Fighting Writers Block

Now, I don't know about the rest of the writers out there, but there are days when the words simply won't come.

Or in my current case, weeks, possibly even months.

I couldn't tell you exactly when it started. When I suddenly began to find it hard to get the words that were in my head down on paper.

But for some reason the flow has stopped.

Instead of my typing skills barely being able to keep up with my brain, I find myself staring at a blank screen for hours on end. Looking at the little blinking cursor.

And if I do manage to write, I end up deleting most of it in a fit of frustration. Even blogs. I can't tell you how many times I wrote and deleted this post.

I'm afraid that for once, I don't have any advice. Instead I'm asking for it. What do any of you do when the writers block simply won't shift? What are your tricks and ideas for getting rid of writers block?

I'd love to hear them!

On a separate note, huge congratulations to my fellow Rock the Book Chick, Kate on the release of her second book, Evolution. If you haven't read the 'E' series yet, get yourselves on Amazon and buy a copy. E was my favourite book of the year by far, and Evolution comes in a very close second.

Have a great weekend!

Making Deadlines

I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but keeping my deadlines as an Indie author is probably the one thing I struggle with most.

I have my goals in mind at the start of any project. I give myself the date at which I want to have the first draft finished. I estimate the time it will take me to edit. I factor in the time it takes to make a cover, get my feedback from my beta readers, and format the ebook.

Yet somehow, despite all my planning I always seem to run out of time.

Writer’s block stalls the first draft, editing takes longer than I expected and so on.

But of course the main problem is simply life. Writing, sadly, is not yet my full time, and only job. I have a day job, that admittedly doesn’t take up a huge amount of time, but certainly makes it harder to focus as much as I would like. I have a partner, and a dog, and a house to keep tidy (during first drafts the first thing to get neglected is the housework!).

Yet, I think I have figured out the hardest part. I am the only person who sets my deadlines. I am the only person who cares or suffers when the deadline is missed. Of course, I have readers who are anxious for the next book to come out, but they don’t yet badger me for the sequel. I have no editor nagging at me to get them the latest edits.

The only person I have to push myself, is me.

I wish that I could end this post by offering some advice for other writers who suffer the same thing, but I can’t. I’m still trying to come to terms with this particular problem. So instead I’m going to end with ASKING for advice.

What do other indies do to make sure they stick to their deadlines? What’s your trick for getting yourself to work when you have so much else on your plate? All advice welcome!

Writer’s Block and Why I Refuse to Believe In It

Writer’s Block. 

It’s something that plagues even the most seasoned writers, creating mental road blocks, hampering you from finding inspiration or finishing a scene. It leaves a bitter taste and the scent of discouragement. And it’s easy to give up right then and there, isn’t it, to throw in the towel and not look back?

But is that really what’s best for you?

It’s also relatively simple to overcome “writer’s block”. Though honestly, I don’t believe in it at all. Yep, I refuse to believe in it. Why? I think there’s always a way around mental barriers, a way to keep pushing past them. Plus, theoretically, if you don’t believe in something, it doesn’t exist, right? That isn’t to say that I don’t get stumped sometimes, I do, however I choose to shove my way through (or write my way through). Even if what I write is beyond terrible, I remind myself I can fix it later. That’s what editing’s for.

To aid in smashing through your writer’s block, here are three tips:

* Try and write through any blocks. Or, is there another scene you can work on until you become unblocked?

* If that doesn’t work, take a break. Rest is vital. Try doing something that you enjoy for a little while: read, listen to music that relates to the story you’re working on, eat some candy.

I find that when my brain is occupied with something else, the answer to my writing problem jumps right in.

* Exercise helps with motivation and gets your mind flowing with fresh ideas (also helps burn off all that candy!).

So, take a breather and remember, if you refuse to believe in writer’s block how can it affect you?

By Renée Shearer

Renée is a full-time writer who lives in Sydney, Australia, with a crazy pooch named Abbey and a boisterous, somersaulting rescue budgie named Kaleb. Her days are spent living in her fictional worlds and consuming way too much caffeine. She has an (unhealthy?) obsession with all things cupcake- and coffee-related plus Kerouac and YA dystopia/fantasy books. 

Renée can often be found surrounded by books, marathoning crime shows and munching on vegan goodies, on Twitter (@Renee_Shearer), Pinterest, or dancing in a rainstorm.

Renée hopes to one day visit Rio and is currently learning Brazilian Portuguese.

You can find her books on Amazon, Smashwords, Google Books and Barnes and Noble.