Never Fear When a Book Block Is Here

Resistance is a great teacher, telling me I have something to work through.

For the past two weeks, I struggled to work on my manuscript, partially because I needed to take a break and partially because I was freaking out about sending it to beta readers. I unknowingly blocked myself with my good old friend—procrastination. I read eight books in the last two weeks. That’s a lot for me. I rarely read that many books in a month! Turning into a reading machine, while a fun distraction, prevented me from doing what I really needed to do—finish the edits on my manuscript.

What is a block?

A block is something that causes resistance. I’ve learned that a block isn’t a bad thing. It’s often a great teacher and means that I have something I need to work through. But it can be tricky to spot.

My block presented as exhaustion. Part of why I felt exhausted was because I needed a break. Since becoming an entrepreneur, I’ve been working pretty much nonstop because I love my work. But I never really turn it off. When I finished my draft in May, I planned on taking a break from Book 1, but things changed, so I had to pivot.

While I considered taking a break before I finished these edits, I only had about a day of work left. I knew it’d be easier to rest if I crossed off the remaining bits and bobs on my list before I set my manuscript down. Completion felt important because I’ve been working on my manuscript for a long time, and “finishing” it to get more eyeballs on it is a big step in getting it query-ready.

Editing

As I read through the printed version of my manuscript, I hand-wrote notes and things I wanted to change on the pages. Additionally, while reading, I kept a list of things I needed to update in the entire manuscript. The list included consistency, decisions on names, and feedback from my parents. 

For example, my dad mentioned that I used the word “like” too much. I used it 579 times, to be exact. I’ve no idea if that is a lot, but if that’s what stuck out to him, I figured it’s not a bad idea to look into this. For each sentence with the word “like,” I erased comparisons and similes I disliked or rewrote sentences. As a result, I reduced my use of the word “like” to 367. While that still feels like a lot, and I probably need to decrease my usage more, I’m happy with my progress thus far. 

The other reason I got stuck crossing everything off my list was that I knew what was coming next—feedback. 

Feedback

The other part of my block was having people read my manuscript. I’ve had book coaches read it before, and I’m in a critique writing group, but whenever I get feedback or comments, I want to curl up in a ball and hide under a blanket, which probably isn’t a normal response. And feedback is SO important because it’s a great way to improve my writing. Plus, I’m at the phase with my manuscript where I need feedback to spark new inspiration on what isn’t clear and needs to be changed to make my story even better. 

To get unstuck, I worked through how feedback triggered some stressful situations from when I was younger in school. I realized my fear wasn’t about feedback per se but using my voice. Understanding how my nervous system associated feedback with those situations explained why my first response was to freak out. Once I reached peace and non-attachment to these stressful situations from my past, I’m excited to get feedback, even if it means I have more work ahead of me!

Book Talk

I love reading series where all the books in it are published, even if that means I’m “late to the game.” Being able to consume the entire series at once and immerse myself in the world the author creates is my favorite. Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky series is amazing. I love that the inspiration for her world is the pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. I’m obsessed. It’s giving me lots of ideas for my book. I wish I’d read them sooner!

Good News

I’m unblocked. Once I worked through the resistance, I could finish my list, which took over a day, but I feel good about the changes, so it was worth the extra time. While I would have eventually worked through things on my own, it never hurts to reach out to someone for help!

While beta readers read my manuscript, I’m taking a much-needed break from working on Book 1. During my break, I plan to read, of course. What else would I do? My sisters and I are starting a podcast just for fun. It’s going to be a book club of sorts. I’ll update you once we’ve gotten the ball rolling. Also, I will finally write the first draft of Book 2. It’s a new story that combines everything I love. I can’t wait!

Side Note: While my dad was getting his oil changed and reading my manuscript, he saw a photo of Plymouth, Wisconsin, where one of my protagonists lives. That’s the photo above. I just loved the synchronicity!!

Here’s to no longer hiding under the blanket! Sending you lots of synchronicities and fairy dust,

Liza