All writers seem to have this problem. We all have those half-finished projects: books, blogs, wooden chairs.
On my computer I actually have a folder of “Unfinished Blogs.” If you’re like me, finishing projects is always a struggle, especially books, which are the hardest projects to finish. Recently I’ve buckled down to finish several major projects, including my first book, and I’ve learned a few things about finishing your writing along the way.
I know how it is. It’s a three-day weekend. You get caught up in the barbecues, the family time, the sunshine, the sales at the mall… and whatever else. You sleep in and soak it up.
Then Tuesday morning comes, you drag yourself out of bed, and as you sip that cup of coffee you realize, oh man, you haven’t even thought about that manuscript for an entire three days.
Not to scare you, but there’s more than one kind of writer’s block.
There’s the overarching plot kind, which is big and broad and says, “I don’t know what happens next.” There’s the links-in-a-chain kind, which is like a map with paint spilled on it and says, “I know the beginning, and I know the end, and I have no idea how to get there.”
Then there’s the stubborn character kind, which I like to summarize as, “My protagonist is being a butt.”
I assume it was a typo. It should have been “The early bird gets the word.” Why? Because writers who want to be more productive need to start getting up earlier.
Now, before the night owls start hooting at me, let me make my case—a very unscientific and highly personal one.
Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
—Maya Angelou
In his book, 10 Steps to Becoming a Writer, Joe Bunting that the first step to is to publish your work.
I agree with him, but often our emotional experiences can block us from publishing. When we approach publishing, we often experience doubt, fear, insecurity and all the other difficult feelings that come with opening ourselves up to feedback from others.
Ahhhh the holidays. A wonderful time when we burn the rest of our vacation time and, suddenly, our schedules are wide open. Oh the writing we will do!
Except, oh yeah—the inevitable family visits, holiday parties, and travel time. Not to mention all those holiday TV specials you can’t seem to peel yourself away from (hey, no judgment here, I’m the queen of TV holiday specials).
Next thing you know, you’re shaking the New Year’s confetti off your dazed head and wondering where the heck all that “writing time” went.
