In Between Ideas

Sometimes It’s Better to Take Stock

Imposter syndrome. Writer’s block. Whatever we want to call it, when ideas are not gelling, it’s a frustrating place to be. I know that some of you feel it deeply and painfully.

I’m there at the moment.

But I’m an optimist by nature. A worrywart, yes, that’s true, but I do lean toward the glass half full, and I’ve never really believed in what people call writer’s block with all its negative implications. Instead, I view the time in between projects as a way to let the subconscious mind work while I tend to the other things that writers (like them or not) must attend to: social engagement, financial and literal housekeeping, life.

A Personal Story

Just as the pandemic started, I was in a similar place, searching for the right thing to write, when I woke up out of a sound sleep having a complete vision of a story. Full emotional portrait of main character. Theme and resonant metaphors. Story problem and subplots. This came after several months of a dry spell.

I know that may sound crazy, but here’s the thing. I wanted to write that story for years, but I didn’t know how. Until I did, after those years of subconscious work.

The story was Carry Me Home, and it remains my favorite of all I’ve written. And, by the way, I wrote it in one month and it was almost entirely unchanged from draft to publication, the least “edited” of my novels by agent and editor.

If You Are in the In-Between

I have some thoughts:

• First, don’t despair. Despair is the enemy of creativity. Yes, every writer feels it. John Steinbeck was famously doubtful of his own talent: “I have written a great many stories and I still don’t know how to go about it except to write it and take my chances.” You aren’t alone, and your feelings about your talent aren’t unique.

• Second, trust the universe. I’m a big believer in this: what we send into the universe comes back to us in unexpected fashion. If you don’t believe me, get a copy of Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and read the chapter titled Ownership. Then send your need to find the soul of a book out into the universe.

• Third, work on writing in other ways. Read a lot of different kinds of books (yes, that’s writing work). Write blog posts. Write a few poems or a few lines of journaling. Reach out to other writers and have conversations (don’t try to work; just engage. The work may follow.) Attend a class, take a course, read a craft book.

• Fourth, don’t be hasty and write something just to write something. Write only something that matters to you and that will matter to readers. We have a saturated market already. To stand out, write your best, have it vetted, read the craft books, understand the readers.

For When You Need to Idea-Test

The thing I’ve been doing lately is creating more craft courses because as much as I love to write, I also love to teach.

One of those courses, the Idea Incubator, gives you a simple way to test whether your idea has all that you need to go forward. I’m really proud of this course, as a tried and true method for creating the all-important logline.

I’ve also bundled it with two other courses that may help with formulating and expanding your idea into a true concept: the Query Letter Clinic (to create a short and long synopsis and summary) and First Pages Pop (because opening pages are so important).

I’ve been re-doing all my courses one by one, and since you’ll have lifetime access, you’ll get all the updates, too.

I’ve also created a course on the publishing industry and finding your way through your options BUT in June Montana SCBWI is hosting me in a webinar on the same topic - helpful handouts, chance to connect with me and ask questions, and the webinar is really reasonably priced. Find all about it here.

But as always, keep writing. I don’t care what some people say about children’s books. The world needs YOUR stories, because kids like what they like and the goal is:

Every child a reader.