Breaking Block Barriers
It was
around May 2014 when I first got hit by a kind of writer’s block that I had
never really known existed. I had published book 2, Portrait of Gray, which was
such a powerful write. When I finished Unchained Hearts, I felt Grayson’s story
so strongly that I had a lot of the graphical assets in my head as well as a
solid outline for the story so quickly. I shocked myself. Grayson’s story was
heart wrenching in many ways that I actually misted up when writing a couple of
parts. I knew that if I felt that, readers would too.
But Book
3, Story of Us, was giving me problems. I was having a block that I just
couldn’t quite explain. In May, I had to go offline for a few weeks. That meant
no Facebook or email for at least three weeks and I was nervous. It wound up
being the best thing that ever happened because it helped me to face what this
block head on. I figured out what it was: Fear. I was afraid of the pain I was
going to feel in writing what turned out to be the last book in the main
series. Someone dying was hard enough but to have people’s lives destroyed
through no fault of their own was pretty painful and I was avoiding it. That
was my block.
There
are different kinds of blocks writers can experience.
- · As I mentioned, you know you’re going to have to deal with a difficulty and your mind is avoiding that kind of emotional discomfort.
- · You’re just burned out and don’t want to write anything.
- · You can’t finish what you started. It’s like the idea was there and then it just dried up
I have
been through all of these at one point or another even before I was published.
They used to scare me because when it comes to telling stories, that’s my
calling, that’s my purpose.
One of
the ways I have always been able to work through what’s in my head is by
writing it out. When I was in school, we did stream of consciousness writing
exercises in my English class and I loved them. I write out, chip away at it
and eventually I find out what my real problem is. Not everyone can do this
because it’s low tech but pen to paper is my “go to” when I have any problem
like that.
When I
used to get burned out, I stepped away and did something else. Writing doesn’t
give me a lot of time to read, plus I have other business projects I work
on. For a time, I turn to those and just
step away from writing for a bit because I don’t want to force the story to
come. It won’t work. I step away and let the ideas comes to me when they are
ready. That’s the time I’ll get flashes and inspirations. I may not be fully ready
to write yet but as the ideas pop up, the feelings build I eventually get back
to it.
Usually
when I feel like an idea has dried up, that means that a part of the story just
isn’t working for me and I need to take a left turn at Albuquerque. I scrap it
and see if the character is open to doing something more radical. I am always
conferring with my characters because, really, it’s their story. Opening myself
up to that kind of change helps me generate other ideas and I’m usually a lot
happier with the outcome.
My point
is when it comes to overcoming blocks, there are different times, different
kinds and different solutions. You need to just be honest enough with yourself
to break through that barrier to get to the other side. Everybody has his or
her way; what’s yours?
While
you’re thinking about that, here’s an excerpt of my very first historical
fiction book, Eyubea Girls, the story of how a young woman found her home in a
land not her own:
"Marriage? But she's just seventeen,
Simon.” Patrick watched the priest carefully remove his robes behind his desk.
He closed his eyes and leaned over the simple wooden chair in front of the
priest's desk, bowing his head. “She's a child who knows nothing of life, much
less of Africa or missionary work."
"Patrick," Father Faricy finished
hanging his robes and walked over to his friend. "She's of age. Many other
young girls are contemplating or have already been married. They've got
direction and purpose. Lisbette is a young woman and this is a great opportunity
for her to learn about the world under the right guidance."
"She knows nothing of him. I know nothing
of him. Yes, I know of his parents but…I cringe at the thought of my little
girl marrying some man and moving so far off."
"All good points but think about it. As
her parents, the mission is willing to pay you a handsome stipend of fifty
pounds a month for two years, she would have a proper home from what I
understand, a husband—"
"What about love, Simon?" Patrick may
have lost his love but he wanted something more decent for his little girl.
Father Faricy walked up to Simon and put a hand
on his shoulder. "Love can bloom under such circumstances where two people
are bound together by a common goal. They are both young enough to explore
their feelings."
Patrick pondered the proposal. Africa was far
and exotic. Would Lisbette be happy there? And if she wasn't could she come
back home? Looking the priest squarely in the eyes, he said with complete
seriousness "I want her to be happy, Simon. I want her safe and happy
especially after what Vivian did. I need to make sure she's protected. She will
be so far away."
Father Faricy saw the opportunity he had been
waiting for. "What happened, Patrick? At the very least you would have
made the necessary excuses for Vivian's absence, but today you said nothing.
Are the two of you all right?"
Hearing the genuine concern in the older man's
voice Patrick looked down at his hands. Vivian's drunkenness was really the
worst kept secret but it was their business. He closed his eyes, breathed a
bracing sigh and told the priest all that happened.
"Saints be praised!" Father Faricy
turned his eyes to the heavens. "I had no idea things were so dire."
Patrick laughed quietly. "I didn't know
they could be this dire. Lisbette is all I have now." He saw the priest
about to interject and he stopped him. "No. I'm not ending my marriage, if
that's what you're worried about. Till death us do part and I meant it. But not
even God can expect me to let this pass."
"I can understand your anger, Patrick. I
even share it, God forgive me. But this opportunity for Lisbette is an answer
to your prayers. She can be safe away from these thugs and you can settle the
debt."
"And lose my daughter to a different world
and a man I know nothing of in the process. What a tangled web, indeed."
Patrick knew his daughter. She hated being told
what to do. He had always given her the freedom to choose her path. Now he was
taking that freedom away. Even if it meant saving her life she would probably
hate him for it. At least she would be alive, in Africa, while she seethed.
Looking at Father Faricy, Patrick nodded. The
priest clapped his hands but Patrick held up his finger, "There are
conditions. As soon as they are agreed, I will consent."
Patrick stepped out of Father Faricy's room and
saw Graham and Lisbette across the room talking. She was smiling and they
seemed to be getting along. Perhaps this wasn't going to be as bad as he
thought. He walked over to the pair calling out to his daughter.
"Da, Graham was telling me about his
travels and the people he's going to meet."
"I'm glad you had someone to talk to while
I discussed some church business with the Father." Patrick turned to
Graham and extended his hand. "We will be in touch soon."
Graham's eyes lit up. "I trust so."
He turned to Lisbette. He took her hand is his and held it. "It was a
pleasure to meet you, Lisbette." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed
it. "I'm sure we will be seeing each other again."
Lisbette watched him leave. She felt her heart
flutter and her cheeks flood with prickly heat. It was a sensation she was
getting used to and she liked it.
Patrick looked at his daughter and realized
just how much of a woman she appeared. She wasn't a tomboy anymore with dirt on
her face and missing baby teeth. She would soon be a woman, a married woman. He
offered his arm to her and she took it as they left.
Whether he liked it or not, he would have to
give his daughter up. The only question remained was whether she'd forgive him
for it…
***About Eyubea Girls****
Graham Tate-Fuller needs a
wife. Not just any wife. One who is young enough to take on his education
mission to the African continent and not ask too many questions about his past.
Lisbette Caldwell is just seventeen, a young woman who isn’t ready to give up
her tomboy ways. She dreams of playing football and becoming a teacher just
like her father. Through a series of circumstances beyond her control, Lisbette
marries Graham and embarks on an adventure in Eyubea, a small independent
township in southern Africa, which managed to escape the colonial rule that
overtook many other African nations.
There Lisbette settles into
her new life as an assistant teacher to a small group of young girls who will
have no choice but to become wives and mothers. Its a simple enough task that
will turn into a fight for their lives as Graham's past catches up to them and
Lisbette faces the dark side of marriage in a land not her own.
Set in the early 1900's,
Lisbette is forced to take a stand for herself and her Eyubea Girls against
stacked odds, even if it means losing the life she's come to love. With the
help of new friends and a will to carve out her own place in the world, she
searches for a way to live life on her own terms in a place she will come to
call home.
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