Any Ideas?

[Colleen Thomas]

I have never started a thread before, I am usually content to hijack others, but today I am down and don't know what to do. I cannot find the motivation to write and haven't been able to all month. I am used to working in fits and starts, I am used to days when the words won't come, but I have never gone this long without even being able to make myself write a little.

Does anyone have any ideas for something that will help break this? I have so many ideas, so much I want to write and so much I want to say, but when I sit down at the computer my mind goes blank. It is frustrating and has reached the point of being really depressing. Any suggestions would be welcome.

-Colly

 

[wishfulthinking]

Are you tired or stressed? This usually puts a crimp in my creativity. If so, just sit back, relax, have some wine, watch a movie or whatever chills you out. I find this is the best medicine for me.

 

[curious2c]

When starting out a story I tend to play with the characters for a few days, sometimes weeks. I imagine what each one would feel or hoe they would react in different situations. Then, on one of those nights or days whatever the case may be, and I find myself sitting down to write, I think about those instances over the last few days and just begin to tell the story. After I get going, usually on day two or so, I will go back through and 'clean' house a bit. After that, I let the characters write the story for me...although sometimes my characters will lead me astray and I have to put a story up for a bit.

Once I tried having a routine to write with and found that while at the start it helped a bit, later on it became a hinderance for me since I began having to have things just thus and so before writing a single word. sometimes one just has to put aside the bullshit and just write.

 

[English Lady]

I say relax, just chill out a bit and daydream. When I am starting a story I spend alot of time daydreaming about my characters,how they'll interact and how a story would go. Get it all visualised in your mind then jot down some notes.

Don't force yourself to write...that will only frustrate you more,but if you get the main ideas down "on paper" they will be there for when you feel up to writing in earnest

Oh and i've been there done that...i think it's part of being a writer..we all have big blocks of time when the words don't come...there's nothing wrong with you,you are no less of a writer because right now you're not writing,take off all the pressure your building up on yourself and maybe the words will flow

 

[wishfulthinking]

Yeah, have a glass of wine and daydream. I think you gotta be in the mood. Also, don't think too hard, just let the ideas come when they come. Maybe put down a couple of ideas, and come back a few days later, and you might be suprised, and the creative juices might start flowing. If no luck, start cruising the story ideas forum!!

 

[SummerMorning]

Go for a six hour walk in the countryside.

 

[Pure]

Hi Colleen,

You're already writing. I've seen several nice long postings in the politics thread. Yeh I know that thread can be an evasion, but it does show the brain and thoughts and even will are in order. As for ideas and imagination, you've got plenty. I suspect your 'discards' are better than the ideas used by 3/4 of the writers around here.

 

[sirhugs]

play

play none literary
then play with pictures
play with words
soon, an image of word or phrase wil demand that you write it

 

[whispering_surrender]

My solution is a bit strange, but I'll share anyhow. I type out lyrics to songs, just to get myself typing and get my brain working in that strange place that I write from where half is directing my fingers and half is racing on ahead to put together the upcoming phrases. Depending on what I'm trying to write, I pick songs with a similar phrase structure to the effect I'm trying to create. This is probably part of the reason people say some of my sentences seem "forced" or "not likely to actually be spoken by someone"....because in my head they're put to music. But I digress....sometimes just the simple act of typing someone else's words, gets mine started.

Hope it helps,
Whisper

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I am stressed, sick and not sleeping real well. Thats normal for me and it has never left me at usch a loss for words before. I will try to chill out, it seems I am trying to force it.

-Colly

 

[Dirty Slut]

Originally posted by Colleen Thomas
Thanks all for the suggestions. I am stressed, sick and not sleeping real well. Thats normal for me and it has never left me at usch a loss for words before. I will try to chill out, it seems I am trying to force it.

-Colly

Okay, I am going to give my all time best answer to writers block here, and now for the very first time. And that is: Take a vacation. In every other line of work on this planet people manage their time to take a vacation, or as they say in Brittan, go on Holiday. Writing is hard work, especially when done properly, and just like any other job one needs to take a vacation from writing, or their inner muse will take one without them. Creativity is the hardest thing in the world to nurture, but it can best be nutured in a mind well rested, or one that has had some time to play, and have a bit of fun. Am I saying that writing is not fun? Not at all, but let's say that you play professional Volley Ball. You love it, and it's fun. But it is also a job, and they too take vacations. As an author, and someone who is considered to be selfemployed, you just need to take a vacation from being an author is all. Because if you don't, your muse most certainly will. So you might as well join her. Have fun, and enjoy life a little outside of that room where you create for fun.

DS