Indy Comics Writer

Today is a tough one. I’m staring at the script I’m supposed to turn in next week and I’m not liking what I see. It’s for a one shot story, a crossover sequel to two of the publisher’s existing series. I’m grateful for the job, and for the chance to get my name on the shelves of comic-book shops across the country again.

Problem is, I don’t feel like writing a word. And describing the action in a panel? Seems like a monumental task right now.

So, do I give up? Nope. These are the kind of days when you really have to force yourself to be a writer.

I try to keep to a strict schedule when I’m writing. I have to, because the majority of my income comes from writing non-fiction stories for newspapers and magazines. If I don’t schedule in time for my fiction writing, I’d never get to it. There are days, though, when I’m tired, cranky or just feeling lazy, when I don’t want to even think about fiction writing.

Thing is, even though it seems like I won’t be able to force out a single word, I find that if I do, if I do force myself to start hitting the keyboard, that not only can I write that single word, I can write a whole lot more, too. Funny thing, once I get going, the rhythm of writing takes over. The sentences turn into paragraphs and the paragraphs turn into complete pages. Before I know it, I’ve made a serious dent in whatever project I’m stalling on tackling.

The same thing probably happens to you. I know I’m certainly not unique. People who don’t write always tell me how lucky I am to do something I love. It’s true, I am lucky. There are many, many worse jobs out there. In fact, I’d bet that most jobs are worse than writing. But, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like work 70 percent of the time.

But when it does feel like work? That’s when you have to sit down, put your fingers on that keyboard and get to work. What you write might end up being crap. But it’s just as likely to turn into treasure.

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