Writer Unboxed

I am the Queen of Excuses, I’ll fess up. The kids have been home for the summer…I’ve had a lot of freelance work…My mother was ill, and she and her dog stayed with us and our puppy for a while (Oh, you can’t imagine)…I haven’t found a stretch of time to get into the zone….My muse is avoiding me. Lots of reasons why I haven’t progressed on my wip. Funny (or not so) when mine is a story I love and am committed to complete. Not working on it is the reason I often feel a hint of anxiety in the pit of my stomach; it’s my twisted innards saying, “You’re not doing it. You let another day slip that you’ll never get back. No one else can write this book.”

This is a story I know inside and out, a story that has already been written once (before I knew better), a story that is outlined to the max with every scene, every motivation, and every action accounted for. So what’s my problem? I’ve developed a bad habit–the habit of NOT writing–and I need to break it or I’ll probably develop an ulcer already. So I’ve taken drastic measures, starting with this one:

I bought a book. Not drastic you say; but Novelist’s Boot Camp by Todd A. Stone is not just any book, as you can see by the army-green cover. Here’s a peek at the intro:

WRITERS, ATTENNNNN-TION! Welcome, new recruit, to your very own novelist’s boot camp. Now drop and give me twenty. Everyone knows that military life is different from civilian life, so you can expect this book–modeled on the boot camp that makes soldiers out of everyday men and women–to be different from ordinary how-to books. And it is. You will see and do things differently. And you will do push-ups.

Wow. A book that makes me smile. A book that has grabbed my attention. A book that could very possibly help counter the effect of chocolate. I like this book so far. The second part of my grand plan involves the Flogging the Quill Online Storytelling Workshop. That’s right, I took the plunge. Not because I don’t already have fabu critique partners, because I do, but because the experience will be different from the ordinary; and I believe it will be valuable and enlightening to share works with writers from other genres and with an accomplished editor.

The third part of my kick-own-butt strategy sends me away from home. Once the kids get on the bus September 7th, I’m going somewhere. I’m not sure where, but it won’t be here–in front of this computer, in this chair, in this house. I’m going to find somewhere new and commune with my AlphaSmart. Who knows? I may be holed up in a corner at Lowes. You may read about me in the news: Desperate Writer Stuffs Self in Hummingbird Feeder to Escape World.

Thing is, something has to give. My home environment has been one of non-productivity for the last few months, and I need a new one in order to revivify my hibernating muse. At least that’s the plan. Different kind of book, different group of people, different scene.

The irony that summertime boxed me good is not lost on me. Maybe I’ll even skip the chocolate for a while. You know, while I’m doing my push-ups. Ack! Speaking of, I need to order some Godiva for the AlphaSmart contest, and though I have my own personal preferences, I’m not sure what the general consensus might be. So I’m asking: you do prefer dark or milk? Hmm? Granted, I could wait and order after the winner is announced October 2nd, but then there’s the ship-time wait and all, so I’m just going to go with a mass vote!

Opinions? Comment here or email us at writerunboxed(at)writerunboxed.com … and enter the contest if you haven’t already! I’m off to check my wardrobe for ca-mo. I don’t think bile-green is my color, but I’ll try anything at this point. ;)

Write on, everyone!

Therese Walsh co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006. Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, sold to Random House in a two-book deal in 2008, was named one of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2009, and was a Target Breakout Book in 2010. She's never been published with a lit magazine, but LOST's Carlton Cuse liked her haiku best on Twitter, and that made her pretty happy.

Therese Walsh

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