Guest Post: ONE WAY TO BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK by author, Empi Baryeh!

ONE WAY TO BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK

Writer’s Block is a phenomenon that only a handful of writers claim not to experience. I’m still on the fence about whether I believe them or not, though I’m prepared to concede that writer’s block affects some writers more than others.

I have a theory about why? Some writers – like me – are emotional writers (yes, that’s like an emotional eater – kind of). It means if I’m feeling very sad, or lonely or happy etc., that’s usually the best time for me to plot and write, because somehow the emotional overload fuels my creative juices ;-). I’m guessing writers who are plotters or who start out with a fully-developed idea (maybe even a complete synopsis or outline) have an easier time developing chapters than those who take a general idea and allow the story to “write itself.”

So invariably, being a pantser, I’ve had moments of varying lengths when I couldn’t seem to write anything I was satisfied with or that I was too tired to convince my muse to come to work. I used to get frustrated with that, sometimes forcing myself to sit in front of my computer staring at a blank page. I’d refuse to work on anything else but the story I’m supposed to be working on.

Let me tell you, it doesn’t work – not for me, anyway.

But worry not, for I devised a plan that works for me. Hold your horses, I’m coming to it. Remember when I said I was an emotional writer? Well, I figured if I couldn’t write, I should try to coax some level of emotion that exceeds the usual.

The idea is simply this. I start an exercise of turning my ms – either previous chapters of the one I’m trying to work on or any other of my stories – into a screenplay. I kid you not.

It started completely by chance while watching a movie that was based on a novel, and I thought “wouldn’t it be something to have my novel made into a movie?” and since no producer magically appeared, I decided to try turning one of my completed mss into a screenplay.

Boy, did I have fun! Of course, having fun meant getting excited and “hey, presto!” I was excited enough to get back to my ms.

That’s one thing I do, which I welcome you to try. And if you have any tricks that blast away writer’s block, please share.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. It’s been an honour and a pleasure to blog on The Pen Muse today. Thank you for having me here, Denise.

AUTHOR BIO

Empi Baryeh is an author of heart-warming, sweet and sensual African and Interracial romance. She lives in the city of Accra in Ghana, where most of her stories are set. She speaks French and a teensy bit of Spanish.

Her debut novel, Most Eligible Bachelor, came out in February and is available from Evernight Publishing and other online book retailers. Chancing Faith is her second novel, which comes out in Print and eBook on 31st March, 2012.

Visit Empi Online:

Blog: http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com

Website: http://www.empibaryeh.webs.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/empibaryeh

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/empibaryeh

Twitter: @empibaryeh

COMING 31^ST MARCH, 2012, FROM BLACK OPAL BOOKS CHANCING FAITH BY EMPI BARYEH

BLURB

HE DIDN’T DO SHORT-TERM RELATIONSHIPS…

American ad exec, Thane Aleksander, doesn’t date co-workers either—until business takes him to Ghana, West Africa, and he meets Naaki. Now he’s at risk of breaking all the rules. Can he stop this headlong fall before it’s too late?

UNTIL HE MET HER!

Naaki Tabika has a burning need to prove, to herself and others, that she’s more than wife and mother material. To do so, she’s prepared to give up everything for her job. Meeting Thane, however, makes her want to get personal. But falling for her boss could destroy her career. Will she be willing to risk it all for the one thing that can make her truly happy?

Two divergent cultures, two different races, two career-driven professionals, only one chance at true love—will they find the faith to take it, or will their hearts be sacrificed on the altar of financial success?

TEASER EXCERPT

Thane knew he was in for it now. He could hardly believe he’d really done it…

He’d kissed Naaki. Kissed her! What the hell was he thinking? Thane tossed his jacket aside and yanked off his tie. Of all the stupid—

Raking his fingers through his hair, he muttered a curse. The urge to hit something assaulted him with a force that should have surprised him. The perfect punching bag would have been his own body, since it was apparent that he needed to pound some sense into his skull. Right now, the only thing pounding was his heart as it threatened to burst out of his chest, throbbing partly out of anger but mostly from his pulsing desire.

Damned if he didn’t still want her in his arms. She made him feel like a teenager—and not in a good way. Vulnerable wasn’t a desired state of mind as far as he was concerned. He sat down with the adjoining door in full view, still unable to comprehend how he’d dropped his guard. How he seemed so willing to let down his defenses around her.

He’d panicked in the elevator, allowed himself to be captivated. He’d worried about her, touched her as if he cared. She’d kissed him back, moaned against his lips and his knees had gone weak. He could have made love to her right there in the lobby. He could care about her, and caring was the last thing he could afford to do.

Dammit. Naaki wasn’t a woman you got involved with on a whim. He needed, at all cost, to avoid her—the woman who’d so easily brought him to his knees, who’d caused his body to come alive and made him want—

Just want.

***

BUY LINKS

Chancing Faith is available for pre-order at the following sites:

• Black Opal Books: http://bookstore.blackopalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=29
• Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chancing-faith-empi-baryeh/1038109547?ean=9781937329365&itm=2&usri=empi+baryeh

*Look out for Chancing Faith on Amazon and other online booksellers from 31^st March

CONTEST

Empi is giving away a free ebook each week for her blog tour. All you have to do is leave a comment. At the end of each week, Empi will select one lucky winner. Each blog you comment on gives you one vote, so the more blogs you comment on, the greater your chances of winning. The prize is the winner’s choice of an ebook copy of either Most Eligible Bachelor or Chancing Faith.