AUTHOR'S CORNER

HOW TO UNBLOCK THAT PESKY WRITER'S BLOCK!

THAT GOES ON AND ON FOR DAYS ........

There you are; sat at your desk looking quite serious and mysteriously knowledgeable!  The allure of your creativity is so mesmerising and you know your man is secretly giving you the eye, (you have seen him looking, from the corner of your eye) oh yes, you're looking good!  The whole story is starting to unfold; your characters have finally come to life.  They are quirky, they are mischievous, they are kind, honest, mean, stupid, clever, they take, they give, they love, they hate, they are people, real people upon the pages of your world....you have a whole universe playing out in your mind's eye and you are on FIRE!

Your partner has just expressed his admiration; he has bought you flowers and he obviously wants what he cannot have!  You have suddenly become oooh sooo lovely since you have become ooh sooo busy!  He has taken to making you dinner and is doing all he can to support you!  In your new glorious role as confident writer, you naturally start boasting to friends and family, 'Oh,' you chirp, 'my writing is coming along marvellously, my character are just jumping out of the page at me!'  or 'Oh no darling,' you protest, 'I simply can't visit for coffee mornings, I am a serious writer and I am right in the midst of a gripping novel that I am writing!'  Yes, you do, you get confident and start to turn your nose up in the air!  

HANG ON LOVE....YOU'RE NO SHAKESPEARE!

Because (and I know I'm not supposed to start a sentence with because, but hey, I'm the author!) suddenly and with no prior warning...you are struck down with the dreaded WRITER'S BLOCK!  For anyone who claims they have never had it (yeah right, that's like saying you've never farted) then let me explain:

It is like a brick wall of blankness, it is as if your wrists have been cuffed and movement is limited.  It is as though aliens have come in the night and emptied all your thoughts!  It is as though your characters have decided not to play ball!  look in you head.....there is nothing! 

Q;  IS THERE HOPE, OR ARE YOU STUFFED AND RENDERED USELESS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS?  WILL YOUR PARTNER STOP COOKING DINNER?

A;  THERE IS HOPE, HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU COULD DO TO HELP MATTERS ALONG.:

1.  If your characters play elusive with you and you don't know how to write about them any more, then take time out to get to know them again, read all the previous chapters!

2.   Don't force it, you'll only produce rubbish!

3.   If you really can't write, go for a walk, take some exercise, eat well, or just take a lazy day!

4.   If however you don't write at all, you'll quickly dry up, so after you have taken a break for a couple of days, go back and try again.  It may be rubbish again, never mind, repeat step 2 and 3 and then try again!

5.  Get inspiration, read a good book, watch a relevant film, i.e. if you are a romance writer, watch a romantic film.

6.   Apologise to friends, they might be able to give you ideas.

7.   Finally, whilst you are blocked and useless at writing....Cook YOUR partner dinner!   

GOOD LUCK PEOPLE, GOOD LUCK!