How to Beat Writer's Block

[SamScribble]

For the never-ending passing parade of authors who ask: 'How can I beat writer's block?' here's a New Yorker article on some of the possible causes and some possible cures.

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/how-to-beat-writers-block

Personally, I recommend a glass of wine. It always works for me.

 

[legerdemer]

For the never-ending passing parade of authors who ask: 'How can I beat writer's block?' here's a New Yorker article on some of the possible causes and some possible cures.

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/how-to-beat-writers-block

Personally, I recommend a glass of wine. It always works for me.

An interesting article, Sam, even without the writer's block angle. Plus, Greene is one of my very favorite writers - a fascinating, talented and flawed individual who would have fit in here perfectly. Maybe his ghost is lurking about... I may have a tiny plot bunny for Celebrity stories, not a cat I ever thought I'd contribute to.

 

[HeyAll]

Browse through erotic pictures until something clicks in your mind, then think of the backstory behind that. Before you know it, you have a story.

 

[TxRad]

Browse through erotic pictures until something clicks in your mind, then think of the backstory behind that. Before you know it, you have a story.

That works for me. The only drawback is i end up with more stories than i can write.

 

[Handley_Page]

That works for me. The only drawback is i end up with more stories than i can write.

Stop looking at erotic (aka 'dirty') pictures, then ?

 

[TxRad]

Stop looking at erotic (aka 'dirty') pictures, then ?

What and spoil all my fun.

 

[Hypoxia]

Stop looking at erotic (aka 'dirty') pictures, then ?

Look at odd images -- photos, paintings, cartoons -- and write erotic backstories explaining why. Every picture tell a (dirty) story.

 

[sunandshadow]

I'm not sure whether I'd be in group 3, apathetic, or group 4, angry/disappointed. Wonder how they analyzed people into these groups?

 

[TxRad]

I'm not sure whether I'd be in group 3, apathetic, or group 4, angry/disappointed. Wonder how they analyzed people into these groups?

A hammer with round pegs for square holes, would be my first guess.

 

[Hypoxia]

I'm not sure whether I'd be in group 3, apathetic, or group 4, angry/disappointed. Wonder how they analyzed people into these groups?

Isn't sorting people into groups a major pastime of psychologists? Yeah, tough part is coming up with objective criteria. Sad people right here, pissed-off fucktards over there, massively depressed in the corner, etc. That's pretty subjective; better measure their blood chemistry. High stress factors here, low dopamine there, etc. Do some brain scans too. Paging Doctor Benway!

I don't feel like any of the listed groups but I'm no longer a pro at this either. My survival doesn't turn on churning out blocks of readable documentation. I can afford to relax. Thus I'm not a good representative of their study sample. Alas, my muse is on vacation. I don't feel angry or apathetic or neurotic or anything. I just don't feel a drive to finish stories. Maybe I'm lazy.

 

[loquere]

Go on an adventure. Travel somewhere unique.

 

[Hypoxia]

Go on an adventure. Travel somewhere unique.

I'm visiting my first dermatologist tomorrow. Does that count?

 

[Handley_Page]

For the never-ending passing parade of authors who ask: 'How can I beat writer's block?' here's a New Yorker article on some of the possible causes and some possible cures.

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/how-to-beat-writers-block

Personally, I recommend a glass of wine. It always works for me.

Assuming that
[a] you do actually dream often enough, and
you can actually remember the dream is some detail.

I sure can't

 

[sr71plt]

I'm visiting my first dermatologist tomorrow. Does that count?

It could. Especially if you find that the dermatologist's exam chair has stirrups.

 

[alamoana]

Sensory deprivation tank... not cheap but does wonders. You may need more than one session though, to get used to it. And if you want your money's worth, do some practice in a bath-tub prior to that, to prepare for the experience.

A word of advice, keep a piece of paper to record immediately what you saw in the tank, because, like dreams, the details literally fade or disappear within minutes.

 

[RKB_Kirin]

Thank you very much for posting that article! I've been suffering from a very annoying stint of writer's block for a couple of months. I seem to fit into the third apathetic group But I very much liked the creative exercise idea. Maybe just writing interesting visual ideas would do work the same way. Like doing little mini-scenes:

"Her black wings stretched out from her naked shoulders, their soft, enveloping shape outlined in the orange firelight. She reached out with smooth, bare arms to embrace him and pull him down toward her eager body."

I especially like the quote "creative training worked as a form of therapy." I think is more true than anyone might suspect

 

[_Lynn_]

Thank you very much for posting that article! I've been suffering from a very annoying stint of writer's block for a couple of months.

Here's a thread on the topic of writer's block along with helpful suggestions and ideas.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I don't have the problem, so I didn't read the cures.

Bottom line: Those with writers block got nothing to say. Its no different from purse block where your purse is empty. Or gas tank block.

 

[RKB_Kirin]

Here's a thread on the topic of writer's block along with helpful suggestions and ideas.

Thank you! I'll look at the thread.

 

[zoemiller]

I guess I've always lumped a difficulty with revving the engine in the same category as writer's block, so my solutions of "close my web browsers" or "turn off wi-fi" aren't quite applicable, since that's not about writer's block, per se, but "distraction." But that's my biggest problem, dealing with super severe ADD. Being regimented really helps with that, but the problem with ADD is it really quashes your (my) ability to be regimented in the first place. That's progress I'm making bit by bit: have a basic idea in mind for what I'd like to accomplish the next day, set an alarm for 7 am so I can get a couple hours before work, turn off wi-fi after I'm done my coffee, and so on...

Regardless of what's "writer's block" and what's whatever, I find a lot of these issues, at least for me, are more or less matters of inertia more than, say, self-doubt (that comes in more in revisions!) or pride. That's why people tell you to write every day, even if it's just a few hundred words, because it's a way to keep the ball rolling! Like HeyAll said, if I'm feeling an ~urge~ to write without a specific plan in mind, I'll sometimes browse images (though usually not erotic ones) and see if anything comes to mind. My other sure-shot thing, when dealing with short fiction, is putting a list of kinks (or whatever!) into a random number generator and pulling out a couple--"Okay, today I'm going to write 2000 words about... watersports and footjobs!"--basically a Build Your Own Writing Prompt. The results won't always be conducive to publishing, but any writing is better than no writing!

 

[RKB_Kirin]

I guess I've always lumped a difficulty with revving the engine in the same category as writer's block...

"Revving the engine" I like that. It is a more accurate description of what I'm experiencing rather than a dry spell of ideas. There's no lack of ideas for me, but he problem is the kind of ADD you mention where it's not just distractions but also bouncing between different short story ideas and longer book ideas.

It's especially annoying because I thought I was getting into a regimented habit of writing after doing several short stories, but that fell completely apart. Perhaps coincidentally it was around the time I discovered 9gag Maybe I need to avoid that like you shut off WiFi. Quitting MMOs and other video games was probably the best decision I made as far as creating more time to write.

The results won't always be conducive to publishing, but any writing is better than no writing!

I do like the idea of just trying to write a few hundred words each day regardless of the result. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[zoemiller]

I've got the same problem with bouncing around, both on the micro and macro scale. In my personal experience, adderall helps maintain focus once focus is attained, but it doesn't ~guide~ my focus, so it's just as effective as helping "focus" on browsing the internet or going on a housecleaning spree (my girlfriend doesn't mind that so much!)

So anyway, big and small: I shut off Wifi because I'll just keep refreshing twitter, or whatever, even though I know there's nothing new on there, it's like an automatic, thoughtless response. On the large scale, yeah, I'm like you. I've got my attention spread between a couple novels, more or less finished, and a bunch of open-ended story stories that could easily turn into serial things. But, you know, it's much easier (and more fun!) to make first drafts of knew idea than to get into revisions and expansions.

I agree dropping video games would probably help just from a perspective of regained time! I'm not quite there yet, but I do often rue the uncompromising, all-encompassing time sink that basically every video game requires. You can probably read two or three novels in the time it takes to get through a JRPG. I'm basically done with MMOs, however, thank god! (...tho I do miss FFXIV...)

Anyway, post made, WiFi is going off! Good luck everyone on their writing today!