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An Author’s Brush with Writer’s BlockAugust 30, 2008 at 11:06 am | Category: blog Hi, my name is Shelby Reed, and I’m a recovering victim of Writer’s Block. The contributors at Wikipedia describe this agonizing condition as “…a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity” (See Writer’s Block by Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Writer%27s block&oldid=234289848 ) The page goes on to discuss potential causes of Writer’s Block, citing possibilities such as anxiety, depression, etc., giving examples of famous authors who have suffered the malady, and a juicy list of strategies for overcoming it. All of it food for thought to the author enduring what I’ve come to think of as The Blank Page Syndrome. In other words, if you want to research Writer’s Block and various cures, a plethora of information and effective exercises exist all over the Internet and on bookstore shelves. Undertaking such research made me feel I was being proactive when this condition first grabbed hold of my muse and choked the living daylights out of her. In the end, though, I only came away with a few new organizational skills and the burning sense that if all the suggested exercises, schedules, day trips to jog my creative mind, and other remedies weren’t working well enough to shake even a single paragraph from my pen, obviously something was trying to tell me I wasn’t meant to be a writer. So why, even after purportedly “accepting” this destiny, did I continue to think about writing every day, and grieving for its loss so deeply it felt like the heartbreak of my life? And worse, if I wasn’t meant to be a writer after publishing multiple novels, what the hell was I? Before I tell you how I began to heal after three-plus years of no production, I’d like to post a disclaimer. As the various articles tell us, Writer’s Block has a million different causes and cures. And it’s possible I haven’t plumbed the depths of my own condition deeply enough quite yet, so even though I’m approaching “remission,” I am by no means home free. Nor am I certain that writing will ever feel the same. The experience changes as we do, and accepting this inevitability is my latest goal. I’ll not hesitate to admit I’ve been treated for depression. Even worse, I suffer from debilitating migraine headaches, so it’s likely I’m a brain-chemistry mess. I’d like to think that’s part of my charm–but at the very least, I’ve chosen to regard it asa blessing to my writing, especially when it comes to digging down deep, deep to the darkest layers of the human psyche. Sometimes I feel I have a secret tunnel that leads me there, and I drag my characters along with me, and my readers too. (They seem to like it!) But three years ago, when my antidepressant/migraine medication quit working and my doctor changed the drug to one with an excellent reputation, the creative process stopped cold for me. I panicked. I was relatively new on the publishing scene, just beginning to build a reputation in the reader world, and all of a sudden, the words inside me went silent. Soon I began to drift from the writing community…I abandoned my critique group, I stopped reading, and I watched my talented friends rise to further publishing success without me…and I didn’t know why any of it was happening. Unbelievably, I didn’t consider it might be the medication causing my inability to put words on the page. I did know, though, that this incapacity was aggravating my depression, but I felt helpless. No one answer seemed to fit the problem–not even blaming myself. Last December, when I expressed my feelings of despair to my doctor, he decided to change my medication to something brand-spankin’-new and supposedly more effective. A little bell went off in my head. I asked him if the old medicine had any side effects, like oh, say, interfering with the creative part of the brain? He cheerfully confirmed it. And I walked out of that office a new person, because at last I understood I hadn’t chosen, on some subconscious, self-sabotaging level, to throw my writing career to the wind. The medication had been a definite culprit. Maybe there was hope. Within a couple of weeks of changing prescriptions, I began writing the sequel to my Ellora’s Cave paranormal romance, Midnight Rose, and in July 2008, I finished what had affectionately been known as “Jude’s Story,” and gave it a real title: Dark Heaven. It’s currently in my (incredibly patient doesn’t even begin to describe her) agent’s hands, and I’m awaiting her feedback with great anticipation. More than that, I’m anxious to hear what readers will think of it, because Dark Heaven isn’t like anything I’ve written before. Three-plus years of mausoleum-like silence gave the darkness plenty of time to build, and these characters touch a place I haven’t previously explored. Like I said before, I’m not totally out of the woods. I’m currently banging my head against the keyboard, trying to decide what to write next, and perhaps only a stern dose of “sit your butt in the chair and get to work” will start the ball rolling. But I’d like to advise the many writers and artists out there who are stuck and hard-pressed for answers to explore physiological avenues as well as emotional ones. Don’t lose years swimming aimlessly in a sea of frustration and grief. Coming off medication to treat chronic illness may not be an option–it isn’t for me. But at least address the issue of side-effects with your doctor. As for me, I only know one thing for certain. Blocked or not, I am a writer. It’s not up to the universe to decide that. It’s not up to some elusive muse, either. It’s up to me.
STAR WARS MEETS DIVADOMS ~ Flash Me Monday!August 18, 2008 at 5:56 pm | Category: blog Okay! It took a bit. As you’ve probably already noticed, there have been some technical difficulties the past few days. But my fabulous web designer, Liz Bemis, worked tirelessly to get them fixed and here we are! Back in business. So, without further delay, enjoy the winner if the first ever Flash Me Monday! A special thanks to all the Romance Divas who’s cameos really make this story. STAR WARS MEETS DIVADOMS The crash knocked him senseless and he lay in a fog of swirling grayness for an eternity before a sweet sound penetrated the confusion. His first conscious thought was a memory of what travesty had occurred. Chewbacca had traveled far from home thanks to a wormhole’s gravitational pull during an accidental course change gone wrong. Basically, he got his Millennium Falcon sucked by fate and blown by destiny. Through the pain-riddled sensations racking his body, he found himself surrounded by alien beings on a strange planet. Here the women were obsessed with removing body hair, chocolate and something called shoes. They called themselves Divas. The word meant nothing to him but its melodic tone soothed him, eased his mind and he relaxed with no fear. Big furry mistake. Certain of these women known as Moderators seized him and dragged his hulking bruised body to a places deep in their depths referred to as The Mod Room. Even the high-pitched sound of it chilled his blood. Oh the torture he suffered. They poked, they stroked, they cut and plucked. Bellowing for mercy, they frowned at him and mumbled softly through too-pink lips. What was a man-titty and why did they look at him so hotly? After several exhausting days with an electrolysis machine, he was allowed to rest. Then a Diva named Jax appeared, frightening him once more. Had she painted her body black? How else could her skin shimmer with such tightly wrapped curves? And in her hand, what was that thing she carried? The massive raw-skinned creature whimpered in fear. But a gentle smile urged him to response and soon he discovered the first delight of this baffling world. The goodness was chocolate. At last, a gift of sweetness! When they judged their work complete, Chewie was shoved into their realm, the center ring bearing the name CHIT-CHAT and all there gasped. He wanted to cower in shame but soon discovered their strange tongues were making approving sounds so he stood tall and proud, basking in his height. He’d emerged a huge god-like hunk of man meat the likes they had never seen. He assumed this was a good thing as one Diva named Bria fainted at his feet. While still coping with his inability to communicate, two other Divas Lauren Murphy and Leigh Royals worked him into a mouth foaming frenzy with their slow strip teases. Such sensual creatures existed nowhere in the galaxy like these tormenters of flesh. When his space woody could handle no more, in came two stunning examples of womanhood. Feisty did nasty things to his newly bare body while MamaD stood ready with a cracking whip, awaiting a countdown. On the verge of his first stellar orgasm for all of Divadom to witness, he spied with his alien eyes a mind-boggling and throat clenching sight. It was Diva Darth Dana! Shock and terror gripped him. Here, in this land of nubile vixens was the female embodiment of his enemy, the Dark Lord of All. Too much for his overworked and over stimulated system, Chewie collapsed in a huge puddle of oozing, wookie-shorn fright and sexual frustration. Never fear, there was yet another Diva to save the day and his abused alienhood. Diva Lanie simply scooped up the now limp form and hauled him to the secret corners of the chat room. There she spent days and nights teaching him things like crt+v and smilie codes. Still unable to speak, Chewie now understood the inner-workings of the wholly-foreign female Diva mind. The intricacies were puzzling but he explored each multi-faceted dimension, never admitting his secret fear of the evil Diva Darth Dana. Empowered, he wrote and published his first Fantasy Space Romance aimed towards the PCOS cursed, fuzz-blessed among us. He scored an agent and a publishing deal in a flat week and ended up doing Oprah tours with George Clooney. Wormholes and women should never be mixed but Divas and Wookies are a match made in Fantasy.
Flash Me Monday #1August 11, 2008 at 6:00 am | Category: blog Welcome to the first Flash Me Monday. What, you ask? Flash Me Monday? Let me share my newest vision with you. Each Monday, I will post 3 prompt words. You, my faithful readers, are urged to take said words and whip up a 200 – 500 word flash fiction story. I will then pick my favorite each week to be posted on the following Sunday. I’m working on guest judging once in a while. I’ll keep you all posted on when that will happen. The rules are simple. You must use all three words. All entries need to be emailed to author@barkevich.com by midnight EST that Friday. No taboo topics. The usual things listed in the submission guidelines of most reputable publishing houses is a good bet to go by. Nothing derogatory or hateful. You’ll lessen your chances of being picked for the Sunday posting if there is anything that might be deemed inappropriate for the wide variety of readers found at this blog so let’s keep it PG…or PG-13 at the very least. All right! For our first 3 words. Let’s go with:
Remember, all three words must appear in your story. Good luck, everyone. And have fun with it! Sandy
Tasty Tuesday ~ Grilled Flat Bread Sandwiches (Shhh…They’re Extra Healthy)August 5, 2008 at 10:07 am | Category: blog Check out this week’s recipe at Romantic Inks. Also, stay tuned for updates and pictures from this year’s RWA National Conference. Crazy amounts of fun was had by all! Enjoy! Sandy
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