It gets easier, right?

[Tincat]

This whole "inspiration" thing. 'Cause I'm sorely lacking it right now, and feeling guilty.

I'm a slow writer, but I got such wonderful feedback on my most recent story that I almost feel obligated to do a sequel. *sigh* I'm just not feeling it.

Anybody wanna slap me with a herring and tell me to get back to work?

 

[cloudy]

Your muse must be off with mine...probably partying like crazy in someplace warm like Tahiti.

We all go through that ennui phase every once in awhile. There are times that I can't type fast enough to keep up with the story that's showing like a movie in my head, and then other times when it's almost painful to get three or four sentences pecked out.

If you don't want to write a sequel, then don't (I'm trusting that you're using "sequel" as I would: a continuation of a story). Write something that's a polar opposite of what you wrote the last time; try a genre that's a little out of your comfort zone, etc.

Sometimes breaking out of the walls we've constructed around ourselves is just what's needed to get the imagination flowing again.

Oh, and if I ever really get stuck on a certain scene, I get a notebook and pen, and write it out longhand. It usually works to get me past whatever part I'm stuck on, though I have no idea why.

Good luck.

 

[TheGreatRaja]

sometimes a person can't write. Creativity is just gone. The fire has gone out and the muse has left the building. I go through stages of that, but after away the muse come back and light the fire again
dont push your self to writre a story. A story has to basically write it self with just a minor guiding hand from the author

 

[Emerald_Dragon]

I wouldn't worry to much about it. If the sequel isn't comming, write something else. Put it on the back burner and let it simmer for a while. Better to have a great sequel come out later than a ho-hum next week. Have fun doing something else!!!!

 

[Elenia26]

I've noticed that the wintry season doesn't help, either. In the fall and before New Year, I feel great and usually churn out a lot of stories. Then the dreary days of winter come, and I'm tapped out.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, I think for most it comes with exercise. The more you exercise it, the easier it is--both to find the inspiration for what you want to write about and to actually get it written.

 

[SavannahMann]

My muse is activated in many different ways.

An example, I spent months locked up unable to find a satisfactory ending for the Author series that I had started. When I started posting the story, I thought I had one I liked, but after a few chapters, I decided that it sucked. If I didn't like it, I wasn't going to write it, and damn sure wasn't going to publish it if I did write it. I cheat a lot that way. I don't write something I wouldn't be interested in reading.

In the mean time, I was reading a website about crime statistics, and was utterly shocked to find out how many crimes are reported each year. The more I looked into a specific set of crime reports, the more certain I was that a story was right there before me. I cheated again in other words.

It's hard to say what your muse needs from you to get back to inspiring you. Each of us had different things we need. Elenia said that Winter kills her writing moods. Seasons do that. The longer nights of winter are more draining to the individual. Spring brings out the happier moods in many of us. My simply philosophy for writing is extremely basic. I'm not getting paid, so it's not work. I don't owe a product on some deadline. If I don't feel like writing, then no writing gets done. Take it like that, and its liable to remain something you enjoy, instead of becoming something you resent.

 

[Jet Black]

Yes yes, Never let writing become a chore for you (unless you're a sadist and become a... *Gasp* Professional Writer!). We write because it's fun, we get to tell great stories. Or sometimes we write really horrible stories, but we like them >.>'

Anywho... If you don't want to write the sequel, don't. I know exactly how you feel though. I've got a bunch of people waiting for me to put out the next chapter in my story... they are DYING for some action. But there is nothing forcing me to go and do it, it's my choice. I want to write the next part of the story. If I didn't, I wouldn't. And everyone would be pissed at me, but... big deal? I can always write different stories, or come back to this one later.

So take it easy. If you don't feel like writing, take some time off (or do what I do and write a little teeny bit each day, just to keep up the practice). Don't feel obligated to anyone but yourself *nods*


~Jet

 

[mjl2010]

This whole "inspiration" thing. 'Cause I'm sorely lacking it right now, and feeling guilty.

I'm a slow writer, but I got such wonderful feedback on my most recent story that I almost feel obligated to do a sequel. *sigh* I'm just not feeling it.

Anybody wanna slap me with a herring and tell me to get back to work?

WHACK!

Ok there's the herring slap. The rest is up to you.

Seriously. If you're not feeling it, then don't. Worse thing you could do in my opinion is force it out. I've done that and it's damn painful. Kinda like constip.... er never mind.

Anyway. Write something else if you feel like it. Try some poetry. Haiku or whatever that stuff is. The key is, try to write something, even if it's crap in your own mind. You never know what will come out. I started one morning typing one sentence and the next thing you knew, two months later there were 1400 word pages of pure crap. But hey, so what. I wrote it anyway. And then I did some stuff that was halfway decent.

So write if you feel like it. Write for yourself. When something good comes out, then submit it. And it does get easier. it really does.

Best wishes.

MJL

 

[Tincat]

Thanks Guys!

Thanks!

I was just feeling a little low and kind of unhappy with where my story was going. I think a weekend away from the computer will do me good. You guys are right, forcing it isn't going to make anyone happy.

(((hugs))) I really appreciate all the encouragement.

 

[EveAnna]

I don't think it gets easier either. I have two sets of stories on the go and my muses have deserted me on both of them. I had so much going on in real life that I didn't have time to write and then I had really good feedback on both sets of stories and I didn't think that I could do justice to the stories so I've left them alone for a while.

It really doesn't help that I have other story lines that I want to write going round in my head.

So, no, you are not alone.

 

[MagicFingers]

No it doesn't really get easier

I don't think it gets easier either. I have two sets of stories on the go and my muses have deserted me on both of them. I had so much going on in real life that I didn't have time to write and then I had really good feedback on both sets of stories and I didn't think that I could do justice to the stories so I've left them alone for a while.

It really doesn't help that I have other story lines that I want to write going round in my head.

So, no, you are not alone.

Because you want to better than before, write the best story ever, and do something new and different, even when your old ideas are used up.

I keep a txt log on my PC where I write down ideas for stories whenever they come to me. I add plot lines or direction whenever I get inspiration for something good for a story. You can get inspiration from almost anywhere: Work, stores, gym, church, anywhere. I like the gym because I can let my mind wander while I'm doing the eliptical machine. If there is a special lady there I can relate her type, or body to one of my characters. (No, I don't gawk or stare, and not everyone has something special, no matter how hot they may look.)

I even got good inspiration about nonconsent sex with a sexy and hot DCSS lawyer while sitting many hours in the courtrooms a few years back. Now, I've been thinking about how to make it NONconsent and not rape, and I almost have that figured out in my head. I can't start writing it until I'm ready! It's on my list.

Write those story lines down and come back to them when you get inspiration to continue them. Just because you have the idea NOW doesn't mean the story needs to written now.
Keep at it and don't give up!

 

[EveAnna]

Hi MagicFingers,

I did start to keep a folder on the PC, just for notes and story lines that came to mind - it now has quite a lot in it but I need to get my other stories finished first and I did start writing again yesterday so maybe some of my muses have come back.

 

[golfadikt2]

What to do?!?!

This whole "inspiration" thing. 'Cause I'm sorely lacking it right now, and feeling guilty.

I'm a slow writer, but I got such wonderful feedback on my most recent story that I almost feel obligated to do a sequel. *sigh* I'm just not feeling it.

Anybody wanna slap me with a herring and tell me to get back to work?

I can't remember when I posted my last story... I think it was 2002... Sigh... seems like just yesterday. I've had request after request to continue on with the storylines.

I've even got seventeen different rough drafts typed up! I just don't like them enough to post them.

I've found that, unfortunetely (spelling?), my most creative moments for writing come at a time when I'm under the most personal stress. I wrote my "series" when I was laid off from a job and was bummed out about losing a job I absolutely loved. I was in a deep, blue funk.
I haven't been that low since... and I don't feel my writing has been nearly as good.

Is that bad? I don't think so. I just think it means that I'm not meant to publish the stories I've written since then. Someday, it will hit me again and I'll be proud enough to post it when it does. Until then... it stays hidden in those dark recesses of my brain... waiting for that strike of lightning to let it out....

Good luck everybody! Keep up the wonderful writing and thank you for entertaining me and many, many, many others!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

GF, when you bid farewell, does a part of you wish you had written something? That you had shared an idea or you very soul?

If so don't leave, I can help you express yourself.