writers block

OK, this is getting silly now, it's got to have been at least three months and I'm STILL stuck on how to end my novella. (actually, having looked through a break down of key events so far, I've realised I probably need to do a major re-write and either A; cut out lots of stuff or B; turn it in to a full length novel.)

What really sucks though is not only am I stuck on how to end my novella, I'm also stuck on the fairy tale I started for my girlfriend. I thought that would be easy, after all, I already know the whole story in my head but no, just like everything else, it's got too damn complicated and now I can't figure out how to get back in to writing the blasted thing.

so what have I been doing to try and get over it? (writers block that is), well one thing I tried was a little exercise to get the brain working. I asked KT (my long suffering partner) to give me three things, a place, a number and an object. From these I managed to write a whole short story which has been submitted to Kenaz, a local writing/arts magazine which needs funding to support it as it's entirely voluntary. Now in my opinion, the magazine is brilliant! It is one of the few places that people like myself who have yet to get published or perhaps lack the confidence to finish something longer can send work and know that thanks to the distribution network which includes libraries, community centres and bookshops, their work will reach a wide and varied audience from which they can get feedback about their art and thereby improve themselves.

So back to the story, what stimulus did KT give me? well the place was a field, the object a candle stick and the number was 4. From that I managed to create a futuristic story about a girl who becomes an exile from her community for an accident. If the piece is successful, I intend to put it here on Blogger and make it in to a 'fictional' diary of her experiences as she comes to terms with being an exile so do let me know what you think!

Anyway, as that is going to be an ongoing project, I won't say much more, instead here's a little poem I did manage to come up with. I know it's far from perfect but it's only supposed to be a little fun! feel free to let me now if it makes you smile!

till next time,

James

The silly snail

There lives at the bottom of my vegetable patch
A snail who’s easy for the birds to catch!
For unlike many of his slimy kind,
Into his shell he cannot wind!
For while he fed upon my veg
From inside out to the very edge
Of cabbage, onion and cucumber
Growing larger and ever plumper
Until at last the day did come
He couldn't fit and so hide from
The birds who circled overhead
The many coloured flower bed
Seeking tasty snacks and little bugs
To eat and catch to feed their chicks
And so he stays deep in the shade
Eating plants, far too afraid
To venture out from under leaf
Lest by the birds he comes to grief!