Don’t Stare Directly at Writer’s Block
With the 3-Day Novel Contest less than a week away writer’s block is already trying to psych me out. The contest is a 3 day challenge to write a novel at sonic speed. It takes place the September long weekend and provides the ultimate writing sprint. This is my first year participating so I don’t fully know what to expect.
Apart from the actual writing itself, my sneaky writer’s block already whispers in my ear:
- Your newborn will cluster feed and cry all weekend, you won’t be able to get anything done.
- Your two year old will miss you; she’ll bang on the office door and scream the undeniable call, “Mommmmmy!”
- You’ll grow lonely while all your family and friends are hanging out enjoying the last of the summer sun and eating tasty BBQ.
Then my writer’s block moves on to pre-emptive strikes against my writing process:
- There is not enough time – you are too much of a perfectionist.
- You don’t have enough experience. Who are you? You think you can write a novel?
- The plot you are imagining has holes.
- Your characters are flat.
- Your fingers can’t type fast enough!
- The jokes you write are only funny in your own head.
- If you chicken out, no one will know.
That’s the catch, though, I will know. I will know if I don’t give it my all or fail to finish the race. This scenario would mean defeat at the hands of my nemesis. I am aware of what I must do: Wage war on the writer’s block that attempts to floor me before the 3 days have even begun.
My technique leading up to the weekend: Don’t look writer’s block directly in the eye. If I distract myself from the practicalities and instead focus on preparations, day dream about my characters and lose myself in imaginings of plot and structure – then somehow I can actually avoid thinking about the writing itself, the part that really gets my nerves quivering.
I am sharing my fears and telling everyone I know that I am in the contest because I need the accountability. If I write about writer’s block here on my blog, somehow its evil whispers wither in power. I am choosing not to chicken out before or mid-race –but it helps to know that everyone else expects me to push through as well.
Please ask me, come next Tuesday, “How did it go?”
Over the next three days I will be posting ways to combat writer’s block. Check back for helpful ideas.
