Night 6 Writing Tip

Jessica Leader is the author of Nice and Mean, about two girls, one nice, one mean, who face off in their middle-school video elective. Nice and Mean will be published by Simon and Schuster on June 8, 2010. To learn about Jessica, Nice and Mean, or the nifty polls she’s put on her website, go to www.jessicaleader.com.

 

The Writing Block Song

Chanukkah celebrates the overcoming of adversity in the face of great odds, and you know, that’s just what we do as writers. Some days, facing down a troop of Syrians doesn’t seem like much, compared to figuring out what the heck I’m going to do with that dropped plotline. Writing calls for hard work and miracles, too!

With that in mind, I give you a version of the most traditional Chanukkah song I know, with a twist: writer’s block.

The rhythm of the song is a little wonky (we Jews love our syncopated rhythms), so here’s a video of the song to help you with the tune. It’s an unusual choice for a video, I admit (a middle-school student signs while music plays in the background), but the ones I passed up featured strobe-light menorahs, off-tempo pre-schoolers, and a chorus of girls so unfortunately attired in matching black dresses, I couldn’t bear for anyone to watch them.

The Writer’s Block Song

By Jessica Leader

 

Writing block, oh writing block, it tries to destroy us.

How can we change it to merely annoy us?

Here’s my little lesson to lessen the rage:

Blocks are really boredom with what’s on the page.

 

(Chorus tune)

I ask myself questions

To see what is making me bored.

One for each night, they diminish my fight

And they sweeten what once was abhorred.

One for each night, yes, they shed welcome light

And result in a tale that’s adored.

(I hope!)

 

(Verse tune)

First: is my character’s goal in this scene clear?

Is there good reason that she wants it now, here?

Is her life so bad that we care where it hurts?

Drive her up a tree, then pelt her with dirt.

 

(Chorus tune)

And now, motivation,

I’ve conquered you—Ha, you are mine!

Now I’m revising—Tyra, I’m smizing—

This novel is closer to fine.

But while rereading, my joy is receding—

Cause somehow, my prose doesn’t shine.

 

(Verse tune)

Know why this is dull, Jess? You can’t see the setting.

(Dialogue’s my favorite; set’s my forgetting.)

So I go back in and sprinkle details

Best if they’re symbolic—a cure for what ails.

 

(Chorus tune)

I think this part’s good now.

It doesn’t suck nearly as hard.

Where is my chocolate?

Because I have rocked it—

I see my book multiply starred!

Bring on the gelt,

I will loosen my belt

For a big giant writing reward.