Outline and .... wait hold up, need to parent

I read something the other day on Twitter. A screenwriter, whom I really aspire to, answered a question a fan had asked: How do you deal/overcome Writers Block?

Her answer was really simple yet really enlightening: She doesn’t get writers block because she outlines all her work. I don’t normally outline anything, but when I found myself deep in the second Descending book, I realized I probably should so I could stick with the plot, sub-plots and mini clues and such. I didn’t do one with the most recent book, The Hunt, either. But I know I will need one again (I lost the original outlines for Descending) for the last book and again for the pilot script I have in my head.

I started writing this with the idea that I was going to talk about outlines and writers block. But now, all I can think about is my 7 year old screaming in her bedroom. And when I say screaming, I’m talking blood curdling, at the top of her lungs, kicking, breaking things screaming. She’s in full meltdown mode and when she’s like that it’s really best for everyone involved, including herself, if you just leave her to it. Once she rides it out, she will be really sorry, worn out and not really understand how it started in the first place. Much like a meltdown that someone with Autism would have, it’s a way for her body to let go of stress that she didn’t know how to otherwise release. Also, she doesn’t quite know how to manage her emotions just yet. Meaning when she’s frustrated or mad, even sad sometimes, the only way she knows how to react is at Maximum Force.

And right now I’m wondering how much she’s broken, if I will find shelves torn down from the wall or if she’s thrown all her Legos out of their bins. I know a ton of parents that are reading this thinking, “No way. Beat her,” lol or “Take away all her toys, teach her a lesson.” When really this is something she has little control over. It’s so hard for me to remember that she doesn’t and it’s a big part of why I take anxiety medication myself. So that I can better help and deal with these meltdowns, among other things of course.

I’m not going to sugar coat it, these days are extremely hard. Especially with her not feeling well on top of it. it’s also getting close to dinner time when I have to feed her, if she even eats, as well as her two siblings and hope she doesn’t fight me.

Wish me luck, friends. I think she’s done now and just sad. This is when I go up there and give her hugs and coax her downstairs to separate her from whatever it was that got her so worked up in the first place.

Maybe I will work on that outline later tonight. Maybe.....