The Great-White Screen
The great-white screen is staring at me. Now it’s yelling at me. Nope its gone into a very high pitched howl. And I don’t know what I want to write about. It’s not so much that I don’t have anything to write about. It’s a bit like knowing you have plenty of subjects to write on and just don’t want to bother with a one of them.I also do that with my current WIP. I know I have a goal I’ve committed too, but then suddenly I notice the den needs dusting, underwear needs bleaching, and I’ll even clean the cat box, before I plant my butt in the chair to write. Sometimes I start to tear the house apart to just avoid the great-white screen. In the end, I have a very clean house, and no new pages, and I’m behind on blogs and other commitments. Then I have to play double-time to catch up, and rush. I don’t write rushed well. Knowing this about myself, for some very strange reason I still get involved in recreational avoidance and procrastination.The mystery to all this, I like to write. I do struggle with it. I know my weaknesses, and am constantly working to improve. But cleaning out the cat box isn’t an exercise in writing. Admittedly, for the cat to have a clean potty is beneficial to my household. Still, I’ll make up excuses not to do something I love to do. Like writing, telling a good story, and creating the world my characters find their adventures in. The process is exciting, (especially in the beginning) and can be very frustrating, all at the same time.So then why am I avoiding my characters?If we love our craft, then why are we running away from the blank screen screaming waving our hands, to lock ourselves in the bathroom with a paper bag. This usually isn’t long lived. Eventually we come out, at least for food.Question of the Day: As authors why do we avoid writing, when we love to write?
June 20th, 2008
Lee 
in
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June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am
OMG, Lee, I am so struggling with this write now. I think I avoid writing when I’ve lost confidence in my writing. When I’m tired and am at that “what’s the point stage.” This is the most important time to work through, while still recognizing sometimes it’s okay to take a break to recharge. You need to contact your buddy!!
June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am
The “write” now was a total Freudian slip…..:)
June 20th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I think this applies to all areas of our lives. I am not a writer, not even close as a matter of fact. My putting things off is in other areas of my life. I put off cleaning, dusting, cooking and etc. I have a serious problem with my knees and it is very painful for me to do a lot of things. So rather than add to my pain, I blog, read and answer e-mails, play computer games and read. After taking meds, I do manage to get a few things a day done. I wish I could write. I would love to be able to do that. I have always believed that it takes two people for a book to be complete, a writer and a reader. I am the reader. So you ladies keep writing and I’ll keep reading and we will all be winners. Have a great weekend and hugs to all of you.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 am
I agree with Fannie… we all go through this! Even if we love something, the fact that it’s hard can stop us in our tracks. We go through seasons–daily, weekly, years at a time, but as long as we know what we are doing, and why, I think we’ll always come back to those things that are important to us.
Hang in there! And Virna, you need to contact your writing buddy!
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I tend to stall when the words aren’t coming easily and I think, “If I was any good at this, it would be easier.”
But I’ve been at that roadblock many, many times before, and it has gone away every time, whether the low mood passes or I stick a [stuff happens here] placeholder at the tough part of the writing and move onto something more cooperative. I know that feeling never lasts, so I don’t beat myself up (too much!) while it runs its course.
And I do love writing. The concept of giving it up for good is… ridiculous. What would I do with the time I usually spend writing? What would happen to all those weird ideas? So… back to filling up that screen with letters.