Sandy Nathan's YOUR SHELF LIFE

What’s writer’s block? Essentially, it’s psychological resistance, lack of personal development, egotism, and/or self involvement and importance. “My work is so important …” Hand wringing. Angst. Pain.

On the other hand, you may not be able to write because the time isn’t right. You and your book idea ain’t cooked enough.

LET’S GET DEEPER INTO WRITER’S BLOCK:

First off, check out the article about teaching Corcovado to load and unload from a trailer from our ranch web site. It presents the fundamental lesson of this post: YOU CAN’T MAKE A 1,200 POUND ANIMAL WITH A BRAIN THE SIZE OF A WALNUT DO ANYTHING. IT HAS TO WANT TO.
Now, simply replace Corco with yourself as you work through your block.

Most of the 2009 book contests are closed. The books are and supporting materials are in. The judging is on. The contestants hyperventilate as the countdown continues. Will they be finalists? Actually win? A nice thing about book contests is that you are an award winner even if you’re “just” a finalist. In the same […]

I asked my editor: I just started the rewrite of Mogollon, and counted the words in its multitudinous files. 240K words. Arggh! I thought I had it half rewritten. Any tips?

Melanie Rigney (Editor for You): Yes

1. Identify your protagonist.

2. Identify where he/she is at the beginning of the book… and where you want him/her to be at the end.

3. Identify the crisis/turning points in the book that the protagonist faces (and wins or loses) within the book.

4. Identify the antagonist, what or who is keeping the protagonist from getting what he or she wants.

5. Consider all your secondary and tertiary characters. If their subplot does not tie into the ultimate and satisfying ending, cut them and the subplot. (Remember Mme. Mercier’s life story [which appears in my new sci-fi that Melanie just edited], and how much better Angel [the sci-fi manuscript] read once it was gone?)