Trying to write, but I keep falling asleep. That’s my brain’s default when dealing with writer’s block.
Seriously, I never feel as though there’s nothing to write. My mind is always brimming with plots and characters and all kinds of cool stuff. Unfortunately, sometimes even when the words are there, my will to write them is absent and I keep getting distracted by books I want to read and things I want to do.
So my best advice is to choose a time to write and stick to it. Force the flow and make it come, because otherwise you’re going to spend all your time waiting for that perfect feeling, and sometimes it just doesn’t happen.
Keep your words flowing, and if you’re having a hard time setting the scene, put in a place holder description and just keep going. If you have to, you can even write out the scene like it’s a script for a movie, with dialogue and vague descriptions of what you want to have happen in each scene. Just don’t let yourself be bogged down in a moment.
Worse comes to worst, if you’re just not feeling a scene, leave some kind of mark so you can find where you were at, put in a bunch of blank spaces, and move on to the next scene. You can always come back and fill things in later.
Example:
There was a moment of silence, most everyone surprised at the fierceness of his tone. He was thought to be largely just a pretty face. Everyone knew he had only come into his position as the oldest and highest ranking Lord left. The Wars hadn’t been kind to his Territory, his predecessors having died in quick sucession to leave him to clean up the mess.
WARD appears, dapper and debonair: “Thank you for assisting my dear friend.”
Marmalee eyed the stranger and felt his interest stir. “It was my honor. There is no conflict allowed at one of my parties.”
WARD, quirking his brow: “What if you are required to ‘entertain’ guests?”
MARMALEE: “Even then. I have never been a fan of fighting.” Only of finishing. He had no living enemies.
WARD: “I see you are as charming as suggested. I am Warden Montague.”
MARMALEE, holding his hand out: “You may call me Marmalee.”
WARD squeezes his hand lightly: “It is a pleasure, my dear
Prince-Elect. I was charmed to receive your invitation to tonight’s festivities.”
MARMALEE, stepping closer. Security is settling things in the background. “You are a Rogue, are you not?”
WARD: “I am. I haven’t ever felt the need for either a master or a slave.”
MARMALEE: “I haven’t had much contact with a Rogue before. I haven’t spent much time out of the Hive.”
WARD: “Well, then it’s my pleasure to be one of your firsts.” He turned toward the human woman. “How you doing there, Eva? Do you need any help or do you got this?”
EVA, giving an OK sign with her fingers: “I got it.” She turned back to talking with security.
WARD stepped closer to Marmalee, still holding his hand: “Well, then I suppose we have some time to speak.”
MARMALEE: “I suppose we do.” Lowers his lashes. “What is it like, being a Rogue?”
WARD: “It is what it is. I am free of responsibility, caring only for myself and never having to bow my head to anyone.”
MARMALEE: “It sounds lovely. I’ve spent my whole life being told what to do by the rules of Society. I wonder how I would have handled independence.” Not that it had ever been an option. Not for him.
He had been born in a time before recent Laws. There had been no Rogues and the very idea would have been laughable. If a vampire had no place in the Hierarchy, then they would not be allowed to exist.
The rules had been simple. Simple and brutal.
WARD: “You’ve been around a long time. I would have thought you would have seen some of everything.”
MARMALEE: “Not nearly. I have always been Favored and was kept close to the Hive. There was a time when battles were fought in honor of my name.”
WARD: “Whatever it may have been.”
MARMALEE: “Indeed.”
WARD: “I thought making a living name Taboo was impossible. Until I attempted to track your history. You could be anyone from the record books, but I can’t tie you to anything.”
MARMALEE: “One of the perks of great wealth and power. I could buy myself a new life.” And in the short decades of his new life, he had already made himself a reputation and was soon to be a Prince. It gave him a sense of fierce pride, even as he feared it all being taken away.
EVA, interrupting: “All right, that’s all handled.” Noticing Marmalee. “Oh, how do you do? I’m Eva Descartes. I work with Ward.”
MARMALEE: “A pleasure. As I see that your issues with security have been resolved, I will take my leave.” Amused look at Ward. “Ward.”
WARD: “Prince-Elect,” with a perfectly correct head bow. He offers a business card. “If you ever feel the need to call on me or my services.”
MARMALEE: “Your services.” Their fingers brushed when he took the card.
Then the moment broke. Warden — Ward — left with the human woman and Marmalee returned to his party. Alone.
