Into the Fire

We've all heard it, used it to describe that indescribable "thing" known as "writer's block". The definition of it basically means a writer/author reaches sort of an impasse in their article, story, book creation which "feels" like or "seems" like the words, the inspiration, the process that leads to those words forming and being propelled to continue has stopped for no good reason or maybe for "some" identifiable or unidentifiable reason. 

I've had major lapses in production of my novels, but I never felt like I was experiencing "writer's block". Maybe that was naïve of me but nonetheless true. For me, it was more like "a break", a "rest", a "renewal", a scripted waiting for the creative part of me to return to the story.

When I froze up on my singular mystery (Race), it was from fear of making a glaring mistake in the procedural part of the story – one that would be horribly obvious to any random detective who might happen to read the novel or those die-hard mystery readers who don't tolerate inexcusable, foolish errors in investigations. Since I had an actual detective helping me with those parts, the last thing I wanted to happen was to somehow embarrass him by my stupidity in some faulty procedure – even with the normal and natural disclaimers which allotted any and all of the blame for that to fall on me. 

But during that "freeze", I started two other novels, the first of which was Seeing . . . and the second of which will soon be in production titled . . . in a love song. So no real writer's block, just the fear of making a serious mistake in one story. 

I marvel at authors with careers of a prolific number of novels who never seem to waver in production. Novel after novel after novel. Truly astounding careers with that many books. If you don't like one of their series, try another or another! It's incredible and remarkable. Those who've written some of the novels I've read and reviewed here don't just stick around one area. Their stories take place in multiple parts of the world, giving the reader detailed glimpses of places they most likely will never see for themselves. And generally speaking, most of those I'm referring to here write mysteries and thrillers which do tend to be the quicker reads but with complex plots. 

Getting back to "writer's block", I would think an author would recognize it when it comes without being ready to admit it. I guess I've always felt there's a purpose during the breaks of story writing for me. Not that I always identify what that purpose is at first and maybe not at all. Guess I'm just not ready to admit that it could be writer's block. 

Father, it's simple really. You provide the inspiration in your timing. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Period. Thank you for every word and story. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.