It is disputed whether this insidious condition exists at all. We have all experienced moments when the writing muscle appears to have gone on holiday and we must all have felt our writing is not up to scratch at times. Is a short break from writing considered to be ‘writer’s block’? Often writers torture themselves if they do not reach certain word count targets each day and feel they have failed. Some people say just write anything, whatever comes into your head. It can be thrown away, just as long as you write. Surely it’s better to have written something rather than nothing.
So what really stops us from writing? For Ruth it’s the thought of not being able to write something that satisfies her because it won’t be good enough. One solution is to write, but when you come to a difficult word, phrase or idea, leave it and come back later. Ruth often leaves a blank space for Mary to come up with the ideal word, sentence or paragraph. So the barrier is removed and the rest of the writing can flow. Frequently a fresh look solves the problem. But we always try to remember, ‘The best way to get something done is to begin’.
Mary nearly always finds it difficult to start writing because she knows that what comes out on the screen in front of her will not be what was in her head when she thought of the story. However, if something has a plan to it, it's much easier. It's important to remember that 'writing' isn't just about putting sentences and paragraphs together, it can also involve a development stage in which ideas are noted and then put into some sort of order.
Facing a blank page can be very off-putting. Therefore rather than finish a day’s work at the end of a chapter or scene, why not stop while ideas are flowing and make a note of them. This can make it easier to start the next day.
A change of environment can help too. For example if you usually sit at a computer, why not take a notebook out into the garden if it’s a lovely day and be inspired by your surroundings. Or, as has been said on this blogspot before, go to a coffee shop. Being close to people can be stimulating. Rest assured, writer’s block is a temporary blip which every writer experiences.
Jane Dixon-Smith now does all the covers for my e-books. A Most Unusual Governess and A Mistress for Stansted Hall are the next two novellas that I will be putting up on Kindle. My latest book from My Weekly (and possibly my last) House of Dreams has an excellent cover. Certainly this book sold really well because I was unable to buy a copy for myself – they had all gone in both Tesco and WHSmith.
I have a feeling that the drop in sales for pocket novels could have been because of the dreadful covers.
This is a classic example: all my books are Regency – heaven knows what period this is! I can remember that one cover had a man on a horse waving a sword, dressed like a Royalist in the civil war and the girl, riding pillion, was in mediaeval costume.
The books I first published with Amazon had home-made covers – they weren't too bad but obviously not professional. However, when I got Jane to redo them my sales jumped by 50%.
There was a lively debate on another blog about the kind of covers that seem prevalent in the US – you know the ones I mean – seminaked, musclebound men with long flowing hair, clutching maidens to their manly chests. The contents of this sort of book might be acceptable and a good read, but I would never buy a book with one of those "bodice ripper" covers.
(I apologise for the huge size of my covers - for some reason I wasn't given the option to make them smaller.)
Until next time
best wishes
Fenella J Miller
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