tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post6228790098728441957..comments2023-11-21T03:24:50.235-05:00Comments on Here be Magic: When the Dog Days of Summer Come EarlyJody W. and Meankittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-16310451188005647222011-07-09T10:31:49.427-04:002011-07-09T10:31:49.427-04:00Read...until I come out of my funk. Sometimes that...Read...until I come out of my funk. Sometimes that's a paragraph. Sometimes it's an entire series...anny cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769733659120481918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-15486212698003023952011-07-06T10:30:45.179-04:002011-07-06T10:30:45.179-04:00A day late ... which is kind of funny since you...A day late ... which is kind of funny since you're post was a day in and of itself as well. When I can't seem to face the blank page I find myself surfing the web and um ... reading blogs. *sigh* Guess I should get off the internet and be productive.Nina Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14548896481430215466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-13627450095977782792011-07-06T07:37:05.112-04:002011-07-06T07:37:05.112-04:00Thanks everyone! The winner was Kay Springsteen. K...Thanks everyone! The winner was Kay Springsteen. Kay, you can email me at cindy at cindyspencerpape dot com to collect your prize!<br /><br />I appreciate all the comments!Cindy Spencer Papehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01583236494759465431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-91983631929176071532011-07-05T23:25:31.476-04:002011-07-05T23:25:31.476-04:00I do a The Thirty Minute Challenge. I set my timer...I do a The Thirty Minute Challenge. I set my timer for thirty and just write. I don't even think about it judgmentally. If I can't start out with anything, I will grab a dictionary and randomly pick three words on three different pages and start with those. Five minutes in, something starts to work and often times thirty turns into several hours and a short story. Once that's put out of the way, the old edit notes that have been rolling around in the back of my skull seem a lot easier to tackle. :) -KaraKara Ashley Deyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13647156931421720337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-45677928607596867592011-07-05T20:38:40.340-04:002011-07-05T20:38:40.340-04:00When I get stuck, I have a few things I do, depend...When I get stuck, I have a few things I do, depending on what I feel like:work on a totally different manuscript--maybe I'll write a short story or jot down notes on an idea that's been tickling my muse; if that doesn't work,muck around with Photoshop, sometimes that loosens up the muse, just because it engages a different part of ye ole noggin'. If it doesn't work, then I'll Finish a book I'm reading--or at least a few chapters. If *that* doesn't work, I'll fire off an email to my trusted beta reader, or corner my hubby, and talk the problem out at them. Sometimes just saying it out loud to another ear helps get me unstuck.Juli D. Revezzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13240810668385584589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-82107283015791922392011-07-05T20:07:55.098-04:002011-07-05T20:07:55.098-04:00Reading! then again, reading is my cure for just a...Reading! then again, reading is my cure for just about everything ... <br /><br />Sometimes just giving yourself permission to sloth for a couple of days works, too.<br /><br />For me, I know a vicious case of writer's block mid-book means I've taken a wrong turn with the plot and need to delete back to the point where I feel like writing again. It's painful to lose all those words, but the book is stronger and I'm writing again :)Jenny Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00320451924849353120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-90691467037923420352011-07-05T18:42:11.938-04:002011-07-05T18:42:11.938-04:00I find making myself write works best. After some ...I find making myself write works best. After some time slogging away, often the story takes over and the words start to flow a little easier. A bit like getting your second wind when jogging (not that I do much jogging!)testhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738594136372903385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-49462153567323852302011-07-05T17:24:50.288-04:002011-07-05T17:24:50.288-04:00Some times you need a couple of days off to get t...Some times you need a couple of days off to get the juices flowing again.Janice Seagraveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576031935823587485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-82187419392047026922011-07-05T14:50:10.890-04:002011-07-05T14:50:10.890-04:00here is a solution that I've found works for m...here is a solution that I've found works for me:<br />put aside every single lingering WiP and editing project. Put a virtual blank sheet of paper in the typewriter and write a short story using no already written characters, scenes or set ups. The short format sexy story to me is difficult so I challenge myself with it when blocked. But usually, I have the opposite problem. Is there such a thing as Writer's Diarrhea? If so, that is my ailment---too many ideas, no time to get them all out!<br />thanks for the great post and for your friendship Cindy!<br />LizLizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182147051413946727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-65392688874489684352011-07-05T13:05:33.448-04:002011-07-05T13:05:33.448-04:00Writer's block. Ugh. I think the thing that ...Writer's block. Ugh. I think the thing that helps me most is exercise (I love a hard core cardio workout) or soaking up the vitamin D. Summers are always hard for me because I want to be outside or playing with my kiddies. I write best when it's raining or snowing, not sure why, so sometimes I turn on the sprinkler outside and pretend like its raining. It works :)K.V. Briarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05508488198134394672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-73113335095817311122011-07-05T13:01:58.852-04:002011-07-05T13:01:58.852-04:00As a reader I envy your creative side and wish I k...As a reader I envy your creative side and wish I knew what you were going thru. But my creativity stops at figuring out how I can make 3 year olds lunch different each day. No big plans for the summer except making sure my son has swim lessons this year. Good luck to all and thanks for keeping me happy in my never never land!!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17506788033472641151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-962606082943094402011-07-05T12:33:20.509-04:002011-07-05T12:33:20.509-04:00Because I'm also an artist, I get art block, t...Because I'm also an artist, I get art block, too.<br /><br />The cure for both, is similar. For art block, I go wander around local art galleries or hang out at DeviantARt online. For writing, I pick up and re-reread one of my favorite books. Both fuel and jump-start my imagination.<br /><br />The problem is, lately, I've had very little time to do both.P. Kirbyhttp://www.patriciakirby.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-31310361716359483982011-07-05T12:01:59.822-04:002011-07-05T12:01:59.822-04:00I just walk away. take the dogs for a walk. Read...I just walk away. take the dogs for a walk. Read a few pages from a "classic" novel (this one usually works for me) and when all else fails, I create a series of tweets about something that caught my attention. 140 charcters is easy and it gets the creativity flowing again.<br />larrylarry Benjmainhttp://www.larrybenjamin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-71379418702558823192011-07-05T12:00:12.144-04:002011-07-05T12:00:12.144-04:00I go back and self-edit. If I'm in a series wo...I go back and self-edit. If I'm in a series work (which is happening more and more lately at the request of my publisher), I go back and re-read prior work in that series. If these don't work, I walk the dog, take pictures in my garden, read a book, or work at my editing job. Sometimes finding the right music helps, too. Lately, my blocks have been weird--I know what needs to happen in the story, know where the plot is leading, and even know exactly how a scene should be written but when I sit down to do it, nothing happens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-49076423857252485002011-07-05T11:47:40.983-04:002011-07-05T11:47:40.983-04:00I used to just walk away from the computer, watch ...I used to just walk away from the computer, watch a movie, read a book and then come back to it. Now of days writer's block has green eyes, blond hair and is two years old. Hope you find a way over it. Your work is eagerly anticipated.Jacquéline Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763280397841660587noreply@blogger.com