Guest Post: Kevin A. Springer

Greetings, loyal followers. I know, I know, I've been incredibly delinquent in my posting. Lots of catching up to do, but enough about me. I am excited and honored to have Kevin A. Springer stopping by to share with us his thoughts on getting started. 

Kevin grew up on a farm in Maryland where his imagination knew no limits. As a husband and father, he reconnected with his creativity while telling bedtime stories to his two young boys. One such story evolved into his debut book, Extraordinary Sam And the Adventurers’ Guild (March 2015, Bookfish Books LLC.), which tells the tale of an ordinary boy who finds a hatbox and discovers a world of adventure and self-discovery.

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Kevin is a self-proclaimed dreamer and a kid at heart. When he’s not writing or reading, he is coaching soccer or helping with homework. He lives outside of Atlanta with his wife, two extraordinary boys, and dogs. He is the co-founder of the Middle Grade Mafia Blog (middlegrademafia.com)

Now without further adieu, take it away Kevin...

 

Getting Past Writer's Block

Over the weekend, I attended an SCBWI conference and had the privilege of listening to a keynote speech by Giuseppe Castallano, a Senior Art Director at Penguin Random House. His message was simple – get started. A very simple concept, but one we as writers and artists have trouble doing at times.

On my drive home, I thought about the keynote and how I've spent days staring at my computer, wishing some magical fairy would come down and wave her wand so I could get something down. No fairy came to my rescue and frustration would build. Doubt crept in and I was sure I would never write again.

Luckily, inspiration intervened and words flowed once more, but that was days later. If I had heard Giuseppe’s speech prior to that day, I could have avoided the grinding halt. He mentioned that getting started means move forward. Put those fingers on the keyboard, pick up that pencil, and write. If you are having trouble finding the words, write about that. If you want to throw the computer across the room, write about that. It is through the process of writing that writing will get done (sounds like something from a fortune cookie). You can't run a marathon without putting on your running shoes and taking the first step.

The more we write during these tough times the more productive we will feel. The act of writing can free us to write more, move our story forward and get closer to finishing the marathon.

So, the next time you have that sticking point and you're sure you will never type another word, move past that and before long you will be back on track. Now is the time for us all to get started.