Staci McGlothlin

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][I]Welcome! Today, my dear reader, I’m chatting about writer’s block. [/I][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I know, I know, you’ve seen a lot of folks talking about this subject quite a few times before—and possibly even seen me wax philosophical about it a time or two—but today, we’re doing something a little different. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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That’s right, today, we’re gonna talk blocks, writing, and science—[I]mwahahahahaha[/I]. (That was my mad scientist laugh, in case you didn’t catch it. It sounds a lot like my[I] torture the author[/I] cackle but with a hint of Ethel Merman tossed in for good measure. And now back to your regularly scheduled program….)[/SIZE][/FONT]
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I’d like to invite you to join me on a journey through a crazy land of logic that hopefully will give you a glimpse into how my (logical, left brained with OCD tendencies and she put the word [I]anal[/I] in [I]analytical[/I] thinking) author viewed the mechanics of her block and was able to break it down into manageable chunks to disable the triggers causing the block. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Why did my author construct this (for lack of a better phrase) [I]model[/I]? For a few simple reasons:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]1. Each individual author’s creative writing process is dynamic and uses 3 major components of the brain (now keep in mind that I believe whole heartedly in the Keep It Simple Stupid (K-I-S-S) method—so if I can “dumb it down”, then I’m gonna do that).[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]2. My author’s block kept moving from one area to another and she had no clue why or what was causing it—so to nip that confusion in the bud, she made a model. (We like simple models that fit in the KISS method.)[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]3. Randomly attacking a problem with various tools of the writer’s block game WAS NOT WORKING the way they were expected. And so drastic measures were taken to have serious discussions with enlightened individuals about the nature of the learning, writing, and creative processes.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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And now, I’m ready to begin (what may be a multi-blog post sort of thing) sharing with you [I]Elijana’s Mad Science Behind the Block[/I]. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[B]WHAT IS WRITER’S BLOCK?[/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Writer’s Block (according to Elijana’s Author) occurs when there is a disconnect in the individual writer’s process; the result of a writer’s block is that the writer is unable to get words written for a scene. For this definition, we are referring to the writer’s process as the natural flow of [I]creativity from its source[/I] (in the unconscious mind) through the [I]applying structure phase[/I] (in the subconscious mind) to the [I]execution phase[/I] where the words/scenes are written (in the conscious mind). [/SIZE][/FONT]

[B][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]WHAT TRIGGERS A BLOCK?[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]A writer’s block can be triggered by internal, external, and all –ternals in between. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]It can be as simple as when in your execution/writing phase ([I]in the conscious mind[/I]) that you type the wrong phrase and are not following the road map you laid out/agreed upon ([I]in your unconscious and subconscious mind[/I]) for the GMC of a character or a scene. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Another example could be that you’re trying to apply someone else’s style to your manuscript—which could potentially affect (aka, anger, piss off, tick off, seriously irritate, or confuse) your source of creativity ([I]in your unconscious mind[/I])—which would sever the connection from unconscious to conscious. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Or it could be an external life event that has disrupted your preferred execution phase environment ([I]that occurs in the conscious mind[/I])—life events like these can be as simple as a new neighbor in your apartment complex has a habit of blaring music (when you need absolute silence) during your optimal writing time; or the kids are off for the Summer and you can’t handle seeing them constantly jump around you while you’re writing (so you get visually distracted); or it could be an emotional issue that was triggered by a life changing event (such as a parent passing or a parent re-entering your life after a long period that prompts you to re-evaluate your identity.) [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Note that if you have an external event that affects your conscious writing/execution phase, that you can still brainstorm and you can still apply structure, but you might hit a brick wall when it comes time to sit down and hammer out the words on the keyboard. The same thing could be said for a block in the subconscious, but that one’s a little trickier to deal with. But don’t worry, we’ll dig deeper into the individual types of block later.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[B]HOW DO YOU BREAK THROUGH THE BLOCK?[/B][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The primary thing you should consider doing when you’re engaging the enemy (aka, the block) is to identify where the block is at for your writing process. This will help you craft a unique plan that is your personal prescription for overcoming, conquering, slaying, annihilating the block.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Consider these three questions and examine your answers for them while you are in your ‘[I]assumed optimal writing environment’[/I]. (By [I]assumed optimal writing environment[/I][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] I am referring to the place that you view as where you conduct your writing. This is the place that has all the tools and comforts that you have previously (or currently) regarded as the perfect location for you to write.)[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]1. Can you brainstorm ideas? Are you still coming up with new ideas for novels? (If yes, then you’re NOT blocked in the Unconscious mind; if NO, then you’ve got a block in the Unconscious mind.)[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]2. Are you having problems organizing the story layout/structure that you brainstormed into a usable source of info that can easily translate into the written scene? (And yes, I agree that question is a doozie of one to answer, so I’ll give you another one.) Did you brainstorm the basics for that killer story, but are having problems laying it out in a GMC, story structure kind of way that enables you to effectively write the scene? Do you get stumped (or confused) when you plot and structure? (If YES, then you’ve got a disconnect in your Subconscious mind; If NO, then let’s look at the next item.)[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]3. You sit down to write and you’ve brainstormed and plotted and… nothing happens. You can’t concentrate. No matter what you do, you can’t write that damn scene. If this happens to you, then you have a disconnect or blockage in your Conscious world/mind.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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To visualize where your block may occurring, check out the following diagram and notice that this is a process that flows from deep inside you to the tips of your fingers.

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[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The diagram above, according to this author-muse’s logic, is the natural flow of the creative process. Now before you go committing that picture to memory, let me share with you another way of viewing this model. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4403[/ATTACH]

[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Let’s talk computers. I’ve got a laptop. The laptop has a hard drive, an operating system, and a keyboard—it has other items, but for the sake of this example, let’s just consider these three items. When a user types data into the laptop and hits save ([I]in the conscious world[/I]), the operating system [I](in the subconscious mind) [/I]oversees how that data is stored on the hard drive [I](in the unconscious mind)[/I] and, later, retrieved . If there is a glitch in either the hard drive, operating system, or keyboard… then you’ve lost the ability to easily move data from end user to hard drive OR hard drive to end user. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]What do we do when that happens to our laptop? Toss the computer in the trash and give up? Or call a techie friend or a help desk and start the fun process of troubleshooting to track down the source of the problem?[/SIZE][/FONT]
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As a former help desk techie who still fields calls for friends and family about computer issues, I can tell you that I’ve yet to run across someone who tosses the computer into the trash right off. Doesn’t mean they didn’t think about it, though.

[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]So the moral of this story is that before you decide to throw in the towel and quit writing, ask for help. Help yourself. Learn about yourself. Identify the problem, fix the broken component, and get yourself motivated and back on the road to recovery. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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You can do it. Heck, if you’ve made it this far, then we already know one thing… you’re interested in learning and breaking through your block.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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And yes, that’s where I’m stopping for now. I’ve got a few more diagrams to put together for the next post on this subject that will hopefully show you how we view the interaction between the un-sub-conscious portions of the brain when they’re used for the creative, writing, and revision processes. I hope what you’ve read so far makes sense. If it doesn’t, then don’t worry. My author and I will be available to field questions and comments. [/SIZE][/FONT]
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Take care and, if you’re currently experiencing a soul terrifying block, then hang in there. I know it can be scary and frustrating as all get out, but it can be beaten and you can get back to writing again. And chances are, you’ll be a better writer for it. Goodness knows my writer is.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Until next time…[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]~EK and Her Author[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3](who could not have put this information together if it hadn't been for the thought provoking discussions she had with two of Savvy's authors: Sandra Allan and Qwillia Rain--Thank you, my friends! For helping me in a time when I needed it--couldn't have done it without you! ;o)[/SIZE][/FONT]

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