I usually get this one from folks who start things well but have a problem finishing them -- they either have a lot of good ideas but their stories run out of gas partway through, or they look at what they've done before they finish it and decide that they stink, writing stinks, and life is starting to smell like roadkill too.

This is tough. When I was getting started, I was the author of uncounted thirty-page novels that never made it to page thirty-one. Big plans, no follow-through. I'm not sure what finally got me through those times, but I do remember how I finished my first book, and I think I know why I stalled constantly before that.

I decided when I was around twenty-five that I wanted to finish an entire novel before my next birthday. I sat down and tried to figure out how I was going to do this -- I rarely even reached the end of short stories at this point in my career, and the idea of doing two hundred and fifty

Well, there might be - or at least should be - some evidence that being a writer is something comparable to other jobs like Engineer, President or Garbage Collector.

In some cases there is such evidence indeed. There are enough of freelance journalists working for local media. What they usually do, is a kind of writing, that kind that is limited to their editor's interest.

Writing a book, be it a novel, be it a collection of poems or (*you name it*), is different if you haven't published yet. First you got an Idea. Then you quickly sat down in front of your computer or typewriter and start to write. But what was the plot again?? The outline??

A quick search on 'My Computer' is easily made. And the result usually is: 'No matches found'. Despair broadens. You sit there being puzzled. You calm down after a while, and There! Yay! You got it back finally! Hurry to the Computer, restart it and --- the phone rings loud. Your mother is coming to town. She just want to let you know that Mrs. Smith has done it again. You are, nevertheless brave enough to interrupt her, knowing that she will take offense (the result is that you won't get her self-made cookies for a month). You told her that you are going to write a nove- "My dear, do you know Mr. Woodknocker who is an editor has some experience and..." You interrupt her again (two month without cookies). Now you are going to tell her that you want to think about the story outline and need to be alone to do so. Silence.

"You don't want to talk to your mother??" - At wits end, you hang up the phone (three month...). You go back to your computer. On your way you trip over a cable and unintentionally you find yourself on your knees. You shake your head.

But what's that? There is a piece of paper under yesterday's newspaper, and you become curious. You take that piece and it is.... the outline of your story. Now you remember that you have made some notes yesterday to avoid exactly that drama  you just went through.

Shaking your head again, you have a look at the paper, and your eyes catch a headline on a special in the newspaper. It reads: How do I stay on track ???

At this point in time, you decide that you deserve some coffee break now. After doing so, you decide to play a computer game. The program you open actually is your text editor. But however. You start to write just to do something, and the thoughts in your mind goes elsewhere.

Five hours later - you have finished the third chapter of your novel without even noticing it - you stopped again because of a weird feeling. It's just like as if you wake up right after having a beautiful dream. There is only one thing different... . You are very hungry - and you becaome aware that you have missed some appointments you have had in the meantime.

....

To be continued (perhaps)...

Regards from Germany,

Guenter

btw: I'm not a native speaker of English. Therefore there might be some mistakes. I apologize in advance...

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Thank you i liked what you wrote very much , it is well writen and Oh sooo true lol thank you again.

Vielen Dank I mag die gichichte sehr und she is wirklich war I glaube fast jeder schreiber weiss das lol.Und Ihere englisch is besser den mein Deutsch. hugs Lilith

that you appreciate my - I have to admit it - trance-written story that much.

Greetings from Germany

Guenter

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Thank you Dusty that was very interesting .

Joy I day a German speaking father but he die over ten years ago may he rest in peace. Please no one be insulted by my German .

I wrote a Role Playing game that got published in 1995 although the worst thing I ever wrote I found what helped me is the following.

1. Sleep
2. quiet and busy place
3. research (going to wrestling matches and talking to wrestlers)
4. 7th hammer webiste (character generator)
5. word brain storming (Chaos style)
6. Deadlines

Just a few things that help me during dead air in the brain.

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I've heard the term "writing in flow" used for the effortless writing that makes you lose track of time, the need for a bathroom break, or desire to stop and eat.

I'm fortunate in that I find it easy to go into flow.  When I was younger and healthier, I could sit down at the typewriter (that shows you how long ago it was) and write for twelve or more straight hours.  Not occasionally, but on a five day a week basis.  My first years wordage total was about 150,000 final draft words.

Now as I age and deal with health problems, I'm often only able to write for three or four straight hours, and seldom more than two or three days a week.  But as long as I know what I want to write, and how I intend to say it, going into flow comes easily and automatically after about the first fifteen minutes of writing.  It's getting through those first fifteen minutes that's the hard part.

writeroffthelake - www.writeroffthelake.com

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