Maureen Bush

It’s Not Writers Block

I’m settling back into a regular writing routine, still working on those last three chapters. They’re going to be the longest-to-write chapters I’ve ever written. Or not written. It’s not that they’re that difficult, or that I don’t know what I want. It’s more about needing to pull in all the elements of the story, and not having the brain to hold them all together at the same time.

Sometimes writing goes beautifully for me, fast and easy, and sometimes it’s as painful as pulling teeth. It isn’t writer’s block; it’s brain block, from allergies and asthma and colds. Christmas is always a little difficult, as I eat things I shouldn’t be eating and enjoy a live tree I’m probably allergic to. Add to this the interruptions of the season and the inevitable colds of winter, and I have spells of brain-deadness that are immensely irritating.

I’ve learned to persist, to work every day anyway (unless it’s a totally hopeless day ­– I just let those go). I pick away, in hopes that eventually that sparkle-in-the-brain will return and I’ll be able to fly through everything I’ve prepared in painful bits.

In the meantime, I have to believe they will return, those magical days when the words just flow.

Maureen

New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions always seem to be about doing more, going faster, being better.

I think for me they need to be about going slower and deeper ­–­ to settle more deeply into myself, and into my stories. There’s something that happens there… and I want to know more about it.

I think that means more meditating and walking and yoga, reading the books that pull me deep, and listening to the right music. But none of these belong on my resolution list, because then it’s suddenly about doing more again. I need to let it be about going deeper, and simply remember that these things help me get there.

Maureen

The Last Three Chapters

I had hoped to finish the first draft of my current story by Christmas. I’m within spitting distance – three chapters to go – but I’m not going to make it. I’d intended to finish the draft, and then dig into a second round of deepening and pulling threads through the story (the emotional layer, themes). But I got hung up on needing to bring all those elements together in the final chapters, and so couldn’t write the chapters until I figure out all the threads. I’m getting there – at least, almost enough to write the last three chapters – but it’s not going to happen before Christmas. This week has been in interrupt mode, with final exams, flights, baking, wrapping and shipping, with writing tucked in whenever I can, in between everything else.

When writing becomes the ‘tucked in-between’ activity, it’s time to let go of the big goals. But I will sneak off periodically, just to get a regular dose.

Maureen

Writing Through Distractions

Now that I’m finished with the Veil Weavers page proofs (well, almost – they’re back for one more look), I’m settling back into writing my new story. Well, I’ve been working on it for a while, so perhaps I should call it my current project. But I worry about distractions.

This year seems to have been particularly bad for distractions, although perhaps it’s always this way and I just found it more…well, distracting.

Anyway, I fear Christmas. I want to be finding wonderful stocking stuffers, and herbing nuts (oh, there must be another way to write that!) Finding a Christmas tree. But I also want to be immersed in writing.

Perhaps the real problem is how much time writing needs. It sucks up every bit of time I can give, and still demands more. I always want to be accomplishing more, moving faster, going deeper. And so everything else becomes a distraction.

I think this says a lot about the joy of writing, and the absorption that is natural, but I’m not sure this is the best way to live, to always feel like I’m not doing enough.

I need to remember the good writing days, when I write and write and write, and finally stop, done. Content. And ready to do something else.

Maureen

Too Much Sitting

Inspired by Art Slade’s stories of writing while walking on a treadmill, and unable to squeeze one into my small, shared office space, I’ve discovered I can put my laptop on an open file cabinet drawer and stand to work.

For now, I’m trying music, email and Facebook standing at my laptop, and sitting on an exercise ball for writing. It’s great when I’m restless to have an excuse to get up without leaving the room.

It does feel a little strange, working at a file cabinet. But for now, it works.

Maureen

http://arthurslade.blogspot.com/2009/02/treadmill-desk-make-millions-and-write.html