STEP ONE:
Tell everyone you know you’re going away for three months, preferably six. When they ask where, tell them somewhere with no internet or phone signal or pets (see Step Two).
A room by the water in the Norwegian fjords should do the trick…
Or a cabin in the mountains just five minutes away.
STEP TWO:
If your cat does insist on coming with you, make sure you also take an external hard drive (you have no internet, remember) and Save Save Save. That way you won’t panic when dear Catkins dashes across your keyboard and hits the delete key. So what if your entire manuscript just vanished before your eyes? Who cares? Not Catkins. He’s calculated with at least five lives left, he’s got nothing to lose: if he can wrap presents, he can help you…
Write Your Book.
STEP THREE:
So far, so good. But a few weeks in, you sit down to write and you freeze. You stare at the screen and you hate what you read. Oh no, this isn’t happening, not now. You pace the room like a caged beast ranting to yourself. You’ve lost your mind Call yourself a writer? You can’t write. You’re an imposter and your writing’s crap. Your mind’s a jumble of no good for nothing. Yes, that’s right…
You’re In Writer’s Block Hell.
But do not fear. All is not lost.
Pull something from the jumble and focus. If a gnome can live happily in a gravy boat strung with five pretty lights, you can write your book. Okay?
STEP FOUR:
If that doesn’t work, you need inspiration…
Take a walk by the sea and declutter.
You never know who you might bump into…
How about a five-piece metal band to mess with stimulate your mind?
STEP FIVE:
And when you’ve done all that, pop the bubbly: of the 97% of writers who start their book but never finish, you’re one of the 3% who didn’t quit. High-fives, cheers and congratulations…
You Did It!
**********************
NB: This is my entry for the Bloggers Bash Blog Post Competition 2019. The theme is any subject with the number ‘Five’.
Gorgeous pictures! I’m *sure* I could finish my book if I were in such a paradise.
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Haha…thanks, Marina…me too! 🙂
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I love this blog Sherri. You will definitely be one of the 3% that finishes your book despite a million interruptions. Your photos are lovely and list your 5 steps perfectly. Well done!! MUMBLY xx
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Thank you! ❤ ❤ ❤
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and dare I ask where you are on that specific spectrum just now?! Or is that just cruel?
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I’m with the Gnome…
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Not sure you should call your spouse that….
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Never. It’s the pretty lights I was thinking about…
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Excellent!! I’ll have my book, sans catkins, done in a jiffy! Thanks for giving me the secrets! 😉
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Haha…it’s a breeze and you’re very welcome, Melinda!!! 😀
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😉
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❤
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If you’re not already there, I already know you’re going to be one of the 3% and you don’t need a fancy retreat to do it in 🙂
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Ha…thanks so much, Andrea! I can tell you I am not in Norway, but I am definitely with my cat(s) 😉
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Are we there yet, are we there yet? Is this a teaser? Wherever you are – hugs! ❤
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I keep asking myself that very same question, Pauline! Getting there…ever closer…and your hugs help a lot! Thank you, my dear! ❤
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Gorgeous photos, Sherri. Now I’m wondering just how close you are to finishing your memoir. Hope you’re winning. Good to see you again. 😘👏🏻
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Aww thanks so much, Sylvia! I’m whipping those edits into shape – and keeping the bubbly on ice, albeit it a massive chunk so it doesn’t melt! 😉 ❤ xxx
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You rose to another challenge very well, Sherri. It was a fun read. Hoping you are close to the bubbly step. 🙂 Hugs, M
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Glad you enjoyed it, Marlene, thanks so much! Work in progress, but I’m lining up those bubbles, you can be sure…and sending hugs right back at ya 🙂
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Thank you so much for this! Very encouraging as I write my first… I settle for a weekend getaway once in a while but I’ve been fantasizing months at a time! Looking forward to following your journey here and I thanked Andrea for sending me your way.
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How lovely, Bonnie…I too thank our lovely mutual friend Andrea for sending you over to the Summerhouse, delighted to meet you! So glad for your encouragement…and oh I join you in that fantasy! I’m working to bring my first book, a memoir, to completion for publication, six years in the writing. Here’s to us both journeying onward to our goals, and I wish you every success along the way 🙂
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You are an inspiration as I journey my memoir. Every success to you as well!
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You’re too kind…thank you greatly, Bonnie! 🙂
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Oh my gosh Sherri you truly never cease to amaze! What a delight to read as tears of laughter stream down my face. That is just priceless and a great way to start my Monday here in America! 😊😅💕
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LOL!!! So glad it brought cheer to you on your Monday morning…I wonder about my weird sense of humour sometimes 😀 Thank you so much, Diane! 🙂 ❤ 🙂 xoxo
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A great entry Sherri. Good luck in the competition.
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Thank you so much, Bridget! ❤
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Lol Sher, such a fun and clever post. You’re rockin’ it girl!!! You persevere and soldier on like a true warrior woman. You’ve got this! ❤ xoxo
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LOL…just knowing you think I’m rockin’ it is a great win in my book! Thanks so much, Deb!!! 😀 ❤ 🙂 xoxox
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Trust me, we all go through those stages when editing. After you write your next book you’ll at least known what comes next lol 🙂 ❤
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LOL…that’s for sure! Thanks again so much, Deb!! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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Hugs Sher!! ❤ xxxx
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Hugs back Deb!! 🙂 xxxx
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❤
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You just won the contest, Sherri! Look at the last photo again… It’s a trophy!! ❤
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Knowing I’m a winner in your heart, Miriam, is all the prize I need…thank you so much! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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You’re welcome, Sherri. Best wishes to you. 🙂 ❤
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Thanks again so much, Miriam…and very best wishes to you too and catch up very soon! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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Sure, Sherri. 🙂 ❤
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🙂 ❤ 🙂
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Yay! You did it, Sherri. What a fantastic post. I hope you win. But you’re always a winner to me. Congratulations on sticking it out and seeing it through.
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I’m slogging on it, every day! Aww..thank you so much, Norah…your message warms the cockles of my heart, truly. Your unwavering support and encouragement helps keep me hanging in there, whether by a thread or a string of fairy gnome lights 😀 And of course,always a healthy dose of SMAG! 🙂 ❤
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Can never get too much SMAG, Sherri. Sending heaps to strengthen that thread. Hang on! 🙂
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I’m hanging, Norah, I’m hanging and the more SMAG the better…thank you!!!! 🙂 ❤
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That’s for sure! Make sure you don’t go too batty with all that hanging. 🙂
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Haha…funny you should say that, Norah, I do feel like I’m upside down a lot these days!! 😀
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Yet I’m the gal from the land downunder. 🙂
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😀 😀 😀
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Hang in there, Sherri. You’ve got this! Love and hugs. ❤ 🙂
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Thank you so much, Pat! I’m hanging in there!! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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Only 3%, that makes us all seem staggeringly lazy. I loved this inspiring and enjoyable jaunt through book writing. How I crave some time and a Norwegian fjord!
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I still haven’t done my post about the fjords…seems like a distant dream though ‘only’ 6 months ago…but yeah, me too, it seemed to me the perfect place in which to escape for writing inspiration and uncluttered days. And so we dream 🙂 Thank you, Ste!
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Thank you, Sherri, for this fabulous post. I just finished my editing overhaul of Through the Nethergate yesterday Whoopee! Now for the minor edits.
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Aww…thank you so much, Robbie, and I’m thrilled for you! I’m getting there…!
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Dearest Sherri, this is great. You made me chuckle, plus I feel great affinity with what you are saying. I think a Norwegian fjord would do me very nicely just now. Looking forward to seeing you soon and plugging into your positivity. Lots of love, hugs and kisses xxxxxxxx
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Let’s go!! I’m thrilled you found this positive and uplifting and it gave you a chuckle, dearest Sarah and yes, indeed, will be lovely to see you again very soon! Lots of love, hugs and kisses back to you! 🙂 xxxxxxxxx
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I am in awe of your craft and how brilliantly you use it.
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❤ Mike M
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Let’s escape to the fjords, Sherri! Catkins came come, too (I have an external drive and a warranty)! Your post made me laugh. I think it’s a brilliant entry! Keep at it like heavy metal!
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Ahh…now that would be amazing, Charli! If I had placed a bigger bet on the Grand National (I picked the winner, 2nd and fourth place, ’tis all true!) believe you me, we would be going right now and Catkins would be with us, first class all the way, naturally! Haha…I was thinking of you with the external hard drive… 😉 My prize no matter what placing is knowing it made you laugh…that’s the best…that and the idea of us rocking out to some real heavy metal in a Scandi bar drinking Viking beer somewhere in the middle of nowhere 😀 😀 ❤
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Love this Sherri. Great humorous touch which we can all relate to as writers! Lol. 🙂 x
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So glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much, Marje! Not long to the BB! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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No. See you soon Sherri. ❤ x
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🙂 ❤ Yep…see you soon, Marje! xxx
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this was funny and inspiring at the same time –
hahah
and to this:
gnome can live happily in a gravy boat strung with five pretty lights….
bwahhhh
__
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Haha…oh I love that made you laugh, mon amie. You got it… ! Thanks much…! ❤
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🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸And love ya so much author Sherri
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Love ya back author Yvette 🙂 ❤ 🙂 xoxoxox
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🙂
❤
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