The Other Side is Magic (A Love Letter)
It's getting there that's hard
Mindset, motivation and inspiration for novelists—with a dash of instruction about writing craft added in. There’s no one approach to writing that works for everyone, but I can help you find what works for you. Subscribe (free or paid) to get the fuel you need for your writing career.
Hello lovelies,
A couple weeks ago, I came down with a cold (that one that everyone in the world either has now or is just getting over). Luckily, it wasn’t terrible and didn’t last long. (I swear by these magical pills when I feel a cold coming on.) One day I woke up feeling all better and realized the worst was over.
I’d made it to the other side.
Illness and pain are countries of their own. You have, if you’re lucky, support and help with your maladies, but still you’re basically on your own. Because nobody can take on your suffering for you.
But, here’s the deal: the absence of pain and illness is a whole new country of its own. And it is magical.
This bears on writing because resistance and blocks are also countries of their own. And when you’re stuck there, you feel you’re never going to be able to cross the border and get out. And no matter how much support you have, you feel you’re never going get to the other side.
But when you do get through and start writing again, it’s magic. Total and complete magic. It’s getting there that’s hard because the way out is through. But you can do it. How do I know this? Because I’ve done it myself, a million times. Some ideas how:
Accept it for what it is
Resistance is an emotional state based on fear. In a perfect world, emotions are fleeting and pass through us. But humans being human, we glom onto them and allow them to lodge inside. Acceptance is key to moving on. Not resisting resistance makes it dissolve faster.
Give yourself credit
Rather than dwell on what you aren’t doing at the moment, ponder the things you’ve done to get to this point. Doesn’t matter if they are big (a novel or several) or small (one sentence). It all counts. And it’s healthier for your brain to give yourself credit than diss yourself for being stuck.
Or, force yourself
Sometime resistance needs brute force. I did that this week. I read an article from Matt Bell about goals and resolutions that advocated writing 500 words a day and decided I wanted to do that. (I have very specific rules for these 500 words—they must be devoted to writing, not rewriting, and fiction, not Substack.) But I’ve been in the country of resistance for awhile, thanks to surgery and the holidays, and I didn’t know what to write. I forced myself to choose one of my many WIPs and hesitantly waded in. Before I knew it, I’d written 2,000 words.
Rinse and repeat
Because, alas, you will find yourself residing in the country of resistance again some day (unless you are Stephen King). Make note of what worked for you so that you use it again next time you find yourself blocked.
And if you are still stuck on the other side, take heart. Everything changes. This, too, shall pass. You’ll get there. Sometimes I think being in the country of resistance is necessary. Maybe your brain needs time to process and make connections, choose new neural pathways. Maybe, just maybe, you needed this break?
Love, light, and good writing,
Charlotte
Books
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon. I’d seen this book recommended with rave reviews, so when on a Christmas shopping trip our local bookstore had only one copy left, I made my husband buy it for me on the spot. (The store wrapped it so I couldn’t start it until after Christmas.) I finally cracked it open and it was the cause of the afore-mentioned incident of reading too long and missing work. Set in 1879, it is based on the real-life Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine. The writing is a master class in beautiful but clear and never overwhelming description. Update: Still reading, not making as much progress as I’d like because it’s been a busy week. But I’m still enjoying it.
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller, by John Truby. I’ve had this book since 2018, according to the Amazon overlords. It was one of those books I had to have but never read. Lately, though, I bought his latest book, The Anatomy of Genre and decided I better read the basic one first (though I have skimmed the romance chapter of the genre book). It’s excellent. Not sure I’m going to make it through the whole thing, though a girl can dream.
(Note: the above are affiliate links, which means I get a small royalty if you order through me.)
Articles and Resources
Lots of links on this post about the current state of the publishing industry.
The importance of the plot twist (and how to do it).
We’ve started watching this new thriller from Netflix and it is gripping. Every single character has something going on in their backstory. Proves my contention that there’s so much great storytelling all around us these days, we writers have to be sharp on structure and characterization.
Events
Creative writing workshops in France and Italy next year. (England is now full.) See all here. And let me just add: future you is going to be sooooo happy that you committed to a week in Céret, France, or Perugia, Italy to further your writing career and your world travels! Reply to this email if you want to learn more.
Coaching
I’m revamping my book coaching offerings and creating a website, so stay tuned. One of my plans is for a Plan Your Writing Year package. More soon, but if you’re interested in any kind of coaching, reply to this email. (FYI, I have an MFA in creative writing and I’ve been doing this work for twenty years.)
I hope you are pivoting to your old self with surgery and sniffles in the rearview mirror. The Anatomy of Story sounds interesting.
Thanks for this. Just the encouragement I needed at the start of the New Year. Especially liked 'force yourself' advice. I will do it!!