About two and a half years ago, Brogan was born. We were in the hospital and this kid was coming and I was in some major pain. Ryan’s rubbing my back, like a good husband, trying to ease my discomfort and I remember, clear as day, looking over at him and saying, “Could you please just not touch me?”
So he stops rubbing my back and starts giving me a pep talk. “You’re doing great, Kate. Keep it up. You can do this.” I’m huddled in the fetal position (not recommended by birthing instructors, but it worked for me) and I say, “Could you please just not talk?”
Poor hubby. He stood in the corner and handed me ice chips.
I’m ninety thousand words into my manuscript and instead of typing more words this morning, I’m avoiding. Because there’s this scene I need to write and I have no idea how to write it. It’s high emotion. My main character is beyond distraught, verging on hysterical. All the while, she’s trying to make this decision and to make matters worse (for me, not her) – the scene involves technology. And I know next to nothing about technology.
So basically, I’m majorly intimidated.
I keep typing a few sentences. Deleting them. Type. Delete. Type. Delete. Pull out hair. Type some more.
And the most frustrating part of all is that I know, once I get this scene written, the rest of the words will flow right out.
Sort of like when you’re in labor.
The hardest part is delivering the baby’s head. Push. Push. Push. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. But once that head comes out, man. The rest of the body is a piece of cake.
So, this post is mostly for me right now. Because I’m in big-time need of a pep talk. I’m convinced this dang baby is never going to come out and I need somebody to squeeze my hand and tell me, “You’re doing great. Just a little bit further. You’re almost there. Now dang it Katie, push!” Only this time I’m not going to make anyone stand in the corner in silence.
Three tips for writers who are closing in on The End:
Visualize. Close your eyes and picture the scene unfolding like a movie. Take some time to work it out in your head first. Let yourself feel the emotion of the character.
Focus. Focus on the goal. Focus on The End. Focus on the satisfaction of saying, “I did it!” I birthed another novel. It is quite a feeling. Breathe in focus. Breathe out anxiety. You can do this. Others have done it before you. Heck, you’ve even done it before. It is not impossible.
Push. Push past the fear. It’s there. That feeling of, “What if I seriously cannot do this?” But don’t let that stop you from pushing. It’s going to be messy. It’s not going to be pretty. That’s okay. It’s not supposed to be. You can go back and clean it up later. Just bear down and write.
Visualize. Focus. Push. You can do it.
Let’s Talk: Where are you in the writing process right now? Plotting? Starting a rough draft? Ending one? Editing? What kinds of things do you do to push through to the end?
Hi Katie –
You can do this!
I'm in rough draft stage and already doing the avoidance thing. Argh. My characters are dancing around, not wanting to let me in on their secrets.
This is where I go into prayer mode and some major brainstorming.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
Oh, thank you for this encouragement. I am working on a barely begun book and a proposal for a finished book right now. This post came at the right time for me!
I find prayer helps me push past the angst, too.
And I will pray for you, my dear.
This post hits a little too close to home right now 🙂
But if we're just talking about writing, I am in the first quarter of my novel. I am motivated to finish this story before the real baby comes, so I am making a point to write SOMETHING every day. If I finish, yay!, and if not, at least I'll have something to go from. Have a great weekend!
Katie, if misery loves company, you an take heart from knowing I'm in the same boat except with the beginning of a book. That doesn't bode well for the rest of this summer.
Like, Keli, I'm hoping last night's tweets and your update mean the head has at least crowned.
Oh man, Katie, I'm so avoiding my manuscript right now. How did you know?!
I just started drafting a new one, and my obstacle is perfectionism. I look at my previous manuscript, which has been edited about 10,000 times and expect myself to push out a beauty just like it on the first go-round. Let's face it…Our babies aren't all that pretty when they come straight out of the womb. It takes a while for those coneheads to disappear. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I told my husband and my mom they weren't allowed to ask me questions during contractions. It seems kind of crazy now, but at the time it was totally necessary. 🙂
If you ever need a techie to review it, you know who to call! If it's beyond my expertise, I'm happy to hand it off to one of my coworkers…it's geek land over here, seriously. They'd love it.
Hugs!
H
I have the best blog readers! You are all so encouraging!
One of my amazing critique partners helped me bear down last night and work through some big time roadblocks.
Thanks for all the encouragement!
Boy, ain't that the truth. I've never been in labor – but I've definitely been in the middle of one of those scenes that just.won't.come. Good advice here! Good pep talk. 😉
Now, without words or touch (because I agree, it's too much to focus on while giving birth): you can do it!
I feel like a doula. 😀
I'm in the beginning stages of a new WIP. 🙂
I'm sorry it's been challenging, Katie. My hope is that the "breakthrough" tweets I saw last night mean you've made it through the rough spot and are cruising again.
Happy Mother's Day!
You can do this! And remember, first drafts are for just getting it down; you can always come back to it. If the tech issues are a problem, then just add in 'big shiny metal box' or something and try to deal with the emotional issues now and hit the technology on the second pass through.
As far as the tech goes, what tech are you using? Maybe I can give you a hand with it. My writing partner and I use tech all the time and she's super knowledgeable with all stuff tech -elated. Maybe we could give you a boost if you need it. If so, let me know at jenjdanna@gmail.com.
Good luck!
Excellent metaphor. I'm smack dab in the middle and sort of bored/frustrated. My motto is: Just Do It Already. But it's not always easy.
Sounds like you're about to make it, though. Just a little longer . . . you can make it . . . this is what you wanted . . . it'll be worth it in a few minutes . . . 🙂
With my current book, I had everything written, polished, edited, revised, and put through beta readers–except the last chapter. I could NOT get it to come out right. A month ago, I was banging my head on the keyboard trying to figure out how to end the story so that I could start the second book. I finally got to the point where I had to set it aside. I spent the past month reading, and then three days ago, got the urge to write again. I finished the book at 1:30AM this morning.
Pushing through those scenes that are difficult can be so hard and frustrating, but you CAN do it. And you can do it with technology involved! I know it's not easy (oh my goodness, I really know) but you'll conquer this thing and have something amazing to show for it.
I'm editing…grrr. My least fav part but a very necessary part of the process 🙂
I'm critiquing my own to begin the editing phase.
I know what you mean, Katie, fear is a huge part of it, and just the blankness that creeps in when we are so close. Yes, girl, just push through it!!
I had trouble with the plotting a few weeks ago and decide to just plunge in and start writing. This worked until I came up against the plot issues that stymied me earlier. I had to unknot them. This time I found myself awake literally all night, so at 2 in the morning I decided to work and had a remarkably productive session of figuring things out for the next several hours. I got the head out that night and writing has been much easier since.
Oh boy. I've had plenty of those intimidating scenes. I'm in the middle of the first draft of my third 18th century historical, so I'm always in need of research and more research. Whenever possible, I've taken to leaving a block of notes scattered through research-heavy scenes where I'm just not sure (like your technology) yet what exactly my characters need to say, and push on with the relational thread or action or whatever else the scene's got going on. But so near The End, I'm thinking that won't work for you! So, if I have to write a scene and it's looming big and scary, I'll take some time to sort of circle around it in my mind until I get a handle on it. It might take a day or two, or more, but as long as I can hear my characters exchange even one small bit of dialogue that I haven't forced, then I have a foothold in the scene, and I can work backwards and forwards from there. But those scenes take uncountable number of drafts to get right, usually.
I was starting to think that I'd need to be induced, but I've started the laboring now and it's going pretty well. I'm not yelling at anyone, yet.
Push, Push, Push. You can do it. Face that emotional hill and let it all out.
And, Happy Mom's Day to you!
I'll be the friend that says, "Dang it, Katie…PUSH. You are almost there!"
If I say it to you, I can avoid saying it to myself a little longer and calling myself Kate wouldn't work anyway. Calling you Kate still feels a little weird…back to those princess thoughts.
Happy Mother's Day. You are a champion in my book and you'll finish strong!
~ Wendy
Go Katie, go Katie, go Katie!!! Hang in there!! Keep going!!!
I'm rewriting now. It's gotten a little easier now that I'm past act I. I had a LOT of that dreading and avoiding there. I mean, I still have some, but it's getting better.
My book (non-fiction) is in the organizing stage…. I have all my research and personal reflections, so I need to combine those into a neat little package. And I want to throw up. 🙂
You can do it, Katie!!! Push that sucker out!
You can do this!!!
I am plotting my new book and it is going sloooooowwwwww.
I'm writing a first draft of my current WIP, and I'm afraid I'm rushing some parts. But I've decided I simply need to push forward with the plot, because I really don't know, and I would hate to ruin my forward momentum by stopping, rewinding, and fast forwarding. So my mantra for now is just keep going and try to stay on track with where I'm going. Get it written, make sure the plot is moving forward, and fix the pacing later, if it needs it.
I had 2 emergency C-sections so pushing was not an option. However, I'm in the exact same place as you are–I'm in my character's head at her black moment. The next to the last worst thing on the planet has happened to her. She's terrified. And the writing sounds trite. I'm not capturing the emotion. I'm not feeling her fear. So I'm avoiding. Plus, I just finished copyedits for Lakeside Reunion and mailed those off. I'm kind of on a high from having gone through the next process before holding my book in my hands.
This weekend I have to write my character's black moment. Thank you for the suggestions. And I love what Laura said–don't forget to breathe.
And don't forget to breathe! 🙂
Sometimes these scenes can turn out the best in the long run. Good luck!