Having problem writing a key portion of my book. Suggestions?

[IdaBriggs]

I'm working on a non-fiction book about everything that happened in my life last year. (I'm calling it, "A Very Bad Year!") I have got some of it done, and the outline (woo hoo), but I am absolutely stuck on NOT writing one of the key sections about the day after my sister died. Unfortunately, this day was absolutely pivotal in both my life, and the book, and I *really* need to get it down on paper, but every time I sit down to start typing, I suddenly find twenty million things I'd rather be doing (including a sudden urge to scrub the toilet).

It was a very upsetting day, and it is really necessary for me to at least get the basics down so I can keep the "flow" of the story going, but it was such a horrible, horrible day, I can logically understand why I am trying to avoid "reliving it" by writing it down.

Its 1:30 now. I'd love some suggestions for this situation, and will hopefully be able to start WRITING before 2:00 p.m.

ERK! Maybe I should pull the vacuum cleaner out; the floor is kind of dirty....

HELP!!!

[Goldmund]

1. haha hey next time you're stuck come to my house!

[IdaBriggs]

3. LOL! Did I mention I am also the world's WORST housekeeper?

Hence the complete and utter shock at finding myself with an urge to CLEAN versus doing something that is (supposedly) REALLY IMPORTANT to me! Urgh! :)

[Book Lover]

2. Start putting down just words

and phrases; don't try to write complete sentences at this point. Make lists, free-associate, make drawings, do everything except full sentences.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Let it go for awhile

Scrub the toilet, vacuum the floor; anything but think about the book. Air your head out, put the book away for the rest of the day. Do something you want to do. When the time comes pounce on the writing with gusto. Your Sister would be proud. Good Luck.

[Redstone]

5. Bosshog's right. Don't force it.

However (and you never heard me say this and I'll deny it if you say you heard it from me and claim that someone else posted with my username):

If there's ever a time when you just HAVE to concentrate and get something done, there are few things that sharpen the concentration like a little bit of a stimulant compound, if you now what I mean and I think you do.

Add to that one or two (NOT more) drinks of alcohol, and you'll be tapping away for a couple of hours.

Not recommended for daily use--use only when required.

Redstone

[stellanoir]

6. this may not adhere to conventional wisdom

regarding writing techniques, but thanks to cut and paste, if you're really having this much resistance to write about that awful day, I really think it might be helpful to skip over that segment for now.

Later, once you've written about your presumed recovery from your loss, I think you'll feel clearer and stronger about recalling and relating the actual loss more directly.

Your resistence may have more wisdom in it than you know.

Just my two cents. Good luck with it.

And belated condolences.

[foxy]

9. I agree

Grab plenty of tissue when proceeding to the next step

Goodluck

[politicaholic]

7. Here's something that may help you...

Pick a symbol from that day that has nothing to do with your sister then write a poem depicting that symbol before and after you heard the news about your sister.

The point of this exercise is to show that chronological events sometimes don't depict the true meaning of what you're trying to convey.

Good Luck.

[1monster]

8. Just truthfully tell yourself that writing about the day will be a

catharatic experience for you. After you have poured all your memories and emotions out on the paper, they will be less painful. I'm not sure why that is true, but, I have found that a painful scene that replayed itself over and over in my head became a vague amorphous almost memory after I fictionalized it for a creative writing class. The details of the incident, until I wrote it out, were crystal clear. A month or so after writing, I still remember what happened, but the details were blurred to the point of almost gone.

[Cadence]

10. Ahhh something I know about finally.

I wrote a screenplay that is semi-autobiographical, and had the same problem. I sat on it for almost a year. Every time I'd sit down to write, I didn't want to be there. It was about a particularly close to the heart emotional experience for me.

Finally, I wrote it just to me.. for me. As if nobody else would ever see it. I let the emotions do the talking and they told ME the story.. instead of making a story with my head. I didn't worry about whether that section would fit with the rest of what I wrote ... I just wrote. In the end it fit perfectly.. and in ways I couldn't have imagined.