There’s Nothing To Writing
“There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down and at typewriter and open a vein.”
-Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith
I’ve seen this quote on a couple of authors’ blogs, and it always makes be frustrated. It’s not that I disagree. Am I spilling my heart and soul all over my laptop for hours everyday? Yes. Is there a transfusion for that? Um, no. Do I feel washed out and exhausted from my writerly efforts? Every single day.
But sometimes I just can’t get a darn vein to open. In fact, most of the time it’s like those stupid little heel pricks pediatricians do to babies. They poke a tiny hole and then have to milk it, squeeze it, bruise it, just to get enough blood to fill a tiny vial.
The worst part is that for me, it’s not necessarily writers block. I know where the plot has to go, I just can’t find the right words or descriptions to take it there.
Maybe I’ve got super-high writer’s cholesterol. My veins are all plugged up.
What do you guys do when you want to write but can’t get the words to flow?
7 Comments
Laura C.
That is exactly how I feel. Exactly. I know what I have to write, but making it pretty, not repeating anything, varying sentence structure, finding an original way to word things (seriously, how many times can you write “Her eyes widened”?), making sure it flows and still makes sense, and all the other technical things stand in my way. I swear I can find 30 different ways to write the same sentence. And I cannot decide. When I go back and change a line, I generally have to change every other line in the paragraph, too. I’m lucky to get 500 words in 4 hrs of writing. ARGH!!
Then I’ll go back the next day and rewrite that 500 words before trying to press on.
Becky Wallace
Yes! I’m so glad I’m not the only one! The good news for you is that what you finally write is lovely. I know from first hand experience.
prerna pickett
music, a break, sleep. Various things. Sometimes nothing works except starting a new project. My creative juices have run out this week, I can’t even squeeze a drop. But I’m also sick and overwhelmed with life. It takes time.
Becky Wallace
It’s true! Last night I had to quit thinking for a while, watched a little TV, folded laundry. Then I came back, put on some Shakira and did 800 words in about 45 minutes. Now if only I could make that formula work twice a day…
Lindsay N. Currie
Ugh, I face this a lot too. I think it’s just the nature of the beast. Maybe a little unplugging time will help? I’m doing that this weekend.
Becky Wallace
But I only have two chapters left. Must finish!! Hopefully today!
William Kendall
I usually find myself something else to do.
I know the feeling, Becky! I’m on my last chapter, and I’d love to finish as fast as possible!