Writer’s Block, in a Book Festival panel you’re bound to find at least one panel on the topic. The Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival had a few of them, the one I attended were with panelists Rachelle Delaney famous for her book, The Circus Dogs of Prague. Alex de Campi, famous for her large bibliography in comics. Finally Jen Calonita famous for her work on Disney’s Twisted Tales as well as
Moderator: Do you have any rituals when it comes to writing/writer’s block?
de Campi: Don’t be precious. Write when and where you can. Don’t think you just have to write on your sofa at a certain time. If you can find time to write use it.
Calonita; Some days you just have to make it work. Some day once you’re a professional writer you just have to sit down and write even if you don’t want to because it’s your job.
Delaney: Accepting that some days you just can’t make writing work.
de Campi: Get to it when you get it, but the starring out the window is always important too don’t be afraid to do other things to keep your brain inspired.
Moderator: Do you keep notes to help with writer’s block?
de Campi: Yes
Calonita: Post its.
Delaney: Paper notebook notes app.
Moderator: How do you get to a place where things need to be but the story won’t go there?
de Campi: Outline messy sketchy but don’t get stuck in it. You can always fix it later.
Moderator: How do you discover the end of the book as you are writing the book?
Delany: Outline, reoutline as you are writing
Calonita: Think about the saggy middle and how you are going to solve that problem.
de Campi: Plot is what happens. Story is why it happens. Also spend more time in the emotional life of the characters.
Calonita: Write straight through.
de Campi For the first draft of your story.
- Forgive yourself and move on.
- Don’t make the beginning perfect.
- Get used to ending your story.
- Put your first book in a drawer for three months and leave it alone.
Calonita: I describe too much in the first draft
Delaney: Everything in you’re writing needs to serve the story.
Calonita: To be a writer you don’t have to write every day.
de Campi: Revise on paper it forces you to pay attention.
Calonita: How do big moments help story progress sometimes you have a big idea and small events and scenes come out from it.
de Campi: Have fun, do your own thing write to your own style, don’t write to the trend.
Calonita: Not every idea you have is going to be turned into a book.
Moderator: Do you find your writing influenced by readers?
de Campi: Your book is not for everyone. Never complain, never explain.
