When the words aren't wording

AKA The frustration of the full time writer

So I’m sitting here, staring at Carl the Demented Cursor, wondering why I can’t seem to write. For the last six months, I’ve been trying to write the next season of Chance Encounters, along with the Chance Encounters novella The Gentleman’s Club.

But the words aren’t wording.

A lot of you know that I’m also writing the third book of The Hellscape Saga under my government name. THAT one is going great! Almost 3600 words in just two and a half hours yesterday.

So why is writing what is supposed to be the easier books so freaking hard??

Because it’s easy.

I can hear you now: “Dafaq, Lang! That makes no sense!”

But it does. Think about it. You’re writing a series that has characters that have deep back stories, and, if you’re like me, you spend more time plotting than you do writing. The story seems to write itself because you know EXACTLY what happen next. It can be all consuming. And you love it.

Now writing smut for the sake of smut is an entirely different beast. The writing focuses more on physical sensation and body parts than they do on emotions and evil cliffhangers. While the characters can be a lot of fun, they’re surface shallow, maybe with a glimpse of who they really are here and there, but nothing serious.

And boy, does that make it hard! (No pun intended)

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Toby, Joe and Paul. They embody parts of me that no other characters do. But still…

So what does that mean for getting this done?

Well, it means I have to make it fun. Because if it’s not fun, I’m not going to do it. Let’s be honest, authors wouldn’t be authors if they weren’t having a good time with their writing. I know, I know, some people are out there, writing to market just for the money. I can respect that, but I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about those of us who do it because it’s what we love.

So I’m going to do what I always do first. Make a play list. If you’re anything like me, there’s certain songs that make you just get up and go. Next, I’ll re-read previous seasons. This is the whole “immersing yourself in that world” that a lot of authors do. And if none of that works, there’s the One Sprint Rule (patent pending). That’s where I sit down, set a 25 minute timer and MAKE myself write. The words don’t have to be good, hell, they don’t even need to make sense, but they HAVE to be in that story. Once the timer goes off, I don’t have to continue if I don’t want to. I’ve never NOT continued.

I love the One Sprint Rule so much, there’s stickers for it at my favorite sticker shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SassySisterSticker

Now it’s time to actually DO it. Want to come along for the ride? It’s going to be interesting.

Before you sign off, tell me…what have you been putting off because you’ve lost the fun? Reply and let me know! And trying the One Sprint Rule. Trust me, it’ll work for you!

Love and junk,

Lang

PS: If you love my ramblings and want to keep me caffeinated, you can buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/langwalsh