tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post6348140498970546345..comments2023-10-17T12:19:20.805+01:00Comments on Elizabeth Bailey - Helping Writers Get it Right: Writing through treacleElizabeth Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407958362024218785noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-52338341729031979772012-02-09T17:58:33.737+00:002012-02-09T17:58:33.737+00:00Yes, sometimes you do have to get to something els...Yes, sometimes you do have to get to something else, I agree, Jenny. <br /><br />Jane, thanks for the award - I happened to click on your blog and there it was!Elizabeth Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09407958362024218785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-17198399681712698532012-02-08T12:30:20.644+00:002012-02-08T12:30:20.644+00:00I always have several things on the go at once, so...I always have several things on the go at once, so if it turns to treacle, I leave it to pull itself together and get on with something else. If I really have no choice, because I have a deadline, I wade through the treacle. And yes, it's surprising how it turns out wellJenny Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268891311858414951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-22107562930151618062012-02-08T10:23:13.727+00:002012-02-08T10:23:13.727+00:00PS - I'm passing the Liebster award to your lo...PS - I'm passing the Liebster award to your lovely, helpful blog, Liz. pop over to my blog when you get a mo and you'll find out why. :)<br /><br />Jane xJane Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-91602180711505186212012-02-08T09:18:23.663+00:002012-02-08T09:18:23.663+00:00Really good article. I think I spend more than ha...Really good article. I think I spend more than half my writing life wading about in treacle. You're right - the only thing to do is plod on. After all, you can't fix an empty page. Oh, and I echo Jessica's comment about the Shitty First Draft. I'm very good at those! ;-)<br />Thanks for the encouragement, Liz!<br /><br />Jane xJane Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633011977001159724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-58394424152376543722012-02-07T12:49:47.908+00:002012-02-07T12:49:47.908+00:00It's comforting to know so many of you underst...It's comforting to know so many of you understand and have been there. I think all writers do go through it at some point. Yes, hooray for displacement! The worst is I thought it was a starting thing like yours, Gilli, but it's turned out to be a stop-starter even tho I'm more than halfway. One day nearly 4000 words, the next less than 1000. But I will beat this thing!Elizabeth Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09407958362024218785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-23819503266680058552012-02-07T09:54:33.004+00:002012-02-07T09:54:33.004+00:00I agree that you just have to keep going even thou...I agree that you just have to keep going even though it does seem like writing through treacle, or, as Gilli said, carving granite with a teaspoon. I can't count the number of times I've thought, 'This story is rubbish, it's going nowhere, no-one will ever want to read it' but I force myself to plod on, and eventually find myself thinking 'Hmm, maybe it isn't too bad, after all' and even 'Yeah, it's turned out to be quite a good story after all.'Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-37426504167742164192012-02-06T17:52:38.243+00:002012-02-06T17:52:38.243+00:00I'm in treacle mode at the moment too, Liz. I...I'm in treacle mode at the moment too, Liz. It's a horrible feeling, and although I'm sorry you're suffering, it's comforting to know everyone goes through it (except for big fat liars, that is). I'm a great believer in the Shitty First Draft too and can highly recommend Anne Lamott's article on the subject in 'Bird by Bird' if you don't know it. <br /><br />The upside of the 'b' word is all the displacement activity, which means you come across all sorts of useful blogs like this one. A silver lining to all that treacle. Good luck getting out of yours!Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-57628287093103777392012-02-06T17:37:47.772+00:002012-02-06T17:37:47.772+00:00Keep on writing, Elizabeth. You'll get there....Keep on writing, Elizabeth. You'll get there.Janice Hall Heckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10337882225693655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-16918994609504775312012-02-06T15:26:02.975+00:002012-02-06T15:26:02.975+00:00I really empathise with this, too, Liz. My proble...I really empathise with this, too, Liz. My problems mostly come before I start a book. And, once I have started, those first few chapters. It's because I never know what a book is about and where it's going until I'm well into it. I've decribed this process as like carving granite with a teaspoon. My solution is not to start a new book. To do other things. But I feel sick and grouchy and cross with myself.Gilli Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13234069151918319605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2879050821473926447.post-89137316261625897062012-02-06T12:45:18.279+00:002012-02-06T12:45:18.279+00:00Great article, Liz! Good advice, too. I've got...Great article, Liz! Good advice, too. I've got an external factor in that I'm caring for my mum (88 and suffering from really bad memory loss. So my writing is in fits and starts at the moment.<br />Keep writing - however little - is the best way. I've also chosen to focus on novellas at the moment. Being shorter, they don't seem quite so daunting.Lindsay Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com