Live To Write Another Day

package you choose. There are a couple of private rooms, but mostly writers share a number of larger “quiet rooms” where they sit alongside one another, similar to the way you would if you went to a public library. All the members are professional, respectful of one another, and serious about their careers, which makes it a very positive atmosphere. There is also something to be said for simply being around other writers, both for the camaraderie and the common energy, rather than being alone in a room all the time. So, if there’s a place like this near you, I would highly recommend checking it out.

Bottom line:

As a creative writer you can’t underestimate the role the environment you write in plays in shaping your work.

SURVIVAL GUIDE SUMMARY

3. The Write Environment

Things to Remember:

•To be productive on a regular basis, find environments that are consistently available to you.

•Make sure these environments have limited distractions and temptations. All you really need is a desk, a chair, and a power outlet.

•If an environment works for you, keep using it! It won’t take long for you to associate it with successful writing, which will help build your confidence.

•A change of scenery sometimes helps the creative flow.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

 

•Which parts of your process can you do in a noisier environment, and which require absolute quietude? Make a list.

•Of the different environments available to you, which can you work in on a consistent basis? Can you make each of them a reliable writing silo?

•What are the available hours of each of your writing silos? Make a list.

•How many hours on any given day do you need to spend in each silo to be productive? Plan it out ahead of time.

•Is there a place near you where other writers write? It’s always good to be around other writers.

4. Writer’s Bl%#k

Let me ask you…why do you think I’ve written this widely known expression as if it were a cuss word?

Because writer’s bl%#k is complete bulls%#t, that’s why! It’s a myth, a psychological illusion, a not-so-clever phrase that evil, spiteful people who clearly don’t have the writer gene have created in order to keep us writers down!

That rant may be a tad overly dramatic, I admit, but the part about it being a myth—that’s absolutely true. There is no such thing as writer’s bl%#k. Every problem in the universe (including that problem you’re currently having in the middle of your story) has a solution. Your job is to find it. If you’re having difficulty, it’s not because you have writer’s bl%#k, it’s simply because you haven’t yet unearthed that particular piece of the puzzle, the operative word being yet.

After all the years I’ve been writing, it amazes me how often this issue still rears its ugly head. In fact, I think there’s been a point in almost every script I’ve ever written where I’ve said to myself: “Oh my God, I’ve invested months of my life into this thing and it’s never going to work!” This is usually followed by a lot of pacing, worrying, and handwringing, during which time I proceed to question just about every decision I’ve made about it. This could go on for hours, days, or even as much as a week, though thankfully in my case it’s usually resolved within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Why does this crisis moment inevitably strike, and if this isn’t writer’s bl%#k, then what the hell is?

The honest answer to the first part of the question is: I have no idea. All I know is that it happens to every writer I know, regardless of their level of experience. It’ll happen to me again, and it will happen to you too, so be prepared. As for the second part, I repeat:

There is no such thing as writer’s bl%#k.

What is this crisis thing then?

To be blunt, it’s just panic. It’s not an inability to find the answer. It’s the sudden overwhelming feeling that the answer will never come. But the truth is, it’s just a temporary state, a mirage in the midst of the desert. Understanding this phenomenon is the first step in solving any creative problem. By simply knowing in your heart, without a shadow of a doubt, that the solution exists, you’ve already got half the battle won. From there it’s just a matter of trust that with time and a little persistence your process will eventually cause the mirage to evaporate and lead you to the promised land. This means that it’s incumbent upon you to develop a process that you can rely on, a process that will give you the confidence and the fortitude to stare down that fear time after time.

All right, so now that we’ve dispelled this silly little myth, let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about that process.

SURVIVAL GUIDE SUMMARY

4. Writer’s Bl%#k

Things to Remember:

 

•Writer’s bl%#k is a myth. Every creative problem has a creative solution.

•All writers experience crisis moments.

•Knowing that the solution to the crisis exists is half the battle.

•The other half of the battle is having a process that you can rely on.

•Breathe.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

 

•Have you run into this problem before? Most of the time the answer is “yes.” How did you solve it last time?

•If you haven’t run into this specific problem before, how is it similar to other problems you’ve encountered?

•How long did it take you to solve your last crisis? Be conscious of this time factor. There’s usually a pattern.

•What is the strongest aspect of your core concept? Are you still speaking to it or have you strayed? Don’t panic. Just take some time to re-examine the big picture.

•Is there a specific place earlier in your story (preceding the crisis point) that is not quite as solid as you thought? Take a good look. This is probably the root of your problem.

•Are you remembering to breathe?

5. Tuning In the Radio

When I was in my freshman year of college, I took an introductory philosophy course where we spent an entire semester studying