Well, the last two days have been spent procrastinating. I've got lots to write but just couldn't get down to it. Then it dawned on me that I'm giving a workshop in two weeks called, "Don't Procrastinate...Produce," and it ironically occurred to me that I should put my own advice to good use. I was using every excuse in the book (and creating a few new ones for good measure). We had just gotten back from vacation so I certainly didn't need a rest - maybe a vacation from my vacation? The biggest reason I couldn't get at it was I just didn't "feel" like it. I guess it was just good old fashioned writer's block. Yeah, right! I sat and stared back and forth from the screen to the list of articles and blogs that were awaiting my attention. Then, bling! I couldn't help my eyes from straying to the bottom right of my computer screen to see who had just sent me an email or was trying to chat with me on FaceBook. Too many distractions! So, what's my advice for workshop participants? Get rid of them. Sometimes that's easier said than done and this week was a prime example. But, I sucked it up and draaaaagggggggedddddd my mouse to the sign out link on Facebook and then closed down my email. O.K. Now I was ready...or was I? The cat wandered in behind me and let out a forlorn cry. I had to stop what I was doing and give him a little pat...didn't I? O.K. Maybe a coffee would help. Half an hour later I'm back at the keyboard watching the flashing curser, willing it to start moving and spill out some scintillating prose. My fingers still remained motionless on the keyboard. This was actually getting painful. The last resort (even when on deadline) is to get away from the desk, out into the fresh air and (in my case) head to the beach. A total shift in place, time and energy always does the trick for me. So, why didn't I think of it before? After a couple of hours, I returned, sat down at the computer and my fingers started flying over the keyboard. Procrastination over...blog complete!
Too many adverbs and clichés in your writing? I've got just the fix for you. by Jessica Bell Writers constantly have rules thrown at them left, right, and center. Show, don’t tell! Stop using so many dialogue tags! More sensory detail! More tension! Speed up the pace! Yada yada yada ... it can become overwhelming, yes? I used to feel overwhelmed by it all too. In fact, I still do sometimes. It’s hard enough to get the words on the page, let alone consider how to put them there. In Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird , she says that in order not to be overwhelmed, a writer needs to focus on short assignments. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how that little picture frame reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. Basically, if you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. I believe the same applies to learning the craft of writing. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, t
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