Motivation Interview: Jen Whitten

During the rest of the summer, I’ll be posting interviews with writers from across the country and around the world. Hopefully, we can all inspire one another! You can see all of interviews already posted here, and if you want to participate, email me with “writer’s interview” as the subject line. I’ll keep posting as long as you guys keep sending them in.

Today’s interview is with Jen Whitten. Jen writes about paranormal insights, dream interpretation, and Dexter news at Your Dark Passenger and Dark Passenger, about vampires at The Vampire, and about Psychic Gifts for Examiner.

Why do you think freelancers get writer’s block?

I think the temptation exists for freelancers to take on too wide a variety of writing topics. Since one topic is always in the back of their mind, it becomes difficult to focus on the project at hand. Then again, may freelancers have unpaid creative projects in addition to their paid writing. Paid articles have to take priority…even when the creative juices would have us work on other endeavors instead. The opposition of want and need causes that frustrating block.

How has writer’s block effected you?

Oddly enough, writer’s block is what led me to my current freelance career to begin with. After the completion of my 4th novel, I was left with several plot outlines for new books yet none of the focus to begin writing them. During my fictional dry spell, I decided to try blogging on a whim, floundered around for a while then finally settled upon the paranormal as my topic. The interest had always been there even though I’d never attempted to write about it. Naturally, I chatted with other bloggers, one of whom introduced me to article writing. For whatever reason, wedding articles seemed to be second nature to me.

And somewhere, in the midst of all the researching and writing, I rediscovered my passion for creative writing and – after more than a year – have begun work on my 5th novel. Writer’s block has never had such a great result.

What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to staying motivated to write?

My husband and my cat. Even when they’re trying to let me work, they still have this pesky way of distracting me.

Share with us your top tip for overcoming writer’s block and finding inspiration to keep working:

When writer’s block comes to visit, I have three different remedies. 1) Try to plow thru. The writing may not be to the usual standard, but it can be corrected during editing. 2) Switch to something else. I’m never without at least three on-going projects so it’s no problem to set one aside and continue on another. The real trick to it is to make sure and start projects well ahead of deadline…just in case. 3) Close the laptop and head outside. The raw beauty of nature can be so refreshing. We get some truly amazing severe weather in Texas and I try to take advantage of the creative boost I get from it at every storm. I don’t know why, but there is something about lightning flashing across the sky in bursts of metallic pink and purple that clears any block between me and the words I need.

Thanks, Jen!