Ever have one of those days when what you've got in your brain just won't translate down to your fingertips no matter how hard you try?  Like something gets lost in the translation from thought to printed word?  That's me today.  It's like I'm trying to think and write through mud or something equally thick and dark.  I keep grasping for words that just turn to mist as soon as I touch them.

Gah.

It's almost like trying to remember something.  The harder you try, the more it falls out of your grasp.  Days like those, sometimes you need to take a break--a walk, a talk, a little coffee time with a friend--give those guys working overtime in the imagination a little vacay.
Hope you get to feeling better! 

Oh dear God yes! I was staring at a part of FWtBT earlier trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. (I swear I have most of the story mapped out. Its just some of the details haven't made themselves known, yet.) So here are some encouraging words I found on one of my favorite author's journal awhile back. (I still read this quote from time to time.)

"Why write?

The best thing about writing fiction is that moment where the story catches fire and comes to life on the page, and suddenly it all makes sense and you know what it's about and why you're doing it and what these people are saying and doing, and you get to feel like both the creator and the audience. Everything is suddenly both obvious and surprising (but of course that's why he was doing that, and that means that...) and it's magic and wonderful and strange.

You don't live there always when you write. Mostly it's a long hard walk. Sometimes it's a trudge through fog and you're scared you've lost your way and can't remember why you set out in the first place.

But sometimes you fly, and that pays for everything."-Neil Gaiman

Also, I've heard that changing where you are writing helps too. I haven't tried this yet, but there are several authors who this works for. (including the one I just quoted.)

I know that feeling and it sucks! What I have found kind of works is trying to write something silly and fluffy (a one-shot or drabble), totally irrelevant to your story, and not necessarily for posting just to put your mind at ease and get your muse back into gear.

Hope that helps,
xxx

Had it for months, really, more than not. I used to be able to pour out multiple chapters in a day. Now it's more like a few lines.

Yes, I have those types of days.  What works for me is to get up and move, to fill my mind with music (punk works best for me), and then get really quiet and try again.

Lately, I've been on the flip side of that.  I have ideas that I can't write down fast enough and scenes just start playing out in my head, but I'm only getting minutes at a time to sit down and write. I have an awesome RL and lots of people who need my attention, but it can be frustrating.  Knowing that it's in me and that if I just had a couple of hours to sit down and write to my hearts content, that some great stuff would happen on the page.

Thanks guys.   :)   I decided to just close the doc and work on something else.  Moving locations seems to have helped some too, and thanks so much for that Neil Gaiman quote. 

Quark - you're probably trying to do so much and you've sucked the well dry.  Pick up a copy of the National Enquirer or the Star and renew the well.  Also, it's probably not as bad as you think.  :)