Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Blocked

August 16, 2004

Blocked

I am sitting in a coffee shop in Woods Hole, STARING at the screen, trying to throw myself back into Kepler and Brahe with a vengeance, and mostly I am . . . staring at my computer screen. It doesn't help that my favorite coffee shop in Woods Hole got wireless access and so e-mailing becomes a far too accessible procrastination tool. But really. This shouldn't be so hard.

I've been stumped on this book for a solid month now I think -- partly 'cause I've focused elsewhere, getting ready for my trip. But also because I am finding myself having to write about characters I just don't know as well. And so I stare at the keyboard, take a sip of coffee, stare some more, turn on my e-mail -- hit send/receive a few times, turn off my e-mail, sip some coffee, write a sentence, turn back on my e-mail, realize no one has written me in the last two minutes, turn it off, stare at the screen, watch the people go by, wish I had a copy of Writing Down the Bones to help me out with some fun writing exercise to get me started, finally say Screw it! and just write something here instead.

Why doesn't this ever get easier?

Posted by karenceliafox at August 16, 2004 01:38 PM

Comments

wtf are you doing trying to write in Woods Hole, anyway? isn't it a requirement ot be there to try to raise the Titanic?

in a slightly less snarky tone, why try to force yourself into it when you're "on vacation" (even if you're not, anything datelined "Woods Hole" is automatically on vacation)? when you're back in DC, you can join the rest of us poor sods at Tryst...

...or switch from coffee to Bourbon.

by the by, the link to the India travel doesn't work.

Posted by: mike d at August 16, 2004 01:52 PM

Link is fixed! Thanks, Mike. . .

(And I think the very frequent switches from coffee to bourbon (ok, mojitos, actually) maybe part of the problem, here!)

Weirdly enough, though, I don't think of the writing as work -- it's part of the lazy physical/heavy intellectual pace of this town. I actually feel more weirded out when I don't get around to writing. . .

Anyway, I have indeed given up on writing for the moment, and instead am now spending my time surfing the web for info on how to get motivated. Hey, it's something. :-)

Posted by: Karen at August 16, 2004 01:59 PM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« People's Interpretations \| Main \| In India » August 16, 2004 Blocked I am sitting in a coffee shop in Woods Hole, STARING at the screen, trying to throw myself back into Kepler and Brahe with a vengeance, and mostly I am . . . staring at my computer screen. It doesn't help that my favorite coffee shop in Woods Hole got wireless access and so e-mailing becomes a far too accessible procrastination tool. But really. This shouldn't be so hard. I've been stumped on this book for a solid month now I think -- partly 'cause I've focused elsewhere, getting ready for my trip. But also because I am finding myself having to write about characters I just don't know as well. And so I stare at the keyboard, take a sip of coffee, stare some more, turn on my e-mail -- hit send/receive a few times, turn off my e-mail, sip some coffee, write a sentence, turn back on my e-mail, realize no one has written me in the last two minutes, turn it off, stare at the screen, watch the people go by, wish I had a copy of Writing Down the Bones to help me out with some fun writing exercise to get me started, finally say Screw it! and just write something here instead. Why doesn't this ever get easier? Posted by karenceliafox at August 16, 2004 01:38 PM Comments wtf are you doing trying to write in Woods Hole, anyway? isn't it a requirement ot be there to try to raise the Titanic? in a slightly less snarky tone, why try to force yourself into it when you're "on vacation" (even if you're not, anything datelined "Woods Hole" is automatically on vacation)? when you're back in DC, you can join the rest of us poor sods at Tryst... ...or switch from coffee to Bourbon. by the by, the link to the India travel doesn't work. Posted by: mike d at August 16, 2004 01:52 PM Link is fixed! Thanks, Mike. . . (And I think the very frequent switches from coffee to bourbon (ok, mojitos, actually) maybe part of the problem, here!) Weirdly enough, though, I don't think of the writing as work -- it's part of the lazy physical/heavy intellectual pace of this town. I actually feel more weirded out when I don't get around to writing. . . Anyway, I have indeed given up on writing for the moment, and instead am now spending my time surfing the web for info on how to get motivated. Hey, it's something. :-) Posted by: Karen at August 16, 2004 01:59 PM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: