At a Standstill

Oh, life. Always getting in the way of writing. What started as a slow-down has screeched to a halt over the past week. I have great excuses. I promise. Unfortunately, they only supplement my blog word count, not my book.

I want to blame it all on lack of time and other important things but I think the majority of the reason has to do with being at an excruciating lull in my story. I’m in between the middle turning point and the climax but the more I write, the further away the end seems to get. How does that happen exactly? The only solution I can think of is to just keep writing until I get past this difficult part but I can’t seem to get myself in front of the story. Even now I’m sitting here writing this blog instead of working on my novel.

These lulls not only slow me down but they also worry me. If I can’t keep myself interested, there’s no way I’d keep a reader interested, right? Thank goodness for second drafts…and third drafts…and fourth drafts. To get there, though, I do have to finish the first draft so what do I do? Keep writing and wait to hit a groove again? Take a break? Skip ahead to something more interesting and work my way back?

This is probably my least favorite part of the writing process but I know it is part of the writing process. Every writer hits blocks once in a while. But I hate not making any progress. And I really don’t like not knowing what to do next…

Jamie Raintree is the author of Perfectly Undone and Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard. She is a voracious student of life, which is why she became a writer, where she could put all that acquired information to good use. She is a mother of two, a wife, a businesswoman, a nature-lover, and a wannabe yogi. She also teaches writers about business and productivity. Since the setting is always an important part of her books, she is happy to call the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado her home and inspiration.

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Comments (4)

  1. Hmm … sounds like you hit that “sagging middle.” I usually put it aside and start something shiny and new … but that just results in a lot (LOT) of partially finished books.

    I’ve been trying that whole “write every day” theory, writing at least a little something on my WIP — even if I end up changing it all the next day.

  2. I forgot we were suppose to look at this last night! 🙁 I agree with Arlene, just write a little each day till you get over your lull.

  3. We were a bit distracted. Lol!

    Sounds like a plan. I suppose even if I only write a couple hundred words each day, it’s better than not writing anything at all for a week at a time. Eventually, I’ll have to find that groove again.

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