Anonymous asked: I am trying to write a book. I am ready (I'm got my characters, plot, etc), but every time I sit down to finally start actually writing, I just stare at the computer screen or look around the internet. I don't know what's wrong with me, I REALLY want to write this but can't for some reason. How do you personally focus and get an entire story written? Also, how long did it take you to write SLN?
Something Like Normal took me about eight or nine months to write, and even though Travis was burning in my head ALL THE TIME, getting his story down wasn’t always easy. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. Sometimes I shut out the world (I have an internet blocking program that is magical), put on some music, and the words eventually show up.
That doesn’t always happen, though. Sometimes the inspiration just isn’t there. And recently I started a project I thought would be my third book but most of the time, like you, I just sat looking at the computer screen until I was ready to admit that I wasn’t ready to write that book. One day while I was sitting with that story, a new voice popped into my head and I decided to listen to her a while. Now I’m working on something completely different.
I guess my advice would be to turn off the internet. Really, it’s SO distracting. Put on music that takes you to the emotions of your story. And if the story itself doesn’t come out immediately, write something about your character, like a memory from her childhood or an embarrassing moment when she was in third grade. Just anything that will take you into her head and maybe unlock the real story.
Finally, if you REALLY want to write this story that’s in your head right now, don’t let fear hold you back. There’s no wrong way of writing. There might be better words, but you won’t find them if you don’t start.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
