I have a confession to make. I am stuck in a writing-less desert and all I can see for miles around, instead of sandy dunes, is blank page after blank page as far as the eye can see. Yes. I have Writer's Block. The problem isn't that I don't have any ideas. The problem is that I have too many and I am struggling to find one I can commit to without deviating and trying another - thus dooming both. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking she can't have Writer's Block that bad if she is doing a blog-post! And you're absolutely right. Blog posts, random jottings, haiku and diary I can write, no probs. Anything else? Forget it!
When I was a Creative Writing tutor, students often came to me complaining of Writer's Block. It is true it is an affliction that affects most writers at some point in their lives. I used to say that there are two ways forward - one is to just give yourself a complete break for a couple of weeks. The other is to fish out something old and breathe fresh life into it; bring it into the here and now. The main thing is not to fret over it as that will inevitably make things worse.
So my question to you is this - why don't I heed my own advice?
I am going away for Easter with my Steve. We are heading off to Yorkshire for the long weekend and I can hardly wait. I am hoping it will recharge my batteries (I always find the Yorkshire Moors and Dales inspiring) and give me a little break. Things have been incredibly intense since My Writer was published and then launched so maybe - just maybe - I have burned myself out a little? I am also finding it terribly frustrating getting Waterstones to take me seriously; although the Croydon branch - bless their literary hearts - has suggested I contact them in June as the branch is currently being refurbished and their events diary is taking a back seat till it is all finished. So I will. Of course I will. The others I shall just keep emailing until they get sick of seeing my name! I took My Writer seriously, my husband took it seriously, everyone who attended the launch took it seriously and everyone who has thus far bought a copy have also taken it seriously.
Perhaps then it is merely a matter of time? Maybe we should all take a little hiatus over Easter?
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