writing advice

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Surviving The Writing Experience

I have encountered many aspiring writers who face challenges while working on their manuscripts and I am one of them. Writing a book is a significant undertaking that requires discipline, patience, and perseverance. However, many writers struggle with various pitfalls that hinder their progress.

One of the most common challenges writers face is writer’s block. This occurs when the writer cannot think of new ideas or struggles to put their thoughts into words. Writer’s block can be frustrating and demotivating, leading to procrastination and loss of momentum.

I’m looking in the mirror here, so to speak, but some writers are their own worst enemy. I’m talking about that annoying condition called self-doubt. Doubting yourself and your writing abilities is, unfortunately, a hurdle writers face. It can lead to anxiety, a lack of confidence, and even writer’s block. As writers, we can struggle to believe in ourselves and our work. This can cause us to second-guess our ideas or even abandon of our projects altogether.

Making time to write can be a perpetual problem. Let’s face it, balancing writing with other responsibilities such as work, family, and social life can also be a challenge. It can be hard to find time to write consistently, and the pressure to manage multiple responsibilities can affect the quality of writing.

Looking for a solution? Fortunately, there are a few solutions to these writer’s struggles. One of the most effective ways to combat writer’s block is to take a break from writing and engage in other creative activities. This can stimulate new ideas and provide fresh perspectives. Time management is helpful–in fact, crucial. Set realistic deadlines, prioritize writing time, learn to say no to distractions. Make writing a priority. Setting a routine and writing every day can help build discipline and improve your writing skills.

Overcoming self-doubt can be tricky but victory can be achieved by focusing on your writing strengths. Don’t be so hard on yourself, we all go through it; give yourself the right to stray from the writer’s path so practice self-compassion. Try setting achievable goals and allow yourself to celebrate small victories along the way. Joining a writing group or seeking feedback from other writers can help boost confidence and provide constructive criticism.

I think with these solutions in mind, we writers and aspiring writers can overcome these hurdles and complete our manuscripts and other writing projects with confidence.

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Bradbury’s Writing Inspiration

No doubt we are living through despairing times. Many writers, myself included, find it difficult to concentrate on writing with our minds focused sharply on current events.

One of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury, used writing as an escape. This quote by him is inspirational, even motivational.

Bradbury quote

 

 

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Elmore Had It Right.

Slogging along on a manuscript or other piece of writing? Taking longer to finish than you expected? Exhausted trying to complete that description, paragraph, sentence, scene, dialogue, or other story element? Mr. Leonard just might have been on to something when it comes to writing.

Elmore And Writing

Elmore Leonard (October 11th, 1925 – August 20th, 2013)  was a novelist, short-story writer, and screenwriter. His earliest novels were westerns but he didn’t limit his work to that genre. Among his best-known works are “Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight,” “Hombre,” “Mr. Majestyk,” “Rum Punch” (adapted as the film “Jackie Brown”), and short stories that became the films “3:10 to Yuma” and “The Tall T,” as well as the FX television series, “Justified.” 

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California’s New Law Affects Writers

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I don’t live in California but I do write and this post from Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware Blog with reference to an article from Authors Guild makes for interesting reading especially if you are an independent, free-lance writer.

This state law now requires companies to provide both protections and benefits for free-lance workers, including writers. As a result, many free-lance writers’ contracts have been terminated.

If you live in New York or New Jersey, be aware these two states are considering similar laws.

In some cases, this law also applies to book writers.

Take a moment and visit Victoria’s post to learn more.

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Publishing And Marketing Scams

For authors seeking publishers and marketing help you should know it’s a dangerous world out there full of pitfalls, and offers of help aren’t all they are cracked up to be. In fact, those offers may be scams.

Source: Shutterstock

Here is excellent information posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware®:

I’ve been expending a lot of words and time lately warning about the latest scam phenomenon to hit the writing world: fake publishing and marketing companies that, through outrageous prices and worthless services, extract enormous amounts of money from unwary writers.

Based in the Philippines (despite their apparent US addresses, phone numbers, and telemarketer names) and focusing primarily on small press and self-published authors (particularly authors who’ve published with one of the Author Solutions imprints), these companies recruit writers with relentless–and highly deceptive–phone and email solicitations. Some do provide the services authors pay for, albeit at seriously inflated prices and often of poor quality. Others just take the money and run. I’m hearing from a growing number of writers who’ve paid five figures in fees to one–or, in some cases, more than one–of these scams, with next to nothing to show for it.

Given how fast the scams are proliferating (I learn about a new one every few weeks), I thought it would be helpful to gather all the information I’ve put together about them in one place.

To read Victoria’s entire list and the rest of her informative post at Writer Beware click https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2019/08/from-philippines-not-with-love-plague.htm

If you haven’t visited the Writer Beware blog, I would encourage you to take a look.

“Writer Beware: Shining a bright light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls. Also providing advice for writers, industry news, and commentary. Writer Beware is sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc.”

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What Are You Waiting For?

What’s the matter, writer? That blank page in front of you got you down?

You say your bucket of creative motivation is empty? You fear the procrastination monster has come to stay? And the writer’s block is too big to overcome so you’re waiting for the magic writing fairy to land on your shoulder and deliver perfect pages of prose, sublime sonnets, or perhaps inspirational ideas?

Well, get over it. It isn’t going to happen.

Here’s a newsflash:  Your dreamy muse is busy elsewhere with a happy rainbow unicorn in a field of delicious, colorful jelly beans under a marshmallow sky and not likely to return anytime soon.

In the meantime, here’s a word of advice, a solution to your problem:  write.