Writer's Block

[alanajoli]

It amused me today that with so many posts lately about Writer's Block (jenlyn_b had a great comments conversation about it in her blog this week) on the blogs I read, it was pertinent that today's Dork Tower also mentioned it.

--

I don't know if I've mentioned it here yet or not, but Departure is sort of available on Amazon. It was available earlier this week with a four-to-six week shipping (which I thought was odd), and today when I checked, there was one copy available with the note that they were reordering. So either they got through the first shipment from my publisher extremely quickly (exiting!) or they've mucked something up in the process (sad).

At any rate, if you've been looking for it, it is appearing sporadically, if you search under Alana Abbott. Into the Reach shows up there as well and periodically has copies available.

It sounds like the most reliable thing to do is go to your local game store and buy there. Not only does it support gaming (hurrah!), but it means Alliance (the distributor) thinks I'm important. Sort of.

--

As a note, I'm procrastinating instead of writing my novel. Does anyone have particular motivation strategies to help get excited about a writing project that just seems to be dragging along? I've seen plenty of really good suggestions for writer's block (I used jenlyn_b's "BIC" method earlier today), but none for pep talking.

Off to try to write another ten pages before e-mailing my editor.

Comments

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

It seems I always end up making a 'soundtrack' for the story I'm working on. A playlist of songs that relate to the storyline, characters, themes, of what I'm working on. I burn it onto a CD and often play it in the car. It helps bring those muses to the forefront of my mind.

Another thing I do, I've done it on my LJ a few times, is ask people on my flist to give me three words. I then write a snippet which includes those three words. It has to be somehow related to the novel but doesn't need to be strictly a part of it. Just whatever comes to mind. Sometimes that leads to something else that leads back to the story.

I hope that helps some.

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

Motivation is always a fun thing, at least until you need to do it. For me, the best things that get me working.

1. Forcing myself to write at least one page. Normally, I bribe myself with 1 min of writing is 1 minute of a computer game. So, if I want to play for an hour, I need to write for an hour.

2. Secondary points of views. Sometimes, when I can't find the words, I write a random chapter from a different point of view, a secondary character or even (my favorite) a piece of grass or some object. It's fun and sometimes you get enough of a perspective to get you back in the mood.

3. Editing. When I get stuck, sometimes I got back 2-3 chapters and edit and it gets me back in the mood.

Mainly, the bribing helps me the most. :)