Unlocking the Writer's Block

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Unlocking Writer’s Block
Guest Post 
by Karen Zeigler


Rarely will individuals admit to being worriers unless they are going through a really difficult time.  So it’s not unusual that writers don’t recognize that the writer’s block they are experiencing is just worry in disguise. 

• What if no one read what I’ve written?
• What if the publisher rejects it?
• What if I don’t connect with my audience?
• Why does it matter?
• What if I miss the deadline?

Or perhaps it’s something total unrelated to writing.
• I wonder what they will find in those tests the doctor’s office ran.
• I hope my child has the courage to discuss the problem with their teacher. Should I step in or am I helping her become a responsible adult by asking her to step up?

• I haven’t heard from my spouse, the presentation was over an hour ago.  Is this a good sign that they got the business or is he lamenting at the airport bar?

Whatever the case is I can tell you from experience that there is likely a thousand thoughts running through your brain, perhaps even some on the topic you wish to write about, but the fearful, anxious and worrisome thoughts have taken over control.  Your mind maybe racing but the results are zip – going nowhere, nothing happening.

When I wrote my book Freedom from Worry – Prayer of Peace for an Anxious Mind it was more about eliminating worry and connecting with God is a real and life changing way.  What I didn’t realize until I began to share the practice is what can actually get accomplished when worry is out of the way.  Clarity comes, courage to take action and confidence in yourself, your calling and your God are just high level things that happen over and over again.  And if clarity wasn’t enough to make any writer rush online to purchase the book here are just a few more reasons you’ll want to include this book and the process that it teaches into your writing routine.

1.    The first key thing that happens in the process is the journaling.  That journaling is many things but first and foremost it is a means of getting the negative thoughts out of your brain.  As writers we often try to set all the positive variables in place – right time, right place, right atmosphere with little action taken to eliminate the negative thoughts rolling around in our head, which we carry with us regardless of where the writing takes place.

2.    Second we shift our mindset to that of gratitude.  It is when we are in a grateful mindset that our mind delves into deeper meaning, in life and in the topic at hand.  A mindset that is ultimately where most writers hope to take their audience.  Even the most comedic of writers is hoping to help their audience realize through humor that which is important about the topic.

3.    And last but not least it is a connection with the Creator.  A means for getting divine inspiration from the author of all creation. 

Practice the steps of the prayer and journaling found in Freedom from Worry and it’s guaranteed that thoughts will flow and writing will occur.  It happens by design.  By the end of your journaling time you will have spent 15-30 minutes pouring out (writing) your worries, fears, gratitude and requests onto the pages of your journal.  And as the peace of mind settles in, the flow continues on to the inspirational thoughts and words for which you were meant to write.

Karen Zeigler, Speaker and Life Coach, Inspiration to Change. 

Karen has come full circle, after almost 20+ years of climbing corporate ladders and pursuing her career that provided the prestige and money she thought was so critical from her college days, she realized there was more to life! She discovered coaching. Although she agrees being an Investment Advisor was somewhat fulfilling it never really scratched her "itch"...longings to write and speak on topics of purpose, passion and personal development.
 

First Novel: Having Fun

Writing My First Novel and Having Fun With It:
An Amateur’s Take on First Time Writing
by Kathryn Rizzo



I have to say, nothing can be more daunting than the idea of writing your first manuscript. Sure, it sounds like a lovely idea in theory. You have a few ideas that have been rolling around in your head for months, you read books by fabulous authors who are paid fabulous sums of money for their work and then after reading their fabulous book, you find yourself thinking, “Hey, that wasn’t so hot, I could have written that.” And that’s when you decide you are finally going to do it. You are going to write your own novel.

Then comes the day when starting the writing would be perfect. The stars are aligned so that you have a few precious hours free, the house is somehow miraculously quiet and your inner muse is simply begging you to finally share the talent that you know you have. Everything about the day is telling you that you are on the cusp of creating a masterpiece. And then… Dun Dun Dun…the eerie feeing of doubt crashes your writing party like the class bully who has always had it out for you.

Suddenly you find yourself second guessing everything. How am I actually going to write a novel?  What do I even know about writing? What was I thinking, I can’t write a manuscript. I must have been crazy. That’s it, I’m just going to have a Crunch Bar and call it a day.

Well, I am here to tell you to put your writing party gear back on and to get back to that focused mindset because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from writing my own manuscript, it is that if I can do it, anyone can. All you have to do is hold tight to the drive and determination to see your novel through to the very end, no matter what. If you do this, you will be leaving your writing experience with a sense of pride and accomplishment stronger than you ever expected.

When I first started my manuscript, I was writing it as more as a form of personal entertainment. They library was closed, nothing good was on TV, I had a few hours to kill before I had to go to work and I couldn’t think of anything good to lookup on Youtube.com. I had also just finished reading a book I wasn’t very impressed with, so I asked myself what I would have done differently if I was the one who wrote the novel. That idea lead to the question, what would I write about if I was a writer? And that question lead to me writing my very first work of fiction and unknowingly beginning my first novel.

From that day on I was determined to keep going. I was going to continue my story every single day, I didn’t care if it was a chapter, a paragraph, or even a sentence…I was going to make some kind of progress. Before I knew it, my original ten pages turned into fifty, which turned into a hundred and fifty, and which ended as two hundred and fifty. And when I printed out my work and sat it down on my desk, I’ll never forget the feeling of finally seeing myself as a writer.

And what was it that made writing my first manuscript possible? Just having fun with my novel. I never thought of it as a serious thing. I didn’t see what I was doing as intense and it. If you just have fun with your writing, you can’t go wrong. When I was in the process of writing it wasn’t stressful because I too busy being happy and excited about doing something that I never thought was possible, for me. Everyday I would go through the motions of work and my other responsibilities, all the while mentally itching to get home so I could get at my laptop and write.

For me, writing my novel was such a freeing and incredible experience and even if I never do get it published, I’ll always keep writing. Every time I look at my manuscript I know that I completed a serious feat and that I told my doubtful bully, who said that I didn’t know the first thing about writing, to sell his negativity elsewhere because if I want to be a writer, then I can. I firmly believe that anyone who wants to be a writer can and should be (whether you are published or not). And like I said earlier, if you just have fun with your writing, you can’t go wrong.  

New Author: Just Waiting for the Big Break!

It only takes one book, it only takes one "yes"...it only...

You've written a book, and it took every last ounce of determination. You are finished, you celebrate, and you look longingly at the manuscript which resides on your computer, or on a bookshelf wondering about you next step. Don't worry, we've all been there. Some of us for more years than we wish to share!

Writing a book can be a dream come true! Now it is time to let others read it (and not just your family). Get feedback from those you trust. Make a plan. And follow through.

If you are serious about getting your book published make a list and follow through:

1. Determine if you want to obtain a publisher or self publish
2. If you decide to obtain a royalty publisher, consider an agent
3. If you decide to self publish find a good, no I mean excellent editor

Self Publish duties:

• Editor
• Graphic Artist
• Interior book lay out
• Cover Art
  
• Printer
• Distribution
• Payment System
• Website/Blog
• Social Media
  

Royalty Author duties

• Agent
• Royalty Publisher
• Attorney
  
• Marketing Strategies
• Website/Blog
  
• Social Media
• Interviews
• Lectures
• Book Trailer
• Other publicity ventures
  

This of course is not an extensive list. But it does give you an idea of what is expected. Writing the book, while at the time may have seemed like very hard works, is the easy part! The process of getting the book into print can all seem overwhelming, which is why many opt to try for a royalty publisher.

Remember, even Shakespeare was an unpublished author at one time!

What is your story? If you are published what was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? If you are an unpublished author, what is your greatest need...or fear?