Why do writers write? They have stories bubbling away inside them that need to get out. Sometimes, the writing process is a lot of fun. The words ooze out of you effortlessly. Other times, well, it can be torturous. You know what you want to say, but all you end up with is a blank computer screen or a page full of nonsense words.
I’ve been working on Dead in the Dinghy, the fourth book in my cozy mystery series for the past few days and it’s been a struggle at times.
Naturally, I turned to my favorite way to break through that writer’s block—procrastination. How did we procrastinate before the advent of the internet?
Sure, I watched a lot of cat videos, but I also did some serious writing “research.” I learned about grammar.
I researched what causes writer’s block.
I figured out how to explain to my friends and family what a writer actually does.
Then I got serious, closed the internet browser, and wrote a scene where my characters debated a really important question about dolphins.
My cozy mysteries are set at a marina in Florida and my main character and her hubby own a sailboat, so dolphins are kind of a thing. Because I live on a sailboat with my husband, I often draw on my own experiences when I’m writing my books. The dolphin snot vs. dolphin spit is one of those.
When we were sailing in New Zealand, a dolphin came alongside our boat and sprayed something on us. We had a long discussion about whether it was snot or spit. What do you think—is the stuff that comes out of a dolphin’s blowhole snot or spit?
{If you want to know more about the subject, you can read the blog post I wrote about it here.}
Well, that’s probably enough writerly nonsense for now. Time to get back to the actual writing!
Anything that gets you writing, even nonsense, is getting you closer to your next chapter. Have fun!