Stealth Writer's Block

Well, we're mostly settled into our new place in the Monterey Bay area, so the dust is slowly settling from all of that.  Still unpacking and organizing where we want things to go and how, but that's just normal after a move.

But sometimes figuring out how to organize your story and where you want certain events or revelations to go can also be pretty tricky.  It can even lead to problems I'd never thought about, like Writer's Block.  Or, as it was with me recently,  STEALTH WRITER'S BLOCK!

Now what I mean by that is a kind of Writer's Block you aren't even aware of.  To give you an example, this is what happened to me.  I had finished a particular scene in my current novel and had moved way beyond it with the rest of the story.   But for some odd reason, I kept finding myself going back to that scene and wondering about it.  It would happen every so often then I'd get back to where I actually left off writing.  But soon enough I was back to that scene again.  And slowly my whole writing process came to grinding halt as I kept studying that scene and dwelling on it.  It took me a week or more to realize what had happened and that I needed to fix that scene in some way to make the rest of the book make more sense and feel complete.

At this point you can see what I called it "Stealth Writer's Block", and I had a bad case of it.  I kept turning that one scene over and over in my mind, like I was working on a Rubik's Cube.  I got so desperate I turned to a Magic Eight Ball and started juggling it just for giggles.  Giggling at this point is not a good sign.  If you find yourself suffering from this, please see a doctor at once.  Preferably "Doctor Who", I find watching something I really enjoy sometimes helps me get past writer's block.

Anyway I finally realized what was wrong with the scene, nothing.  It was fine as it stood, it even worked well with the overall feel of the novel.  So what was bothering me about it, you ask?  I could expand and change it ever so slightly to important provide foreshadowing for events coming later in the novel.

So I went back and made the adjustments I envisioned and cranked out between 3000-7000 words in a couple of days.  I even cut down the overall word-count for the novel at this point leaving myself room for extra scenes I had in mind for the climactic final battle.  For those who are wondering why I'm worried about word-count I'll address that in one of my upcoming blogs.  It is something all writers have to be aware of when you are creating the final version of your work which you intend to send to agents or publishers.

Now I have my book back on track and its looking much better.  The story seems more gripping and the overall flow feels more natural to me.  So beware of the dreaded "Stealth Writer's Block", it may appear at any time.  It may even have its claws sunk into you at this moment, if it does I have this advice.  Take two episodes of whatever is your favorite show and then call your manuscript in the morning by giving it a really good going over and see if any tweaking might be needed.

Until next time, keep writing.

PS:  If you're looking for more advice about how to deal with Writer's Block keep an eye on this Blog.  I'm planning a special video to demonstrate how to deal with this dreaded enemy.



Comments

  1. I've suffered from the same condition you've just described, but I wouldn't call it any sort of writer's block simply because I keep on writing. Instead I like to call it "Writers Fretitis", or an overwhelming fear that something I've written hasn't been itsy bitsy perfect. We as writers are always striving to have perfection in whatever we're writing. "Writers Fretitis" causes us to go to something in our story which our subconscious muse is telling us is not right. It might be something as simple as a piece of dialogue one of our characters has just spoke, or as complex as in your example an entire scene, doesn't quite mesh with the rest of our story. And it doesn't matter that we've already plotted it put in minute detail, this condition can rear its unwelcomed head at any moment. In additional, even though we believe we've remedied the cause of our current episode of this condition, there are times it returns and takes us back to the same point in the story we thought we've just corrected. This condition occasinally can seem to be an unending, continuous cycle in which we keep on returning to the same point in our story. This I believe is because that while we feel have removed the imperfections which had brought here in the first place, our muses realize that in reality we still have something that is awry in what we still have.

    As I said in the beginning of my comment, I've suffer from the same condition, and I'm still returning to many points in my story I've visited before to tweak some more. Even when I type that elusive final period in my story, and have it completed. I will, as many authors do, put the completed manuscript aside for a while and return to do one more final re-read and with doubt I will find more tweaks which need to be done to reach "Writer's Perfection", until I reach that final period again.

    I hope my explanation of this condition hasn't been too confusing, but this is the knowledge I've gain getting through it.

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    Replies
    1. Writer's Fretitis, I have to remember that. this was great, thanks for posting it. I loved it. Now we must spread the word in order to spare others of this terrible condition! Take care.

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  2. ALAN - THANKS for your reply to my post. I see you totally agree with my diagnosis, my fellow word person. Because, as you saw there's a definite distinction between not knowing what to write next [Writer's Block] and returning to some point in a story to fix something which is not correct time and time again.

    Have a GREAT DAY !!!

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  3. I think all of us tweak and retweak to reach "Writer's Perfection," if there is such a thing.

    I enjoy your blog, so have nominated you for the Super Sweet Award. If you want to participate, please go here http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/ and pick up the award button and the rules.

    Sunni

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Sunni. I will be going to the site tomorrow morning (it's 10:30PM right now). I feel honored and very grateful. Take care and stay in touch.

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