What I've Learned Along the Way: Working Through Writer's Blockby Margaret Moore The following article appeared in the January 2006 issue of romANTICS, Toronto Romance Writers newsletter. Permission is granted to sister RWA ® chapters to reprint with credits to author and chapter. Over the nearly fifteen years I've been a published author, I never had full-blown writer's block until this past year. I'd had what I called "writer's hesitation," meaning I'd get to a certain point in the story and be unsure exactly how to proceed until the next scene or plot point. Usually that meant folding some laundry until the answer came to me, or if I was really hesitating, doing an outline. That would take a day or two or three. Then I'd be back on track. However, this year, I finally and regrettably experienced real writer's block -- or at least as real as I ever care to experience. I got about one hundred pages into my book and then... nothing. Nada. Despite what I'd written in the synopsis, I didn't really know what to do next or how to get to the next plot point. So I revised up to page 100 or so, and got maybe another couple of pages done and then...nothing. Nada. I started at the beginning again, revising, got to about page 110 and then...you get the picture. Nothing helped. I did an outline; I had many file cards that I poured over like they contained the secret of eternal youth, trying to see where I was going wrong. For the whole miserable month of March, I got nowhere. It was so bad, I even got snippy with my mother -- believe me, this was a Very Bad Sign, as we usually get along very well. Bless her non-writing heart, she blamed hormones -- and I daresay there was a little of that going on, too. Later, I realized there were a couple of other stresses weighing on me that no doubt contributed in a subconscious way, including having had to do a major revision on the previous book I'd turned it. But at the time, and even when I figured out some of these contributing factors, I was still well and truly blocked. So what did I do? Since I had a contracted deadline, I had no choice but to put my butt in my chair and work, whether I felt like it or not, and whether I felt like I was writing pure dreck or not. With much angst and worry, I got the book done, and in on time. If I had not had a contract, I might have given up on that book. Worse, I could even see myself giving up writing entirely. In the darkest days, I honestly thought my career was over. I was done. There was nothing left in the well, and never would be. Fortunately, I stuck it out. Even better, the book turned out...not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, my editor really liked it, and raved over parts. I did have to do revisions, but they were quite minor, especially compared to the many and various revisions I'd already done on my own. Recently, the reviews have started to come in and they're some of the best I've ever had. I learned that every writer who's ever said you just have to keep writing through writer's block was right. You can do it, if you just do it. To be sure, HERS TO COMMAND (February '06, HQN Books) wasn't the most pleasant writing experience I've ever had, but let me tell you, now that it's over and the response is proving to be positive, it has become one of my most personally satisfying. Margaret Moore is the process of completing her 40th historical romance. She has written novels and novellas for Harlequin, Avon Books and HarperCollins Children's Books. Find out more about Margaret, her books and her blog at www.margaretmoore.com. Romance Writers of America chapters have permission to copy this article in their newsletters. For any other use, please contact Margaret at maggiejmoore@yahoo.com.
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