‘P’ is for Pandemic and ‘R’ is for Remote School and ‘Z’ is for zero time to write. But I exaggerate. I’ve been able to write around the craziness, but the true problem is opening up your laptop with an empty heart, and an empty mind. Scribbling mommas know that the struggle is real.
So what do you do when you want to write, you need to write, but your fingers are hovering frozen over the keyboard? I like to remember a quote I found by one of my favorite western fiction authors, Louis L’Amour. He said, “Start writing no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
Right. Turn on the faucet. Ok, so how does this translate to you and me? Here are some ideas:
Try flash fiction. Yes, you’ve got a book to finish, but sometimes it’s good to start a project you can finish in an evening. Finishing is a powerful way to overcome the writing blahs. Trust me; challenge yourself to write a story in 250 words or less and you will not only be skill building, but you will be turning on the faucet and more ideas will start to flow. Don’t know how to write flash fiction? Look up a tutorial on YouTube and you’ll find it’s worth your while.
Try writing a just-for-fun-scene. If you’re determined to stick with the book but you’re stuck with momma-brain and the ideas just aren’t coming, pick your favorite characters from your plot and put them in a random place with a random event that has no bearing on your plot. Throw in a surprise or two. In the end, you might have Robert and Susie, at the carnival, stealing a tractor, during a thunder storm. Don’t ask why, just plug in the randomness and see what happens. This purely for fun, like when we used to play as kids. And who knows, you might unlock that darn faucet while you’re at it.
Make a goal. You say to yourself, “500 words” and just do it. Let it be bad. Let it be useless. But just do it.
Start a fire. I’m not sure where I read this one, but the theory is that when you just can’t see your way out of a scene, simply start a fire. That’s right; a lovely, destructive, totally unexpected fire. Apparently you can’t lose. I haven’t done it yet, but I’m planning on trying it in the very near future.
Lastly, if you really, truly can’t write, then read. Read to entertain, but also read to learn. Challenge yourself to read a short story every night. Read poetry. Read essays. Read Louis L’Amour. Read anything to keep your writer’s mind sharp.
Don’t give up, Mommas. It’s a crazy season we’re living in, but writing is what we do. You’ve got this.
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