Getting Over Writer's Block

[Casual_Writer21]

ONe of my biggest flaws when I wright is my perfectionist nature. I don't even finish rough drafts let alone stories becausdd I'm too focused on making something perfect instead of just writing.

I apologize if I made you want to crawl out of your skin with the errors in the initial statement. The sentence above is how I've developed a defense against writer's block. I close my eyes and get words on the document. It's not full-proof, but it has been essential in helping me get past crippling first drafts as a perfectionist. Not seeing those red lines underneath my work allows my thoughts to flow, and I've learned that I can't edit a blank page. This strategy isn't new, but I'm glad to have found one that works for me.

What are your strategies for getting past writer's block?

 

[Ravishing]

Past it?

It's taken root, has a bed, toothbrush and begs for coffee.

I thought role-playing with words with others might help. Yes, at times there's liberal smut. But really instead of helping. It just let's me hide.

At times I may start something. But I don't take it places. I don't buy it drinks. I'm a horrible date when it comes to writing.

Perhaps too much humour. I would however I suppose commit myself to trying something.

 

[Casual_Writer21]

Past it?

It's taken root, has a bed, toothbrush and begs for coffee.

I thought role-playing with words with others might help. Yes, at times there's liberal smut. But really instead of helping. It just let's me hide.

At times I may start something. But I don't take it places. I don't buy it drinks. I'm a horrible date when it comes to writing.

Perhaps too much humour. I would however I suppose commit myself to trying something.

I think you have just the right amount of humor. I got a kick out of your second line!

AI is an excellent tool for some. It might be just what you need. It can generate infinite ideas or simply talk you through the process. I've gotten great utility out of it. The best part is, it's free.

 

[Ravishing]

Ideas are not the issue.

Ideas I have a gazillion.

It's starting something and getting beyond that certain point. That point in which reason flees and I'm left eyeballing a document with a generally good start sitting there.

And I tell myself. "Sure, I'll get back to it. Something will mesh in this head about what's there." But it's like once it's begun it poof away and hides.

I have a short story I began expanding about when I joined here. 2004. It's still at just the three chapters done.

 

[AchtungNight]

I work with celebrity characters, so I imagine myself as a film producer calling them into my imaginary office. Help me write you, I tell my characters. What do you want me to script you doing? Anne, I want to femslash you with your co-star. How should I do it? Emily, as her co-star, how do you want to get involved in things? Your husband over there can play the random dancer you reject in the story while you’re seducing Anne in the nightclub. Is that enough of a bone for him? Tom, Erika, Katie, I need to write a Loving Wives story involving you. We’re in a universe where this is acceptable. Help me please. Evan, how can I reconcile your controversial relationship with You-Know-Who for myself and your other fans? Etc.

It’s an uncomfortable introspection process but it’s worked a thousand times.

 

[Djmac1031]

Ideas are not the issue.

Ideas I have a gazillion.

It's starting something and getting beyond that certain point. That point in which reason flees and I'm left eyeballing a document with a generally good start sitting there.

Yeah, I got at least several of those lol.

Great idea, good start, then...poof. Nada. The well runs dry.

A few I have picked up again eventually.

Others have sat unfinished for years.

I go through dry spells for weeks, even months. Thinking that's it, I'm done.

Then an idea hits that won't go away and I'm off to the races again.

It is what it is.

 

[Seadog777]

I don't think there's a "getting over" writer's block.
It's always gonna be there.
It might not be front and center, but it's always lurking in the background, like your batshit crazy ex that stalks you.

I simply put that particular story away, and start another.
If an idea hits me for it, I'll pull it up and put it down as a notation.

 

[Casual_Writer21]

Ideas are not the issue.

Ideas I have a gazillion.

It's starting something and getting beyond that certain point. That point in which reason flees and I'm left eyeballing a document with a generally good start sitting there.

And I tell myself. "Sure, I'll get back to it. Something will mesh in this head about what's there." But it's like once it's begun it poof away and hides.

I have a short story I began expanding about when I joined here. 2004. It's still at just the three chapters done.

Okay, now I gotcha. Well, AI can still help in that regard. I'm not a professional, but I'm sure there are other ways to get past this.

 

[Casual_Writer21]

I work with celebrity characters, so I imagine myself as a film producer calling them into my imaginary office. Help me write you, I tell my characters. What do you want me to script you doing? Anne, I want to femslash you with your co-star. How should I do it? Emily, as her co-star, how do you want to get involved in things? Your husband over there can play the random dancer you reject in the story while you’re seducing Anne in the nightclub. Is that enough of a bone for him? Tom, Erika, Katie, I need to write a Loving Wives story involving you. We’re in a universe where this is acceptable. Help me please. Evan, how can I reconcile your controversial relationship with You-Know-Who for myself and your other fans? Etc.

It’s an uncomfortable introspection process but it’s worked a thousand times.

First of all, that's cool as hell. Second, I've never heard of that process before. That takes visualizing to new heights!

 

[Casual_Writer21]

I don't think there's a "getting over" writer's block.
It's always gonna be there.
It might not be front and center, but it's always lurking in the background, like your batshit crazy ex that stalks you.

I simply put that particular story away, and start another.
If an idea hits me for it, I'll put it up and put it down as a notation.

I agree that writer's block will always be there, and putting a story away while working on something else is also a valid technique.

 

[AchtungNight]

First of all, that's cool as hell. Second, I've never heard of that process before. That takes visualizing to new heights!

It helps to have my imaginary therapist and ideal wife (character played by Colbie Smulders in a couple of my Lit stories) sitting off to the side ready to help me if I need it. A huge elephant in human form with action hero superpowers (lead character Clarke from my story Debrief) is also in the room ready to defend me and everyone else if needed. It’s nuts, I know. But as many writers know, to get your art out sometimes you must go a little crazy.

 

[Ravishing]

I don't think there's a "getting over" writer's block.
It's always gonna be there.
It might not be front and center, but it's always lurking in the background, like your batshit crazy ex that stalks you.

I simply put that particular story away, and start another.
If an idea hits me for it, I'll put it up and put it down as a notation.

I haven't exactly started new ones. Since. I should perhaps see. If I get stuck. Move on. Try something else. See if it helps. Thanks for the tip.

 

[lovecraft68]

Aside from giving it a couple days and not pushing, I find that if I go back and read some of my stories it can kind of kickstart the muse again.

 

[Seadog777]

I haven't exactly started new ones. Since. I should perhaps see. If I get stuck. Move on. Try something else. See if it helps. Thanks for the tip.

You're welcome.
I hope you get unstuck.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I often get stuck when writing...
Stories have an ebb and flow... It's not full on action the while way...
It's those phases of the story that get me. It feels boring, like writing a report.
When I get to that point, I lose interest, struggle to put words together, find plot holes I can't climb out of...
That's when it becomes hard work, the fun gets sucked out of it, and the insecurities come into play.
I question everything, delete and repeat... I say those things I'm sure we all do... "Why do I bother?"
My method is, as others have suggested... Walk away, take a brief holiday. Play guitar, squash, netball... Go for a ride... Anything...
Then when you are refreshed, go back to it... Hopefully, something will make sense.
Cagivagurl

 

[oneagainst]

The hard work is the important part. Unless you're just dropping 4k and done, you need the hard work in there. Waypoints, conversation excerpts, scene sketches and a rough track between A, B and Z. Crucially it lets you skip ahead to the next interesting bit and then put in the necessary interstitial sections after. A story might get tough if you've just delivered the mic drop and you now need to have the interstitial for story progression, but if instead it's a bridge to something good that's next in the story, you can still get that writer's kick out of finishing the bridge between.

 

[NightPorter]

I don't get writters block in general, I get writers block for a specific story at a time. So if I find myself getting stuck I just jump over to another project for a while.