I'm having one of those problems again. I have no desire to work on the current chapter of my second draft. It's frustrating because I really want to work on the chapter after it, since it involves several shocking moments and will be really exciting to edit. I know I could just skip ahead, but since I'm sending my book chapter by chapter to my readers, I feel like I have to edit in order. So I'm stalling.Really, I'm just not doing anything. Every day feels the same. Get up, eat something, blog, get ready for work, work, go home, go to bed. That's it. No time for anything else. I really, really, really want to finish the second draft before I leave my job, since some of my coworkers are reading it and I'd like to get some reactions. But usually whatever free moment I have is spent being exhausted. I just don't feel like writing.
The thing is, if I get past this chapter and write the next one, I don't think it will take me long to finish the book. After this turning point, there are only a few major moments before the end. There's not a lot of major editing I have to do, as far as rearranging scenes or making plot changes. It's mostly just word for word rewriting, which really won't be so hard.
I'm thinking of taking my writing with me to work today, since I'm working a position where I'm pretty sure I'll have some down time. I was kicking myself last night for not bringing a notebook since it was a lot slower than I thought it would be. And hopefully I'll get through this chapter. Otherwise I'll just keep stalling.
Don't let this chapter hold you or your story back. If you push through procrastination and writer's block you'll find your groove again. I understand being exhausted, but once you finish this chapter you'll be able to move on to bigger and better things. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteMaybe if you broke the chapter down into smaller assignments it would be easier. That is, maybe if you just tried to get a page done a day, it'd be easier. Have you ever read Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott? She talks about giving yourself short assignments, like writing one scene or one description. It's less daunting that way.
ReplyDeleteIs the chapter necessary? Why isn't it as exciting as the next chapter? I would skip it and then maybe you will have a better idea and more motivation of what need to be done to that chapter at a later time.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the exact same thing as Sydney. When I get to scenes that put me in an avoidance pattern, it's usually a sign the material isn't pulling its weight. You might need to cut or radically rewrite so the scenes are just as exciting to work on as those in the next chapter. Figure out where you're getting bored with the problem chapter, then ask, do I need the scene? If so, how can it work harder to fulfill multiple purposes? Sometimes it's because a character is behaving too predictably (yawn) or completely out of character.
ReplyDeleteI know this feeling so well. I've found that the closer I get to the end of the book, the slower I write. It's weird, you'd think I'd want it done faster!
ReplyDeleteTricky predicament. Grit your teeth time I'd say. Come on, sooner you start sooner you finish.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
I can definitely relate to this with one of my current manuscripts. I really want to get to the second half, but the first half is driving me crazy...I just can't seem to work through it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your own work. Hopefully inspiration or motivation will hit, and you'll make it to the good parts soon, =)
I been there not so long ago. Am still there, a little, but one day at a time. Write a little every day.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing. Sometimes for me, exciting, big moment scenes are ones that I've thought about so often, that when I get to actual write them, I'm a bit burnt out on them. Then it's down to just making myself show up and do it, until it eventually gets there! You can do it! =)
ReplyDeleteI'm like that with my writing in general and pretty soon with my blogging as well once the month of April clears. Hopefully once work starts calming down a bit, I'll be able to jumpstart my writing again.
ReplyDeleteA-Z Challenge at Father Nature's Corner
My advice is something I probably wouldn't follow myself: Just do it!! Especially if you know there's something much better coming along after it :-)
ReplyDeleteI read in that a couple of writers put great big stars/slashes, etc through a section where they're stuck and jumping from and move on to the next big you do want to write as that keeps your forward momenum. Then when you're ready, go back and fill in those blank spots!
ReplyDeleteI'm having a terrible time with this right now as well. Here's to both of us getting through it!
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