Writing Vs. Reading

One of my biggest issues this summer is staying focused on my writing. With all the great summer books coming out I find myself looking longingly more and more often at my ever growing pile of books awaiting me on my nightstand. I'm not kidding.

The pile is about 10 stories thick right now and that doesn't even count the additional books that are attached to each series. But the one thing that keeps running through my head is that if I don't keep at it, it will never get done. And I want it done... desperately. I can't tell you how much I want to see this story completed. (But then again, those of you who write as well must know that particular feeling as well as I do.)

So I have to force myself to stick with the writing. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Forcing the words is usually the worst thing a writer could do though. That's when writer's block hits. That's when the story comes to a screeching halt and you are left to just curse the heavens, not really knowing what's wrong.

That's when I have to take a step back and let my mind wander to other things. Freeing it from the knots that have bound up my creativity. And then start again.

Tonight I took a break and ended up finishing the bracelets that had been tugging on my creative heartstrings. It had been something I kept pushing off and pushing off because I wanted to finish another chapter or so - but the chapters weren't coming and I was frustrated. Taking a (short) break usually helps me get past those moments of writers block. But now I have to get back to work.

Its a razors edge, my friends. So I asked you, what do you do to get past your writer's block?