writer, recharged
Last update, I was fighting through the post-op fog & struggling to re-familiarize myself with my current work-in-progress (a Harlequin Desire I’m calling A Baby in the Billionaire’s Boardroom, but I expect that to change) & get back to writing. And it wasn’t going well. :houhoh
Agent Extraordinaire suggested I go back & not only re-read what I had written already, but re-type it, as well. So I did that. And it kinda-sorta worked. It definitely helped to refresh my memory of the story & characters, so that was good. But when it came to carrying on with the typing of new words & ideas… Um, not so much.
No matter how in the flow I thought I was, how ready to jump back in, every time I tried, I drew a total blank. Very frustrating.
So I started to wonder if what I needed was a change in my normal writing process. Something to jumpstart me, shake things up. Usually, I use my beloved AlphaSmart. In fact, I’ve written every book since (& including) Walker’s Widow on it exclusively; that’s 19 full-length books & 4 novellas. Wow.
My trusty Alphie Neo wasn’t working for me, though, so I decided to try something different. What if I tried writing by hand?
Now, normally, I only write synopses by hand. For some reason, they come out faster & better that way. My brain seems to function well on the big picture when I’m scribbling with a pencil & paper. But I’ve never written by hand before because it adds extra steps; instead of typing once on the AlphaSmart, then adding the text to my computer & being done with it, writing by hand means writing, then typing, then adding. :santa
But since nothing else was working, I figured I’d give it a shot & see what happened.
I started slowly, nervously, even. I wasn’t entirely sure of what I was doing because I’d never done this before. Even before I got an AlphaSmart, I wrote on a typewriter or the computer; I don’t think I’ve ever written anything substantial by hand.
Something kind of miraculous happened, though. It worked! The words started to come & the story started to flow again. I was even—gasp!—kind of enjoying myself!
Another great thing was that ABCFamily Channel had just run a Harry Potter marathon, & I’d recorded them as a refresher. (Sure, I’ve got them on DVD, but who can be bothered pulling those out? :cat ) So while I was working to recapture my creativity, I had some great, creative stuff playing in the background to entertain me. 
It was almost like magic…or like Professor Snape was standing over me with a menacing look until I started writing again!
I’m still writing this way, too. Yes, it’s a little slow & I’m still dealing with that extra step of having to type up what I’ve scribbled by hand, but whatever works, right?
“Without that tablet, we’re nothing!”
(Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian)
Comments
7 Comments • Comments Feed
Jessica Lemmon says:
Yes, whatever works! I keep hearing from authors that each book is different, each has its own issues. Maybe this one just needs to be handwritten? :santa
Congrats on finding your way! I, for one, am relieved. You with writers block equals me our of new reading material. 😉 :turk
…by the way, when is the “I Do…” Desire due out?
On December 15, 2011 at 8:51 am
Heidi says:
ON THE VERGE OF I DO will be out in April 2012. Sounds like so far away, but it will be here before you know it! :snow
I don’t know about each book being different; for me, it’s always been a matter of “this is your job, just do it.” But these are extenuating circumstances, I think, & writing by hand has actually turned out to be kind of fun. :skate
On December 15, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Anne says:
Inspiration by Potter. I’ll have to remember that.
I’m the same way with DVDs. I find myself watching movies on tv with commercials when I have a commercial free copy on my shelf.
On December 15, 2011 at 10:06 am
Heidi says:
For me, I like watching stuff on TV over DVD for two reasons:
First, because it puts the show right at my fingertips. DVDs mean digging them out, using the DVD player & a different remote. I also have this semi-obsessive need to know “what else is on” at all times, & I can’t bring up the on-screen guide if the DVD player is on. :reindeer
Second, being able to zip thru commercials makes it feel like the show/movie is going faster. Not sure why this matters, but it kind of does.
When I’m in the mood for a real marathon or want to see something uncut & with all the good swear words, I will dig out the DVDs, tho. :candycane
On December 15, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Dorthy says:
I’m so glad you found something that is working for you!!!
I have heard of these AlphaSmarts yet have never seen one. Why do you like writing on it?
I sometimes write on my computer, but usually that blinking cursor on a blank page freaks me out and all the ideas in my head freeze.
On December 15, 2011 at 11:11 am
Heidi says:
Oh, I (normally) loooooove my AlphaSmart. Sitting at the computer is too uncomfortable; it hurts my back & eyes after a while. And I hate laptops; can’t stand the keyboards of having that big, hot machine on my lap, having to deal with booting it up & rebooting if you close it to run to the bathroom… (& if you don’t, the cat walks across it & messes everything up! :cat )
With the Alphie, there are no disks or cords, you just turn it on & off as you please. The screen also only shows you 4 lines at a time & *all* you can do on it is write, so no distractions like the internet or Spider solitaire. :turk
On December 15, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Laura J. says:
Okay…need to see a pick of this AlphaSmart. I’m intrigued with anything and everything technological! Not that I want one, but oh I LOVE the shiny gadgety weebly wobly (sorry, Dr. Who #10 possessed me for a moment).
My first thought when when I read your post was “COOL! She’s channeling her inner Jane Austen!!”
I got to ask though…how are the cats handling your new writing style? :turkey :turk They have to be wondering what’s up with you not using *their* butt warming machine. Poor kitties must have some cold bottoms. (hehehe j/k).
I’m looking forward to this book. Having some major Heidi book withdrawals. Guess I’ll just re-read MLV. Oh…the hardships! :booby :turk
On December 15, 2011 at 7:20 pm