Re: How I handle it

> All of us get this way. I have had this happen when a deadline is looming
> and when life decides to get hectic. What I do is take a deep breath, and
> outline what I want.

> I start with a statement ("this website holds my curriculum vitae and
> links to my research and links to my writing.") Then I break it down
> into the areas and start puttng in statements under that (say, if I had
> started with "My advice for young mothers" and then broke it
> down to "months 0-4, months 5-8, months 9-12"). Then I go in and
> put in notes under those ("Months 0-4: breastfeeding vs bottle, what
> babies act like, what babies are capable of doing, common illnesses,
> common complaints of moms"). Then I add details under that. And
> details under those details.

> When it's down to a paragraph like: "finger foods are good for
> babies. Best food has texture and nutrition. cereals encourage
> exploration. babies like sweets. encourage exploring new foods. meat
> sticks and other commercial products." -- THEN I start turning that
> into a paragraph, rewriting the short sentences into longer ones.

That sounds like a lot of work, Mel, but glad it works for you. That's sort of a research to paper approach. Lots of good writers use that approach.

I wrote the how to get started one for those who think they could never write anything worth doing so they could 'break through the psychological barrier' and get to writing. It's sort of like 'priming the pump'.

Personally, I have an entirely different way of writing. I learn about the topic I wish to write on, examine different angles and possibilities and then I leave it alone. Generally, within a short time (2 hours to 2 days or so) I suddenly have this overwhelming urge to write...and I do. It comes out nearly perfect and I have little or no rewriting to do. Love the way my brain just pulls it all together.

I tried the 'little steps' approach and swallowed all the stuff Writer's Digest School was teaching at the time. I wrote some of the worst drivel of my life and almost quit writing forever because my creativity just dried up. Had to really work hard to UNlearn the 'writing is hard' mindset and get back to writing naturally. Sometimes one just has to go with what works for the individual.