Ask the Author: Sean Myers
Answered Questions (2)
Sean Myers
Ironically, the best thing about being a writer is also the worst thing about being a writer: The purity of the activity.
I literally just think. Then I type out a description of the scene that's playing in my mind or dictate what the voice in there is telling me to write.
But that's also the worst part of being a writer. When I'm worried or anxious or distracted then there's something that's taking up space in my mind. This can keep my book or my writing project from having the mental room that it needs to make itself heard for more than just a few seconds at a time.
Writing is a very pure activity. It's also extremely delicate.
I literally just think. Then I type out a description of the scene that's playing in my mind or dictate what the voice in there is telling me to write.
But that's also the worst part of being a writer. When I'm worried or anxious or distracted then there's something that's taking up space in my mind. This can keep my book or my writing project from having the mental room that it needs to make itself heard for more than just a few seconds at a time.
Writing is a very pure activity. It's also extremely delicate.
Sean Myers
It depends. I've found that writer's block has several different shapes. Strangely, the answer is generally to write more.
Sometimes it's the feeling that what I'm writing, or was about to write, is trash. When I recognize that feeling, I make Sean the Writer turn to Sean the Editor, apologize, and just force the words out. Lower your inhibitions. Get *something* down.
Sometimes writer's block is the realization that I don't know where I'm going with the story. This rarely happens because I don't ad lib my novels; I have a set plotline that I execute as closely as I can. However, I have had doubts about whether that plotline is the best. When that happens I usually switch to writing a different scene or even a different story. The plot is like your car keys: You find them when you're not looking. So stop looking, but keep your eyes open for them.
Sometimes writer's block has looked like boredom or disappointment. What I've written isn't working, I need to get these people from Point A to Point B and they're not budging, it's all bad and uninspired and I want to quit. I walk my dog or vacuum a room in the house, come back to the computer, hit the enter key a couple times, type "figure it out," hit enter a few more times, and start the scene again from Point B.
I guess you could say that writer's block is crippling, but only for writers. I am Sean the Writer but I'm also Sean the Editor. My Editor side is immune. My Writer side has to remember that and press onwards.
Sometimes it's the feeling that what I'm writing, or was about to write, is trash. When I recognize that feeling, I make Sean the Writer turn to Sean the Editor, apologize, and just force the words out. Lower your inhibitions. Get *something* down.
Sometimes writer's block is the realization that I don't know where I'm going with the story. This rarely happens because I don't ad lib my novels; I have a set plotline that I execute as closely as I can. However, I have had doubts about whether that plotline is the best. When that happens I usually switch to writing a different scene or even a different story. The plot is like your car keys: You find them when you're not looking. So stop looking, but keep your eyes open for them.
Sometimes writer's block has looked like boredom or disappointment. What I've written isn't working, I need to get these people from Point A to Point B and they're not budging, it's all bad and uninspired and I want to quit. I walk my dog or vacuum a room in the house, come back to the computer, hit the enter key a couple times, type "figure it out," hit enter a few more times, and start the scene again from Point B.
I guess you could say that writer's block is crippling, but only for writers. I am Sean the Writer but I'm also Sean the Editor. My Editor side is immune. My Writer side has to remember that and press onwards.
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