you about some essential writing-related tweet that you must retweet to your followers.)
10. Yeah. More chocolate.

Any of these symptoms sound familiar? Please share! And join me next Tuesday to find out how we can end avoidance.

Angie here - what do YOU do to avoid writing? Is one of the above your favorite (like the ones involving chocolate)? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

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Have you fallen prey to Writer’s Avoidance? We have Jerusha Agen's checklist. 

I sit down to put the plot on paper, I don’t get far before I stall. 

Forget writer's block. My nastiest nemesis is writer's avoidance.

Jerusha Agen is a lifelong lover of story--a passion that has led her to a B.A. in English and a highly varied career. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Jerusha is the author of the Sisters Redeemed Series, which includes the titles This Dance, This Shadow, and This Redeemer. Jerusha co-authored the e-books A Ruby Christmas and A Dozen Apologies from Write Integrity Press. Jerusha is also a screenwriter, and several of her original scripts have been produced as films. In addition, Jerusha is a film critic, with reviews featured at the website, www.RedeemerReviews.com

LINKS:

Website: www.SDGwords.com

Twitter (@SDGwords): https://twitter.com/sdgwords 

Facebook (Jerusha Agen - SDG Words): https://www.facebook.com/JerushaAgenSdgWords 

To Buy: http://www.amazon.com/This-Redeemer-Jerusha-Agen/dp/1938092562/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751823&sr=1-1&keywords=this+redeemer

Not all prisons have bars. Charlotte Davis should know—she’s lived in one for years. She can handle getting slapped around by her boyfriend, Tommy, and even being forced to do things she would never choose, but when Tommy turns on her 10-year-old daughter, Charlotte must try to escape. With nowhere else to turn, Charlotte runs to the stranger her dying mother believed would help her. Looking only for shelter or cash, Charlotte finds a family she longs to call her own and a gentle man she could learn to love. But if Tommy catches up with Charlotte, these strangers could discover the truth about her. 

Will they send her back to Tommy? Or can a Father’s love set her free?