By Linda O. Johnston
No, I’m not talking about traffic. I’m talking about writing. And I think all writers experience stop-and-go in their writing at various times. Maybe all the time.
The “go” is the best part. We figure out what we’re writing about, plan it, plot it, and do it. Go for it. With me, that’s most of my writing life. I’m always writing something, or planning in my mind what’s coming next. Telling the computer what’s on my mind, via my typing fingers, always helps too.
But then there’s the “stop.” That’s when you at least slow down, have other things in your life that get in the way, maybe (shudder!) even have some writing issues that slow you, then maybe let you grind to a halt—hopefully only for a short while. But the interruption can definitely matter.
I’ve recently been having more slowdowns and stops than I’m happy with. Breaking my arm, which slowed my ability to type, is certainly among them. So is receiving extensive edits and questions about a manuscript I recently submitted. That’s what I primarily need to focus on now. Is it stopping the rest of my writing? No, but it’s not allowing it to go as fast as I’d like. But I do concentrate on figuring it out so I can get back to what I was already working on, and more.
How about you other writers? Do you always get to focus on what you want to write, move forward, and enjoy it? Or have you also had some issues that slow you down, maybe stop you for a while?
But the great thing about being a writer is that we’ll deal with it and go forward with our writing. Right? Write!
The Writers in Residence 
Ah, life…How it gets in the way when we’re writing, but then again, sometimes those stops let us reevaluate what we were writing and the story becomes clearer because we walked away for a while and go back with a clearer mind. So, as long as I have something cooking in my mind, I can take a break and know I’ll get back to those pages…eventually.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like that concept as a description, Gayle–life getting in the way. And yes, taking a break, then diving back in, seems to work most of the time.
LikeLike
I agree with Gayle. Some of my best writing happens in my head during a break—whether voluntary or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great, as long as your head hangs onto whatever you’ve come up with till you can add it to your computer screen, Maggie!
LikeLike
I’ll chime in with my agreement. My best ideas come when I’m doing other things. I’ve amassed many voice memos on my phone when walking, all related to writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Voice memos seem like a good idea, Miko. As un-techie as I am, I’m more likely to text myself. But plotting while walking is fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, I have a writer friend who plots ALL her books while she walks, speaking them into a recorder. Later she, or a friend transcribes them, and she can edit.
Man, I am so out-of-breath when I walk (briskly) I’d pass out if I tried to speak out a book into a recorder too. hahaha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in a long, slow break, at least from fiction. I’d love to write some, but nothing comes to mind, or if it does, it seems like “too much” right now. I’m locked into a daily blog which I enjoy. It tests my mind, spurs me into good sentences and descriptive words, with an occasional rabbit hole of research. It’s writing. Just not stories or books. I so admire you other writers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe your break will lead to inspiration, Jackie. But even if it doesn’t, your prior writing and your current blogs are still something to be proud of!
LikeLike