Insight

I had this great insight into my writing woes today that was a wonderful example of why belonging to a writers group is a good idea.

I have trouble writing long. I get to about 15 or 20K and it all starts to fall apart. I have always thought it a planning problem, that I need to get organised, get a proper plotting process going (I still think that would help). But the wonderful Anna Campbell suggested it might be a commitment and /or fear problem.

How surprising! Me? Fear? Me? Lack of commitment?

Talk about hitting the nail on the head.

Then on the list was a discussion on the need to work through those times when you lose faith with what you're doing and the temptation to start a new exciting story rears it's ugly head. Several people talked of all those unfinished 15k stories under their beds.

I know, I know, it's been said thousands of times before, but this is where writing reams of crap is essential. Where giving yourself permission to write with nowhere in mind is important. Just keep plugging away. How many times do I have to read that until I believe it at a cellular level?

Many more I'm sure.

But at least I'll have my writing mates to remind me.