In a post on Writer Unboxed, Leslie Budewitz suggests that writers avoid their work when they approach something that makes them uncomfortable. She offers advice on tackling this challenge head-on.
First, you need to identify what you’re avoiding.
- It’s a first draft, which is messy.
- You don’t know what happens next.
- You’re worried the story isn’t very good and if writing it will end your career (or hopes of one.)
- You aren’t connected to the story.
For Budewitz, the common thread was fear. She also realized she got uncomfortable when she looked too far ahead in her process. “When I am looking beyond the scene I’m writing, beyond the work to what it means, to me or to others,” she explains. “And in these times when so much seems out of our control, the page can be especially uncomfortable because we’re never fully in control of our creative work.”
To get herself on track, Budewitz:
- Forgives herself. We’re only human. Dry spells and story conundrums are part of the package.
- Recognizes her discomforts. Budewitz knows something is up when a page makes her want to get up and walk away. Is the scene undeveloped? Did she fall back on bad writing habits? Budewitz says that acknowledging her desire to step away helps her find what’s causing the problem.
- Remembers what’s worked before. You’ve fixed problems before. You can fix this one. Use your writing tools and experience to take the problem apart and find solutions.
Other tools work, too. Think about your story before you go to bed. Turn off your devices. Get a change of scenery. Take a walk. Journal your problem.
