Finding Inspiration When You're All Alone, Supposed To Be Working, and Completely Stuck

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a cat. Cats don't get stuck on writing novels or screenplays. Cats sunbathe, take naps, and play with string. Perfection.

When I get stuck in my writing, I tend to want to go and do something else. Anything else. Raid the fridge, eat a chocolate bar, make tea, clean my room, dust shelves, do laundry, make cupcakes, take a walk, go to the grocery store, read a book, take a shower, watch a soap, watch nothing at all, write a blog (but wait, that at least, IS writing!)... Pretty much anything to make me not have to think about being stuck and battle the frustration. I'm trying to curb that urge by finding inspiration instead, whether on the internet, in books, quotations, people, movies, etc. At least THAT is being productive.

Here is one such inspiration.

I have a cousin who is a huge fan of Janet Evanovich. Many people know her as the writer of the highly successful female bounty hunter series (which is also quite comedic) - the Stephanie Plum novels, starting with "One For the Money," "Two For the Dough," etc. Now, I haven't read her novels, although I plan to this year, being that I already own the second book (the problem being that I have to go out and get the first book before I can read that one!). But, over the holidays, shopping for my cousin, I noticed that Janet Evanovoch had a nonfictional book out - a book called "How I Write." My cousin is not a writer, although her love of books indicates that maybe it should be something she might consider, but I looked at it and pondered getting it for her for Christmas anyway. Turns out she had already read it and promised to lend it to me. She hasn't been able to find, so I'll probably go out and buy it anyway because I'd actually like to read it.

In the meantime, I checked out Janet's website, curious to see if she had any gems of writing advice. I knew that my new year's resolution to make it a year to really kick off my writing career wasn't going to be an easy one. Some days I definitely struggle to find even a sentence to type. It's like the words are stuck. If it doesn't sound right, I don't even like to type them in. So, I actually end up with lots of scribbles in legal pads. For HOURS! Completely chaotic and sometimes I do find a diamond in the rough, but, still, it's frustrating. Shouldn't the words be flowing like water from a tap EVERY day? Why aren't they? What's wrong with me? How do successful writers do it? How do they make it? How do they...well...write?

Like, how do you write ALL day? On a schedule? And, NOT do your laundry, clean your room, file your taxes, etc. instead?

So, I checked out Janet's website, wanting to see what she had to say. The site plugs the book, but yet answers questions from other wannabe writers like me. At least, there's other people out there with questions! I'm not alone! Woo-hoo! Yippee! And, yes I knew that, but it seems like the simplest of things are the things we forget when we get frustrated. And, it sounds like the answers to the questions are just as simple. It's all common sense, but like I said, sometimes you need to hear it from someone else, someone outside the battle of your brain that likes to think and analyze too much.

So, if you get as frustrated as I do in your writing, art, or any passion, I think it can still relate. Check the website out at least. And, I will be reading the book. The more inspiration, the better, I think.

Here's the website:
http://www.evanovich.com/main_writingqanda.html

And, again the book is called: How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author by Janet Evonavich & Ina Yalof