Coaxing the Words Out

It’s the first full week back to work for me and I was so ready to be back.  I intended to write a post filled with links and advice on how to get back into the swing of things after a break.  But after my own dismal attempts last week and this weekend to add anything to my current WIP – I gave up on that.

I’m at a point where I know where my book needs to go and I know the next several scenes I need to write.  But I find that the words aren’t flowing like they usually do.  I’m having to coax them out, one by one – sometimes kicking and screaming.  I keep finding things to distract myself with, pretending they have to do with the act of writing – like this blog post.  But they aren’t actually contributing to the word count of my rough draft WIP.  My printed rough draft that is sitting and waiting for editing is mocking my slow progress on this WIP.

The only solution I know that works for me is to just sit my butt in the damn chair and write.  Even if it’s painful and a struggle.  It’s hard to remember that the struggle never lasts long and once I hit my stride, the words will spill out.

I also know that a change of scenery can often lift the slog of slow word days.  Tomorrow is going to be a toasty 46F here so I’ll be heading to the cozy local coffee house.  It’s a literal house and it’s so cool!  It should manage to help lift my mood and my word count unless I can manage it today myself.  I’m still going to the coffee house even if I do because, you know, delicious coffee drinks.

So my advice if you are stuck and the words just don’t want to flow is to make a change of scenery – a coffee shop/library are good places to go.  But above all else make sure your butt is in a chair/stool/recliner/floor/any surface that can hold a butt and get those words out.  Even if you have to drag them out, kicking and screaming.