Love this Jennie… I am very stuck with book two right now too. It reminds me of the ‘difficult second album’ syndrome i was so familiar with as a music journalist! My first novel was received well enough, in a moderate sense, but like most debuts isn’t selling very well. So my issue was, what’s the point of writing another. I booked a free half hour chat with a writing coach, which was really helpful, and am now on an enforced month’s rest, apart from my next batch of book reviews for The Conversation.
The coach recommended The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt which she loves/hates, because it outlines a series of exercises to break into the narrative, and based on what she told me, I’ve ordered it. Writing in timed chunks sounds worth a try too…. And Chris Wakling advised writing in scenes, and moving on if you get stuck (Tessa Hadley also).
I do like 'writers freeze' rather than 'writers block' as it gives the impression one can always be defrosted and get going again! Thanks for the post, Jennie. Encouraging.
Really interesting and useful. I try the ‘just do 500 words , that’s all, and see how it goes.’ Also talking to people I trust about the latest draft seems to build up the enthusiasm which sometimes overcomes the anxiety driven procrastination. I did this yesterday and I got unfrozen . A smart critical friend really helps me.
Rest! It really makes a difference to my creative brain. I know I’m getting better as the minute I allow myself to do nothing suddenly the ideas start to pop back into my head. X
I tell myself I can write terribly to trick myself into it. Just write the worst book ever then come back and fix it! I also find I can faff all day, then 15 minutes before I have to leave for a non-negotiable appointment I’m hammering away! (I am always late to pick my partner up from the train station for this very reason…. 😬)
Great tips. I also do that MORE NEEDED HERE or similar, when I want to move on, and know I can go back to it on another edit. I think for me it's knowing that whatever I write in the first draft is what another writer friend calls a Dirty Draft. It's nowhere near perfect, so there's no point in worrying that it's not. As you said, it's your scaffolding. Hope you get the break you need over Christmas - take care and good luck.
Love this Jennie… I am very stuck with book two right now too. It reminds me of the ‘difficult second album’ syndrome i was so familiar with as a music journalist! My first novel was received well enough, in a moderate sense, but like most debuts isn’t selling very well. So my issue was, what’s the point of writing another. I booked a free half hour chat with a writing coach, which was really helpful, and am now on an enforced month’s rest, apart from my next batch of book reviews for The Conversation.
The coach recommended The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt which she loves/hates, because it outlines a series of exercises to break into the narrative, and based on what she told me, I’ve ordered it. Writing in timed chunks sounds worth a try too…. And Chris Wakling advised writing in scenes, and moving on if you get stuck (Tessa Hadley also).
But key to all this is rest, I think…
So looking forward to your next novel!! X
Thank you so much for this Liz - am ordering the Alan Watt book immediately! X
I do like 'writers freeze' rather than 'writers block' as it gives the impression one can always be defrosted and get going again! Thanks for the post, Jennie. Encouraging.
Really interesting and useful. I try the ‘just do 500 words , that’s all, and see how it goes.’ Also talking to people I trust about the latest draft seems to build up the enthusiasm which sometimes overcomes the anxiety driven procrastination. I did this yesterday and I got unfrozen . A smart critical friend really helps me.
Rest! It really makes a difference to my creative brain. I know I’m getting better as the minute I allow myself to do nothing suddenly the ideas start to pop back into my head. X
I tell myself I can write terribly to trick myself into it. Just write the worst book ever then come back and fix it! I also find I can faff all day, then 15 minutes before I have to leave for a non-negotiable appointment I’m hammering away! (I am always late to pick my partner up from the train station for this very reason…. 😬)
Great tips. I also do that MORE NEEDED HERE or similar, when I want to move on, and know I can go back to it on another edit. I think for me it's knowing that whatever I write in the first draft is what another writer friend calls a Dirty Draft. It's nowhere near perfect, so there's no point in worrying that it's not. As you said, it's your scaffolding. Hope you get the break you need over Christmas - take care and good luck.