Obstacles

I love my husband. I really do. But having him around really messes up a girl's routine. Because as much as I adore him, he has the worst habit of reading over my shoulder. And even though I'm not embarrassed to have him read what I've written, I'm not a first time out of the gate kind of writer. Words, oddly enough, do not come easily to me. It takes many, many edits to get the thing polished and primped and anywhere near being crit-ready. So, having someone peering over my shoulder and reading the very roughest of the rough drafts is not just a tad unnerving. It's downright defeating.

The once-mellifluous flow of words has dried up. Worse, he thinks his interest is helping me. How do I tell the man I love he's my anti-muse?

The answer, of course, is I don't. I just don't write while he's around. Which creates problems, too. I've suffered from writer's block, and had the sudden epiphany that heralds the breaking of the metaphorical dam. It's usually when he's on my computer Googling himself, or watching streaming video of racing snails. And though I loathe to tear him away from such academic pursuits, I do. At which point he takes his position, sentinel behind my desk chair, and watches the screen intently as though I'd said, "Hey, watch while I make boobs out of parentheses!"

I can, you know.

( o )( o )

But that's beside the point.

The point is that we all have things in our lives that get us off track and take away our focus. Like Regan said, we have to make writing a priority. We have to make a plan and stick to it. Because as much fun as it is to craft paranthetical boobs, it doesn't get the word count met. That part's up to us. We just have to figure out a way to work around the obstacles in our path.

As big and loveable as they may be.

Staying on task, in writing, and in life.

I recently left my job to stay at home with my kids, and (gasp) write a romance novel. I mean really write. I want to begin a novel, and finish it. My ultimate problem? Staying on task. This is not writer's block. I have so many ideas floating around in my mind, and I could pluck anything out of the ether and take off with it. It's fun. But when the fun ends, and I have to edit, or remember multiple plot lines and tie them nicely together, or write something non-action . . . well, you get it. I find other things to do.

I need to get the pledge out and polish under my keyboard. I need to read one more story to the two year old who is throwing the books across the room at this point, usually screaming "No, mommy, no!" I need to do sit-ups. Yes, I am balking, procrastinating, dilly dallying. I am a master at dilly dallying and have been since, oh, kindergarten.

So, today, when I found myself running for the pledge, I decided to find a way to keep my thoughts organized, and FOCUS on the task at hand.

Here is my list;

1. Keep track of notes on index cards and display them on a bulletin board near your computer for easy access.

2. Write for an allotted amount of time, and stick to it.

3. Try writing when everyone else is gone, if possible. No typing with one hand while feeding cheerios to the baby with the other. It just doesn't work out well for either of you.

4. Do the dishes before you sit down so you won't use that as an excuse.

5. Pick two nights a week to make ten minute dinners. Frozen Pizza does not kill, much to the chagrin of my husband and kiddies.

6. Think about characters, plot, outline, etc. etc. while doing other things, so that when you sit down the ideas are ready to pour forth.

7. Quit bouncing around between projects!


Okay. So there is my list. May I stick to it. Any ideas from blog land?

Regan

Welcome!

Welcome to the "Romance The Write Way" critique group blog. We are a new group, but not new to critiquing. Having met on another crit board some time ago, we were discouraged by the lack of constructive feedback and the excessively competitive atmosphere we found. Rest assured, you won't find that here.

Because there is a submission requirement for membership, writers with amazing talent will not be left to flounder in a sea of inanity, made to waste valuable time critiquing work riddled with spelling and punctuation errors, or preposterous storylines. We are looking for serious writers with promising aspirations of being published from all genres of romance up to the sensual level. (No Romantica or Erotica please!)

If you are interested in being a part of our close-knit team, visit us here, and submit a short sample of your work. We look forward to hearing from you!