Tag: writing block

Dealing with the Holiday Writer’s Block – Blogmas 2022

~ Liz Harrison ~ Leave a comment

So, I’m gonna be totally honest. December is the worst time for me to try writing. I’m so very destracted.

This came up on r/fanfiction on Reddit about dealing with writer’s block, and it got me thinking – when was the last time I sat down and wrote some fics? I realized it had been a bit, and I realized I was in writer’s block mode. Which is a bit of a problem. Whoops?

Normally, I would get out of writer’s block in a gradual fashion. I would go focus on something else for several weeks, such as a video game or a book series or a tv show that’s been on my list (which in this case would be Outer Banks because a dear friend will not stop hounding me about it). I’d take the time to basically relax my brain and just work on other things. Maybe do a new cross stitch, something I was enjoying doing in the summer before everything went to hell in a handbasket.

But. Well. I don’t really have time for that.

Remember the other day when I talked about my list of fics I want to try to finish by the end of the year? Yeah, I really want to get to those. And that’s just slightly a problem when I’m dealing with writer’s block.

I have a plan though! I really do! I think. I hope.

I’m not going to worry about anything until this weekend. I’m just going to think of work, and watch Outer Banks on Netflix (I’ve been promising a friend I would watch it, it’s about time I just do it at this point), and maybe get the layout for my planners tentatively laid out. I’ll keep a blank Google doc open for any idea dumping, but it won’t be something that I push. And, of course, I’ll also post here, hopefully at a normal hour instead of right before midnight PST because I keep starting posts in the morning and forgetting to finish until right before I head to sleep.

Hopefully by taking this little complete reset, I’ll be able to pull myself out of writer’s block pretty quickly. That’s not my normal way, considering I normally have writer’s block for a solid month twice a year (should’ve figured it was coming, last time I was this bad was in July so…).

Wish me luck, we shall see what comes of this insanity. *wink*

Until next time!

Dealing with Writer’s Block and Daily Posting – Blogmas 2021

~ Liz Harrison ~ Leave a comment

If the past three months have taught me anything, it’s that I need to plan ahead.

For example, I spent all day doing a thousand little things, and completely forgot to work on both this post, as well as my Advent fic for tomorrow (which I usually post between midnight and 1AM.) Which is kind of a problem, as now I’m panicking because technically I’m late.

But that’s something that happens when you’re dealing with a decent case of writer’s block and burnout.

Over the past three months, I’ve probably written about 45 fanfics, which total out to over 50000. On top of that, there’s all the blog posts from October, the few from November (due to the burnout), and of course everything from December thus far. That’s a lot of writing.

The way I’m dealing with the fic writing is by making it a bit of a challenge. I’ve already decided what I’m writing for most of the prompts, which means I have a starting point. By giving myself an early posting deadline, I’m actually making it easier. If I miss because I’m busy or I need to wait until later on to write, I’ll be able to because I’ll still have hours in the day. It would bother me, but it would still get done.

This blog kinda took the big hit just because I needed to cut something for a while. It’s been a pretty stressful few months, and blogging didn’t give me the same joy it did during the summer and last year. Hopefully I can make that a better habit in 2022.

But in all honesty, I’m dealing with burnout by sprinting. Yes, I said sprinting. In this context, I’m writing in 20 minute increments. This has actually increased my productivity, as I’m sprinting against other people, which also encourages me to do more. Yes, I have to edit more, as I make more simple mistakes, but I can get through an entire 1500~ word story in just over an hour. It’s a good thing.

Like I said at the top, the main thing I’ve learned is planning things out. It’s helped in ways I can never really describe. This is one habit that will be around next year, as I want to continue to write. However, my goal for next year is to write longer pieces of fic instead of short but fun ones.

My goal for tonight and tomorrow is to get really ahead, so I’m gonna jump back into that. Who knows, maybe I’ll get further than I could have ever planned?

Until next time!

How Do I Deal With Writer’s Block? – Blogtober 2021

~ Liz Harrison ~ Leave a comment

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that writer’s block is a thing.

As I sit here typing this post, it’s 1AM. I’ve been working on Whumptober stories for about four hours. In that time, I’ve managed to finish one, start another, and plot out two more. That would be great… if not for the fact that I now am only ahead by two stories. Which means, tomorrow, in the midst of doing my Saturday duties (cleaning and laundry), I have to try to knock out at least two stories.

Easier said than done, honestly.

So, for the past week or so, writing has been hard. I just feel like the words I’m putting down on the pages aren’t good. Or if they are decent, I don’t have confidence in them. I’m just feeling drained at writing. Which makes sense, since I feel like I’ve been writing for a month solid right now.

But I anticipated this, which is why I wrote ahead so much.

But how am I dealing with it? Better than expected. Bet you didn’t think I’d say that.

Yes, I’m feeling like I’m behind, but at the same time, I know I’m ahead. I have four stories 100% completed for the back half of the month, not counting Days 16 and 17. I’ve mostly plotted out each story that hasn’t been written (barring one that I have to change, as someone ended up writing the exact thing I was planning on earlier on during the month, and I don’t want to unintentionally copy someone).

But I’m also taking time for myself. I’m watching more One Chicago and making plans for November. I’m finally about to break my PS3 and PS Vita out of their hiding holes as a reward for finishing, but I’m doing planning ahead of time. I’m letting myself be active on Discord, making friends with people across the country and world. I’m part of an active fandom across three sites, and I feel like I have things to contribute. And I’m planning a driving trip into Los Angeles to get away for a weekend day, just to drive through the city.

But I also have ways to get out of writer’s block.

One of the biggest is that I’m not writing my Whumptober prompts in order (unless I’m down to the wire, which I’m not yet). Instead, I’ve put all the remaining prompts in a jar and randomly choosing. Depending on the prompt, I either sit down and write it, or just plan it and return the number to the jar. I’m actually only nine away at this point, and this method has really worked well for me this time. In fact, the only two that I’m being “forced into” writing together are Days 18 and 21, on account that they are basically two chapters. I’m almost done with Day 21 as it is (it’s on my list for tomorrow).

Another thing is, I’m not binding myself to just working on Whumptober. Already once this month I managed to put out a random fic that wasn’t related to Whumptober, which ended up being hilarious. I’m not going out of my way to write something that isn’t Whumptober based, but I’m just letting myself be a bit free.

The final big thing is that I’m not holding myself to any real expectations. I told myself at the beginning of Whumptober that I’d try to finish on time, but if I can’t, I’m cool with that. I’m honestly happy with how much I’ve done already. If I get it all done, then I will probably celebrate. If not, that’s fine. I’ve done my best, and no one can really argue with me on that. I mean, at this point I’ve almost written 30k words. That’s better than I think I’ve ever done. So I’m cool.

Writer’s block used to be a major issue for myself. I’d stress daily about it, make myself feel sick because I wasn’t writing, and then not bring out my best writing. At least right now, I’m happy. And really, isn’t that all that matters?

Until next time!

When Your Brain Says to “Take a Break…”

~ Liz Harrison ~ Leave a comment

This has been a very… interesting two weeks for me.

Let’s set the stage. It was March 23rd. At that time, I was writing well, planning out my next several prompts for Febuwhump, just starting 9-1-1, and was even getting ahead on my blog posts here.

Then Wednesday happened, and that all came to a halt.

Nothing happened, technically. It’s just, my brain basically just said ENOUGH. It was like a switch was thrown in my mind. No more writing, no more reading.

I was staring at a blank Google doc and I couldn’t get the words to flow. Nothing worked. It just wasn’t happening. And my self imposed goal to finish Febuwhump on time just didn’t happen. Actually, none of it happened. I still have the doc for the 24th open, with like five lines in total written on it.

I can’t just blame me wanting to watch 9-1-1. It did became my distraction from writing. But not in a bad way. I was actually really depressed because I couldn’t string two words together. At least with that series, and my goal to finish before today, I felt like I was accomplishing something (even if it was just watching a TV show).

But it still sucks, because I didn’t finish on time. 24 is still mostly blank, with what’s there just not worth touching. 25-28 are just in bullet list form. And that’s a looming thought that I’m going to be dealing until I finally get this done, because I’d still love to get it done ASAP.

Heck, I even didn’t write a blog post for over a week! And I’ve gotten pretty good about that. But I just couldn’t get words to flow. Nothing worked.

Until late last night.

Last night, I couldn’t sleep. I knew the reason: I was anxious about going to the grocery store this morning, as I go in only once a month and it’s always stressful, mostly because most of my town just doesn’t seem like they care about being safe anymore.

I was laying in bed, looking up at my ceiling in the near total dark (thanks possessed Xbox One that likes to turn on and off all night, with it’s damn bright light). My phone lit up with a review for the last Febuwhump post that I’d posted before everything came crashing down. Normally I wouldn’t check my phone after midnight if I wasn’t already up, but something told me to do it.

And then, it was like that switch was thrown again.

I was half asleep, but I pulled up my notes and started editing. Expanding the ideas, changing up a few things. Working on this post. Basically I took an hour to get back into everything.

And now, here it is, four PM and things are (mostly) back on track. I checked out for about ten days, but now I’m back at it.

There are times you just have to step away, take a break, reset. And that’s what I did. I blasted through 9-1-1 and now I can finally watch it live tonight. I 100%-ed Lego Batman for the first time in my life. I watched all of Wandavision and restarted my MCU rewatch with Mom. I even plotted out everything I’m going to write on this blog this week.

It’s not something that happens often to me, but it does happen enough that I know what I need to do when it happens. And now, I’m going to try to get ahead of it. But for now, I’m back (if a little late).

I’m off to watch 9-1-1 (and probably complain, if the reactions on Twitter are anything to go by).

Until next time!