Writer's Block (1000 Words)

Not for me. My fingers have been flying across two sets of keyboards. So far so good.

I've taken on an incredibly ambitious writing project—two writing projects: one fiction and one non-fiction (with a third that I actually started first), but I'm not thinking about the very big picture, I'm just thinking about those 1000 words each day. The rest will take care of itself.

So what exactly is my process when it comes to writing fiction? For me, it's always been about the story. I write about relationships; the push and pull of human emotions. Characters are already forming in my head when the words pour onto the page, but I don't get caught up in the details in the beginning. Names come to me organically. Places are real even if they're not mapped out. Plot lines happen over time and as the story carries me forward.

Non-fiction is a different story. I've been writing in this genre for so long that it actually feels like I'm cheating. I'm a bit more analytical with the details. Chapters/subjects are written down, ideas are formatted and formulated, and pages are written in no particular order but they definitely have a purpose.

I haven't been this excited about a project in a long time!

When people ask me what my goal is, I tell them it's to finish what I've started. That's all. When and if I complete something to my ultimate satisfaction, then I will determine what happens next. At the very least, it will determine the direction I intend to take.

And I'm happy to say that I will have exceeded my goal of 1000 words a day this week!


Photo: Writer's Block notebook found at my local bookshop, The Toadstool Bookshop.