The Word Cloud

11 Comments

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  by Marion 3 years ago

  Try smoking pot :)
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  by Harry 3 years ago

  My tip: extreme random violence. (Tho' to be fair, I'm well aware of being very lucky in this respect. I started writing when I was caring for Nuala, my wife, so plenty of free time was hardly a challenge. Then a book deal - and I'm no longer writing, I'm working!
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  by Jacquie 3 years ago

  Hi Kim - I empathise 100% - I know this situation only to well. But this may help. I have found ( by trial and error) that one of the biggest timewasters in my life and the biggest killer of creativity is the TV - so much so that in order to try and finish my novel ( dear lord WILL this ever haoppen ???) I have disconnected completely. We are now a TV-less home and I have to admit - my muses visit me much more often than they used to and I have a far better relationship with them too ... no TV for me certainly means enhanced creativity.
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  by Vin 3 years ago

  I don't think 'that place' is always in the same place twice. Sometimes you have to grab the moments when you can - especially if you have a life where it's hard to set aside some writing time. I also think the act of writing gets you there - so if you grab those spare moments you can get yourself in the right frame of mind. It's not always possible - I've felt good ideas evaporate because they've come to me when I haven't had the time to write them down. But get something down on anything you can find; I've transcribed ideas from checkout receipts, backs of menus, anyhting I have to hand. Of course you could always get a small notebook if you're more organised than me. But actually that unpredictability of inspiration is what makes it exciting. There is no easy answer to your problem - but I hope this helps.
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  by Aiyla 3 years ago

  Yes Kim, stepping out of your daily routine, even just for 10 minutes, to quickly write a few lines might help. Writing on the backs of envelopes from my bag when I'm in a taxi, on the bus or standingin a queue somewhere helps me keep at it. And especially during the night, if you need to get up, write a little something.
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  by Barb 3 years ago

  Not sure if this will help, but when I am working out the outline, I run it a bit like a project. I start with the view that I am going to have 12 chapters of 7,000 words each. I then give the chapters a title that states their key purpose. I separate that into 7 key events that are going to achieve that. Each of the events is going to be around 1,000 words. These events are then broken into 10 major elements that will complete them - these then are going to be 100 words each.
  This allows me to pick any point in the book that I am in the mood to write or inspired to write, and commit to writing that 100 words. I know this makes it sound a bit cold, but I rarely end up staying in these guidelines or word count. It let's me look at the project in chunks without being overwhelmed, and when I sit down to write the 100 words, I often end doing far more.
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  by Bren 3 years ago

  Well, I used to cope by locking myself away while everyone else was having a great time on beach or boat but now my husband has retired properly and needed looking after it is absolutely impossible. I yearn for a garrett somewhere, but then would just prefer that people believed me when I say that I am working/writing. It is strange that you find it difficult too when you are a real author.
  I cannot read when I am writing, I have to live and breathe my characters. Also family do not understand how totally absorbing writing can be, for example, if a character is fighting in France in 1798 that is where I am and I cannot suddenly jump back to the present - not without complaining anyway.
  Bren
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  by Bren 3 years ago

  oops that didn't reply to how do I cope? Not well sometimes, and it is hard to fight for space without family/friends feeling marginalised. But I have a space - all I need now is a disciplined mind.
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  by Chanty 3 years ago

  Hi Kim - I know what you mean. What I do...
  
  I don't watch TV and I don't read any other books. I write through the night when all others are asleep - it's quite and helps me focus - actually I'm at my best in those hours. I realize that this may not be possible for you.
  
  But my story is really alive for me and well - I sleep, eat and drink it - it does not escape me. The first chapters I wrote are at the end of my book, then I went to the beginning and started writing. I think of things all the time, to the extent that I carry a pieces of paper and a pen around with me, have them on the sink in the bathroom when in the shower - it's bad. Depending on where I am in the book, I write out little notes, like a plan of what has to happen in that chapter to work to that, but alas don't always stick to it - it's merely a guide line. When I want a break from it - then I go and watch a movie. I play music sometimes when I write - mood music.
  
  If you want to be sad to help you write something sad and feel the emotions, then watch a sad movie or listen to a sad song, anything that will bring on that emotion. Start with the part of your story that is most real to you at that time, most alive - that's perhaps a good place to start - what ever you see in your minds eye. Send everyone else out for a movie. Lock the study / bedroom door and write with earplugs in.
  
  I've got to lock my cats out of the study sometimes, just to focus.
  
  Just take your time and it will come to you.
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  by Kenty 3 years ago

  Just read all the comments on Kim’s blog; ‘How to get to that place’ Kim and the rest of you are all fantastic writers; so you must be finding that place somewhere
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  by Kim 3 years ago

  Thank you to all, your helpful tips are gratefully received.
  
  Marion, you made me chuckle and I might well have tried the pot thing if it wasn’t for the fact that the other half is a solicitor and Deputy District Judge. He’s very proper, bless him. Mind you, I don’t think The Lord Chancellor would look too kindly on it either. An idea to bank for if hubby ever gets struck off perhaps?
  
  Harry, I’m loving the random violence idea; though The Lord Chancellor and Social Services may not be overly keen on that either...Damn this is limiting. Knew I should have married Fingers Malone.
  
  Bren, you are so right, family do not understand how totally absorbing writing can be. On the odd occasion where I have been able to transport myself to ‘that place’, I sometimes feel that the whole house could burn down around me and I’d still be sat there typing away at the keys. Singed, but typing.
  
  Jackie and Chanty, like yourselves, I watch very little TV these days. When I do it’s mostly a busman’s holiday since that is the sphere which I’m looking to break in to.
  
  Vin, snap. I too write on the backs of receipts, train tickets etc. I once squeezed a short scene on the back of a cinema ticket! However, I can’t recommend this as it’s a real bugger to make out the tiny writing when you get home.
  
  Aiyla, I see you are night owl. I’m thinking that this may be the only solution. If you ever fancy a 3.00 a.m. chat? Oh hang on, that kind of defeats the object. Doh!
  
  Barb, I like the idea of breaking the writing down into small chunks. Sounds right up my ‘organised’ street. Trouble is, I’m approaching the end of editing the second re-write so it’s really a case of sorting the wheat from the chaff now. I’ll reserve your idea for the next play.
  
  Kenty, thank you. You’re so sweet. Though might I venture the suggestion that you may wish to re-think the cosmetic surgery?
  
  Kim