I got a question this week about how I deal with writer's block and advice on moving past it... I'm not expert, but I would posit that there are two types of writer's block. One that is paralyzing to the point you can't write at all and one where you get stuck in your story and don't know what to write next. (I'm not going to tackle writing through life's adversities like sickness or divorce or having a kid here. That's another post entirely...)

The only time I've had paralyzing writer's block was after my first book release. I couldn't write for a good week and a half. Some of you might scoff, but that's a *long* time for me. I got totally stressed out over my first release. I read every review. I would be flying high one minute and then plummet the next. All of that instilled DOUBTS. When we're talking the kind of writer's block that goes on and on and keeps you from putting *any* words to the page...I think it all comes back to the fact something has made you doubt yourself. Maybe it is poor sales or another rejection or bad contest results.

(And by the way, I think this can be extrapolated to life in general...what keeps you from asking for a raise, for putting your name out there for a volunteer position, for feeling stymied in your life in general. It's those pesky doubts that hammer away at your confidence.)

So how do you move past this?
1. Time. The further away from the "traumatizing" event, hopefully your emotions will normalize.
2. Chance. A great review comes in or you final in a contest or your book sales explode. Life is about timing. Sometimes it sucks and sometimes it rocks. But, you can't count on this happening which means...
3. Write something, anything. Tell yourself it's just for you. No one else will see it. But, just do it!
4. Read something you wrote in the past. This can have two outcomes. Either, you read it, and go, Wow, that's some damn fine writing! Or, you read it and go, Wow, I've really improved and my writing is so much stronger now. Hopefully, either reaction will jump start your confidence.
5. Build a fortress around your muse AKA Learn to TRUST yourself. This is by far the hardest, but will get you the biggest return. I subscribe to Nora Robert's practical writing advice which is there is no "muse" that sprinkles fairy dust on your writing. But, I do think you must learn to trust in your voice and your process and you must protect it from doubts that come externally and internally. Pin up some of your favorite reviews next to your computer. Frame your contest finals and hang them up where your write. Practice your power stance in the mirror. Do some Stuart Smiley exercises (I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!) Hopefully, eventually, you'll believe that you and your writing kick ass.

The second type of writer's block is the kind I usually deal with; being stymied in a particular story. It's less devastating, but no less frustrating. This probably stems from being a panster. It's all fun and games until it isn't:) Here's what helps me when I'm stuck in a particular manuscript.

1. Jump to a different scene. I prefer to write in order because it makes the editing process easier later. Plus, because I'm a panster, moving logically from one scene to the next is important and if you jump ahead, manipulating your story to get there might involve some logical gymnastics. But, as a fix to get writing again, it works! In fact, I did it this week when I jumped way ahead and wrote the epilogue.
2. Do something else. This could be take a walk, clean the bathroom, take a shower... I'll admit the shower thing usually gets my brain unclogged. I don't know what it is about standing there under hot water and letting your mind have free reign. Quoting another famous writer it's like Stephen King's "Boys in the Basement" (or as I call them the Ladies in the Lounge:) Our subconscious is an amazing, powerful tool. Use it.
3. Listen to music/Look at pictures. I don't use inspiration pictures, but I do have a playlist for every book. The songs put me in the characters' heads and scenes. I spend a ridiculous amount of time in the car hauling my kids to/from school and activities. I often untangle issues or figure out how to tie up loose ends in a way that makes me fist pump in the car. In fact, I heard Viva La Vida by Coldplay this week and shot straight back into a particular scene of a book that's been out for months, A Brazen Bargain. The song will forever be associated with my hero's redemption in that book.
4. Work on a different project. This works for some people and doesn't for others. However, I love jumping over to something different when I'm stuck. Right now, I have three other projects cooking in my head:) Obviously, if you're frantically trying to finish a project before a deadline, then this might be a bad idea.

Speaking of deadlines...Some people thrive on them, some people die. If you know that the threat of an impending deadline creates writer's block, then for the love of pete, DON'T PROCRASTINATE!

I used to be an avid hiker. I went to college close to the Smoky Mountains, and I spent two weeks hiking the Swiss Alps. My lesson from hiking was this: Pick a pace that you can maintain forever. You don't want to be gassed before you even reach the summit. It applies to writing as well. I can comfortably manage 2-3k words a day**. At that pace, I can keep up with the rest of my life, and not walk around like a character from the Walking Dead. I am not one of those writers that can let things slide until deadline approach-ith, then whip out multiple 10k days. I would burn out real quick. But, 2-3k a day? I can do that forever! And, guess what?! Slow and steady wins the race:)

​**I realize 2-3k is a lot for many writers, especially if you're juggling a family and/or a full time job. But, even getting 500-1000 words a day, every day will get you a book in 3-6 months!

I'm sure I missed something obvious, so share your tricks and tips in the comments...

I was originally tagged in this months ago by a fellow Greenville, SC writer and my CP, Frances Fowlkes. Her first book THE DUKE'S OBSESSION released in May from Entangled. Go check her out at www.francesfowlkes.com.

Last Monday, I was tagged by my awesome 2014 Golden Heart® finalist in the Young Adult category, Jessica Ruddick. Jessica is an English teacher who has a class full of beta readers at her disposal! Check her out at www.jessicaruddick.com.

And, now for me...
1.      What am I working on?

The question should what am I not working on! I like to keep multiple projects going at once. So, I’m working on the first book in a new Regency series called TO KISS OR KILL about a lady astronomer and the mercenary hired to kill her. I’m also revising the third book in my Spies and Lovers Regency series called A RECKLESS REDEMPTION. And, lastly, I’m working on a third ER novella, as yet unnamed, loosely connected to my first Regency, AN INDECENT INVITATION. The ER is mainly for fun and since it’s a lot of smexy time, I can pound out the words in no time. (Yes, that’s right, I went there:)

And, sometime this summer I should get edit suggestions from my agent on my Southern contemporary, HONEYSUCKLE SEASON. With the kids out of school, fitting the work in over the summer should be an interesting challenge.

2.      How does my work differ from others in my genre?

For one thing, I write contemporary and historical and ER. My historical voice is modern, and my contemporary voice is Southern. In all of them, I try to insert a certain amount of humor. Not slapstick, but the ironic, dark kind or the teasing, sexy kind.

But, I think (hope) that what makes my work standout are the characters. For me, the characters make a book. I want them to be memorable and compelling. My aspiration is for readers to want to reread passages that resonated with them, just I like reread favorite scenes from books on my keeper shelf. No matter how awesome and interesting a plot might be, I’ll walk away from a book if I don’t love the characters.

3.      Why do I write what I do?

I grew up reading a whole gamut of styles and genres but cut my teeth on the gothic-style romance by Mary Stewart, Catherine Cookson, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Victoria Holt. Then, I graduated to filching my mom’s Harlequins and historicals. The first historical romance that I vividly remember is Judith McNaught’s Once and Always, but one of my very favorites is Julie Garwood’s The Bride. The romanticized Regency England I write about is fun and sexy and little dark at times.

Currently, in between all the romances, I read quite a few young adult (I have a ten-year-old son) and literary works. I’m a member of a kick-ass book club—holla!—and our choices never fail to push me out of my comfort zone. Not a lot of HEA’s in that pile!

(As an aside, some of favorite book club selections have been: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, The Round House by Louise Erdrich, The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese)

4.      How does your writing process work?

My process is in flux. For my first book, I had an idea of characters and had a scene in mind that would take place toward the middle of the book. So, I started there. What a nightmare! I do not recommend doing that. That book got rewritten/edited more times than I can count. I swore I would never, ever, ever do that again. (Isn’t that a Taylor Swift song?) Now, I generally have the characters, the first few scenes, and the last scene in mind. I buy spiral bound notebooks after they go on sale in the fall and have a notebook per book where I make notes on plot, dialogue, sometimes longhand entire scenes if I don’t have a computer available.

I would love to be a natural plotter, but damn you, glorious pants! I just can’t quit you! I’m learning to compromise. I’ll start a book (at the beginning) and then write a synopsis after I hit the 25-35k mark. Like reading the end of the book first (totally guilty), I have been known to jump ahead and write the last or climatic scene.

As far as my daily writing routine…when the kids are in school, I write pretty steadily from 8:30 to 1:30. I do have a daily goal of 3k words. I’m usually +/- 500 words from that. But, there’s still the grocery shopping, appointments, school commitments to fulfill that takes time away. In summer, I’m up at the butt-crack of dawn to get around three hours in before the kids stumble down for breakfast.

I’m still learning and improving, and as a result, my process changes as I assimilate new methods and information. I’m hoping one day I’ll love to plot, but there is something about getting lost with your characters and experiencing an a-ha moment right along with them. I’m not sure you can do that unless you’re writing while hanging onto the seat of your pants.