I have swung from one writing rule to another over the past few years; torturing myself wondering whether I am using the right ones correctly.
I will sometimes not write for a few days; paralysed by confusion and doubt. And there, we already have a rule where several answers are floating around the writing community. Many people advocate writing daily to keep the words and ideas flowing. Hence, I feel guilty if I do not write; I believe I am letting myself down, and my writing will deteriorate in such light. Really?
Well, today, I read a insightful interview with Mark Billingham, in the Writing Magazine, June 2014. He mentions he does not sit down to write unless he actually has something to write. He may not write for a couple of days, or even a week. He finds once he has stepped away from the WIP, he then knows what he has to do; the break gives him clarity, which he finds especially important in crime writing. He still manages to write one novel a year.
From now on, I will endeavour to view my ‘blank’ days as time for reflection and invigoration. Such a positive spin makes even the inside of a dirty bin look enticing – or perhaps not quite that.
Mark Billingham also mentions something I thought only affected me. According to him, every professional writer feels their book is terrible when they get half-way through. writing it. I remember another successful writer saying something similar, but this reminder will hopefully stay lodged in my mind long enough to see me through the next two or twenty-two books.
Happy Word Flow One & All
Hemmie Martin 