A Writer's Perspective
by Beth K. Vogt

Wednesday, July 06, 2005
When It Isn't Writers Block

I couldn't write. It wasn't a matter of chipping away at writers block. Writers block involves:

Staring at a blank Word document
Pleading with my brain to think of something to write
Searching for the core idea or opening line of an article
What I fought was fear that strangled my creativity. Stage fright was a more apt description of what I was feeling.

I never experienced stage fright when I was involved in high school drama productions. But I saw others freeze up when it was their time to go on stage, unable to recall the lines they'd said over and over again in practice.

Now I faced Writers Fright

I knew what I wanted to write. I had the pitch sheet I'd used at a recent writers conference to prove it, too. I had my working title, my purpose for writing the book, my marketing strategies. I even had some spiffy chapter titles.

An editor's words echoed in my ears, "I'm excited about your book idea. Do a good job and send me your completed proposal." Other than, "Here's your contract and your advance," what better words can a writer hear?

What was I doing with all this research and encouragement?

Nothing.

Each wasted second ticked away on every clock in my house. I dreaded my writers group asking, "So how's the proposal coming along?"

Finally, I confessed that I was frightened into immobility by a book proposal. And then, with the encouragement of my writing comrades, I took a few deep breaths, pushed past my fear, and wrestled the proposal into submission.

It was a painful process. (Query letters for magazine articles are so much simpler than book proposals.) Every time I handed a draft into the group, they did what any worthwhile critique group would do: They shredded my writing to pieces and told me to try, try again.

Their comments and questions helped me see where my proposal sagged. They highlighted the worthwhile segments and ferreted out passive verbs, meandering thoughts, and unclear writing.With each successive round of feedback, writers fright lessened it's stranglehold on me.

When it comes to writers block, sometimes all you can do is clean your closets while waiting for it to budge. With writers fright, I learned you have to fight back--or see a good idea die a slow death.

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