"The Creative Process of Writing
is a Liberating and Therapeutic Experience"
www.virtualwritingcoach.com
August, 2009
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Publisher's Note
3. Writer's Block
4. Helpful Hints
1. Preview
The Writer's Connection explores the creative process
of writing and the interplay between thoughts, feelings,
and actions. We are an interactive community of authors
and readers who share ideas to enhance our knowledge,
skills, and experiences in writing fiction in any genre,
but our emphasis remains mystery and suspense thrillers.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers writing tips
for authors, coaching suggestions, editing, and marketing
information.
Topics are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton
and represent only his ideas on producing your first manuscript,
and are provided to the general public. Because we are
an interactive community of writers, other viewpoints
are welcomed and may be printed in future monthly newsletters
with permission from Keith Barton.
2. Publisher's Note
August, 2009
Dear Writer's Connection Subscriber,
This month's newsletter features: Writer's Block
3. Writer's Block
After five years of newsletters and a deadline to get
something out this month I'm at a loss of what to write.
It happens--the dreaded writer's block. As I stare at
the blank screen staring back at me, my thoughts are at
a dead standstill, kind of like "lost in space". Instead
of the commercial where trains collide, bullets fly, and
other special effect action movies, my mind floats on
a cloud without one explicit or implicit thought to share
with you. If you're a writer, you know what I'm saying.
Then why should I be writing anything at all this month?
Good question.
Scene shift--deep into the dark recesses of synapses without
firing in total darkness. A void envelops my psyche with
nothingness--kind of like a stupor that won't go away.
The last time I felt this way I was staring at 578 questions
on an MMPI before military induction. Athletes know this
feeling as well-they see their ACL being crushed in slow
motion before the play begins.
Yes, writer's block--that dreaded malady that pervades
what intellect remains for putting words together that
spellbound the reader into total boredom. Dribble passes
for tangential discourse. Those of you who remember staring
back at your blue notebooks in English 101 at exam time
can attest to my mental state. How can I write for the
next three hours without falling asleep because I stayed
up and partied last night? I'm reminded of the philosophy
professor who gave only two A's on his final exam after
the class (except for two) wrote tirelessly for three
hours. The two students receiving A's walked out of the
exam after spending only fifteen seconds on their twenty-page
blue books--the first student in answer to the professor's
question of why wrote why not? The second student wrote
because. It seems to be that life mirrors this professor's
question. Why spend much of our thinking time answering
unanswerable questions? Let's just accept life and go
on.
In case you're still awake as I end this merciless piece
of discourse, I want to leave one thought with you. If
at first you don't succeed, then quit and start over.
Too bad I didn't take my own advice this month.
Helpful Hints:
- What suggestions do you have for writer's block?
- Does thought mirror behavior or vice versa? Make
an argument for both.
- Stream of consciousness is a form of writing without
creative or grammatical constraints. Many first drafts
are written this way with the author using improvisation
rather than an outline or script. What books have
you read which are written this way?
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Contact Information
Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-583-5005
Fax:281-583-5008
Web: >
http://www.virtualwritingcoach.com
E-Mail:
keith_barton@att.net
(c) Copyright 2009 A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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SMis copyrighted, but
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SM
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With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue
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The Writer's Connection SM Mission:
The Writer's Connection
SM is dedicated to
helping first-time authors create their first manuscript
for publication and to offer an exchange of ideas and
opinions from our readers who might be interested in becoming
authors.
The Writer's Connection is a publication of The Virtual
Writing Coach and Keith Barton, Ph.D. and a registered
trademark.
We would like The Writer's Connection
SM to
be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments,
topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional
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Send your e-mail to
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You can read previous issues of The Writer's Connection
SM in our
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About Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University
of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist
for over thirty years. He is currently enrolled in MentorCoach
and is accepting new clients.
He has been an adjunct professor at the University of
South Carolina, consultant to Fortune 500 companies in
executive development, founded and managed Texas Community
Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing group home
services to persons with mental retardation. Keith founded
and has been running a clinical practice in Northwest
Houston since 1990.
He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel
a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate
interest in helping others become attuned to their creative
powers of storytelling.
Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family
therapy and health psychology. He has published articles,
made presentations and conducted workshops about:
Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Marital/relationship enrichment
Wellness issues
The relationship between psychology and spirituality
