Writer’s Block. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you? That dreadful onset of brain-freeze that prevents a writer from writing. I have days where the words flow together like a stroke of genius. And then there are writer’s block days where it feels like I’ve just had a stroke. Seriously, the words are all trapped in my brain, but they just won’t come out.
Seems like an odd thing to celebrate, doesn’t it? But I believe it’s a natural part of the writing cycle. Writer’s block often applies the brakes to a story when my subconscious knows something is wrong. It may be a wrong plot turn I’ve taken, a wrong speed I’m traveling, a wrong vehicle I’ve gotten into—but something about where I’m headed with the story needs some tweaking. Or, in some cases, a full-scale overhaul. <sigh>
Writer’s block has interrupted the flow of two historicals I’ve been working on. Frustrating as can be! I was beginning to doubt I’d ever finish anything again. Then I attended Romance Writers of America’s national conference last week, and was re-energized. Suddenly, my brain was full of ideas. Um, not for either historical, but for my contemporary romantic suspense series, The Daughters of Cosmo Fortune. I’ve let this series languish, but my publisher, Carina Press, has re-released the first book, LYING EYES, at a bargain price of $2.99 for the ebook. Pure escapist fun set in Las Vegas—the perfect summer read. Check out Chapter One on my website.
I drove home from the conference alone, mulling over character arcs, back stories and hooks. Features of the story started to fall into place as easily as counting 1, 2, 3. Yet, there’s still the fun of discovery because Cosmo is a mostly washed-up magician with a lot of secrets, so each book is an adventure to see what I learn about him through his three daughters.
The coolest thing about writing CHEATING HEARTS is that this series allows me the freedom to just “make things up.” My historicals are pretty grounded in reality, but these capers allow my imagination to fly—they’re pure romantic fantasy. This freedom has eased my writer’s block. Let the words flow!
How about you—do you ever suffer Reader’s Block, where you need to switch out what you normally read for something fanciful and different?
