I wouldn't exactly call it writer's block but . . .

[PrevertOne]

It's not as if I don't have any new ideas, or abandoned any of the stories. It's just I can't seem to concentrate on any one story, and I have so many unfinished ones. And the ideas these days seem to come in fits and starts. I mean, I'm working on a new story right now and I'm a ways in and I haven't got to the sex part yet. I'm anxious to get to the sex part but fear if I'm too impatient and get to the sex too quickly I'd hurt the rest of the story. Then there's "Huge Fuckin' Insects." I've been stuck on part three for months. It's something I haven't really tried before and the ideas are in that "fits and starts" pattern with weeks to months in between. It's a frustrating thing bouncing between multiple stories, unable to finish any of them. At least I finished the "Alice Amoeba" stories.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Youre describing monkey mind NOT writers block.

The reason so many writers drink is because alcohol puts the monkeys back in their cages. Drink a glass of Old LIT Skank and youll know I'm right.

 

[NaokoSmith]

It doesn't seem like your way of working is that unsuccessful? You finished one whole story series and are busy working on others. Maybe you should just go with the flow.

Although a drink is always good, too. I'm not too sure about old LIT Skank but a glass or two of Lagavulin 16 yo will surely do no harm.

 

[PrevertOne]

Hmmm, new term.

Monkey Mind! That's a new one for me. I'm a teetotaler. The only time I use alcohol is when I'm cooking something with it. Rockstar, Java Monster, and Five Hour works for me Of course I'm always open to suggestions to get the juices flowing

 

[lovecraft68]

I see it as Three Stooges syndrome all the ideas are stuck in the door because they are all trying to get out at the same time.

I'll add my personal preference....Jack and Coke, hold the coke.

 

[49greg]

I see it as Three Stooges syndrome all the ideas are stuck in the door because they are all trying to get out at the same time.

I'll add my personal preference....Jack and Coke, hold the coke.

I like the three stooges analogy. I haven't been able to complete anything for some time, just bounce around and can't get anything finished.

As for alcohol. Hmmm, maybe I should write a story in German. When I was stationed in Germany, I was certain that after three liters of beer I could speak fluent German.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

It's not as if I don't have any new ideas, or abandoned any of the stories. It's just I can't seem to concentrate on any one story, and I have so many unfinished ones. And the ideas these days seem to come in fits and starts. I mean, I'm working on a new story right now and I'm a ways in and I haven't got to the sex part yet. I'm anxious to get to the sex part but fear if I'm too impatient and get to the sex too quickly I'd hurt the rest of the story. Then there's "Huge Fuckin' Insects." I've been stuck on part three for months. It's something I haven't really tried before and the ideas are in that "fits and starts" pattern with weeks to months in between. It's a frustrating thing bouncing between multiple stories, unable to finish any of them. At least I finished the "Alice Amoeba" stories.

If you enjoy video games, play a few of those. Video games are always amazing for inspiration. You slip on somebody else's skin and a different setting, shifts you out of your perspective. Especially RPG's like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Fallout 3/New Vegas, Skyrim, etc.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I posted a story a day for the last week, submitted a few more, and have a few more on the drawing board. Its not RED LETTER stuff but the well is never dry. One got 30,000 reads in one day, tho.

Should I write an essay about how to germinate story ideas?

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

I've just posted a link to this interview with Steven Moffat and in it he discusses writers block.

http://youtu.be/_qXuTwdlF9k

He basically says he gets it all the time. He struggles with it constantly.

"Writers block is your own internal editor. It's your way of saying it's not right. That's why you can't write it down. It's not right, it's not ready yet."

I have to admit that's why I have so many ideas I start and flesh out and work upon.

If I get bored with one I can easily start to work on another.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

I posted a story a day for the last week, submitted a few more, and have a few more on the drawing board. Its not RED LETTER stuff but the well is never dry. One got 30,000 reads in one day, tho.

Should I write an essay about how to germinate story ideas?

Please do so.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

It's not as if I don't have any new ideas, or abandoned any of the stories. It's just I can't seem to concentrate on any one story, and I have so many unfinished ones. And the ideas these days seem to come in fits and starts. I mean, I'm working on a new story right now and I'm a ways in and I haven't got to the sex part yet. I'm anxious to get to the sex part but fear if I'm too impatient and get to the sex too quickly I'd hurt the rest of the story. Then there's "Huge Fuckin' Insects." I've been stuck on part three for months. It's something I haven't really tried before and the ideas are in that "fits and starts" pattern with weeks to months in between. It's a frustrating thing bouncing between multiple stories, unable to finish any of them. At least I finished the "Alice Amoeba" stories.

IF - and it works for a friend of mine.

If you need to get to the sex. Write that but down and just place it into the story at the correct point. Then you're not rushing anything and you can get it out if your system.

I guarantee though that you'll write it better when you get to the point it rears its head in your story.

Also you could take a small notepad and pen around with you jotting down snatches of dialogue or ideas or scenarios. That way when it comes to making the story come together you've got a lot of the work done.
It sounds as though you don't like the writing part.

It can happen. My biggest problem is getting the time to write. You just have to find a routine and just do it. It really won't write itself. It is hard work, tedious and boring at times, but if you're enjoying what you write and love it - and you've got to love what you write it'll be enjoyable.

Writing should never feel like a chore, but like every job it can feel a burden at times. I just love writing because I feel I'm reasonably good at it and to be honest I've done so many soul destroying jobs that sitting down all day writing and thinking up ideas is actually really cool. I love it. I just would love it to be my job... my career.

 

[Everyday_Man]

I posted a story a day for the last week, submitted a few more, and have a few more on the drawing board. Its not RED LETTER stuff but the well is never dry. One got 30,000 reads in one day, tho.

Should I write an essay about how to germinate story ideas?

Fuck no ... you guys and your 'this text book writing' ... fucks up style and feel ... my biggest problem with all of you (well, JBJ isn't as much, but he does it) is the cutting of words that connect a reader to the author/character ... and turns writing into text book.

example:
I walked into a room, faucet running, bed unmade, knew shit went down
she sucked my cock, I turned her over and made her cum after a few hard pumps
she smile, asked for my number, I gave it knowing she'd call me soon


where the fuck is the style of an author in that? I think your germination would kill the magnetism of reading ....

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

Fuck no ... you guys and your 'this text book writing' ... fucks up style and feel ... my biggest problem with all of you (well, JBJ isn't as much, but he does it) is the cutting of words that connect a reader to the author/character ... and turns writing into text book.

example:
I walked into a room, faucet running, bed unmade, knew shit went down
she sucked my cock, I turned her over and made her cum after a few hard pumps
she smile, asked for my number, I gave it knowing she'd call me soon


where the fuck is the style of an author in that? I think your germination would kill the magnetism of reading ....

Well my foul mouthed friend you've clearly not been reading the right kind of 'guidance'. That sounds like a crappy 'writing for morons' manual you stumbled upon.

Like life, fiction or anything, you have to go through an awful lot of crap before you get to the treasure. Which is the point of the story called 'The Hobbit'

 

[Everyday_Man]

Well my foul mouthed friend you've clearly not been reading the right kind of 'guidance'. That sounds like a crappy 'writing for morons' manual you stumbled upon.

Like life, fiction or anything, you have to go through an awful lot of crap before you get to the treasure. Which is the point of the story called 'The Hobbit'

That was a little foul mouthed, I agree .. in my defense ... a writer writes, and while there is correct grammar, there is style and word use that people, the readers love ... and as a writer , you have to sift through that to reach the broader audience.

There is a connection to be made in writing how people think and talk and for those that cut all life from their sentences, doom themselves.

There is a big difference from text book writing and writing people want to read ... ask yourself what kind of writer you want to be? ... textbook and boring ... or exciting and wanted? ...

there is a definite grey area .... the writer has to choose for themself

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

That was a little foul mouthed, I agree .. in my defense ... a writer writes, and while there is correct grammar, there is style and word use that people, the readers love ... and as a writer , you have to sift through that to reach the broader audience.

There is a connection to be made in writing how people think and talk and for those that cut all life from their sentences, doom themselves.

There is a big difference from text book writing and writing people want to read ... ask yourself what kind of writer you want to be? ... textbook and boring ... or exciting and wanted? ...

there is a definite grey area .... the writer has to choose for themself

Of course there is, my advice would be the structural side always and forever. It's your imagination that counts. You need to be able to make that voice heard. There are loads of technical issues in writing that need to be answered and improved with amateur works at times, which is completely understandable. That's fine. Everyone can improve what they're doing.

Some stories here can be badly written but far more entertaining because the story struggling to get out is very good and absorbing. That's what matters not how good it is on a 'technical level'.

For instance I have a friend who just slots his "dialogue" into a scene "like this" and it's hard to follow it.

So I "correct him."

"And edit it like this for him."

Which makes it far easier to understand for the lay person.

Now whether the story is I think utter crap is another matter.
Fortunately I've never bothered to critique a work that's very ABC... Say 'Andy, 42, black, 14-inch cock fucked that white 18yo in the ass then fucked her mum in the ass... again... and again... And I'm bored whit less. That's not writing, that's called taking the piss. Like EL James.

 

[SamScribble]

Fuck no ... you guys and your 'this text book writing' ... fucks up style and feel ... my biggest problem with all of you (well, JBJ isn't as much, but he does it) is the cutting of words that connect a reader to the author/character ... and turns writing into text book.

example:
I walked into a room, faucet running, bed unmade, knew shit went down
she sucked my cock, I turned her over and made her cum after a few hard pumps
she smile, asked for my number, I gave it knowing she'd call me soon


where the fuck is the style of an author in that? I think your germination would kill the magnetism of reading ....

Not everything on this site is literature. The title Literotica may have confused you.

I’m not sure where you found the example that you used as your illustration, but if I had come across it I would have ignored it. Apart from not being particularly exciting, it was barely literate.

That said, I am a writer not a reader. How some people arrive at the conclusions about some of the stuff that I write is a mystery to me. But their opinions are their prerogative. Reader A says ‘That was total shit.’ Reader B says ‘That was fantastic. Give me more.’ What is a writer to do?

I write (mainly) to amuse myself. Literary theory, literary schmeoray. (That doesn’t look right; but you know what I mean.) If the readers buy it … hooray! If they don’t … well, there’s always tomorrow.

Sorry … what was your question?

 

[PrevertOne]

If you enjoy video games, play a few of those. Video games are always amazing for inspiration. You slip on somebody else's skin and a different setting, shifts you out of your perspective. Especially RPG's like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Fallout 3/New Vegas, Skyrim, etc.

I'm not a gamer. I've not played one since the 80's. My inspiration comes from random things, like Playboy models, movies, old folktales, advertisements, etc.

 

[PrevertOne]

IF - and it works for a friend of mine.

If you need to get to the sex. Write that but down and just place it into the story at the correct point. Then you're not rushing anything and you can get it out if your system.

I guarantee though that you'll write it better when you get to the point it rears its head in your story.

Also you could take a small notepad and pen around with you jotting down snatches of dialogue or ideas or scenarios. That way when it comes to making the story come together you've got a lot of the work done.
It sounds as though you don't like the writing part.

It can happen. My biggest problem is getting the time to write. You just have to find a routine and just do it. It really won't write itself. It is hard work, tedious and boring at times, but if you're enjoying what you write and love it - and you've got to love what you write it'll be enjoyable.

Writing should never feel like a chore, but like every job it can feel a burden at times. I just love writing because I feel I'm reasonably good at it and to be honest I've done so many soul destroying jobs that sitting down all day writing and thinking up ideas is actually really cool. I love it. I just would love it to be my job... my career.

My way is to write the story down on pen and paper, put everything down, including the bad ideas, then type it up. That way grammar and spelling can be looked over, bad ideas discarded, styles experimented. On the contrary, I love the writing part. I don't know where you got that impression. The frustration comes from the roadblocks and having to leave a story I like because I can't figure a way to continue. When I'm in the zone, though, where the ideas are flowing, it's a beautiful feeling. Usually Murphy's Law puts me in the zone just before I have to leave for work. My ideal life would be to spend the rest of it just writing and reading and not having to worry about anything else.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

It was the way you composed your first post.

So you free form your stories? Writing as you go along? The one drawback is you can get to the stage when you just don't finish it.

Try to write the story fully and then type it up. It'll teach you a lot.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Ah. Well try skipping past the part you're struggling with now. Say it's a plot scene that you don't know quite what to do with. Leave some simple notes, stuff that you KNOW you're going to include. It's like shorthand for me. Sometimes I have a page or two of disjointed notes that turns into twenty pages of story once I have the time and the wherewithal to just do it. I also like it because it forces me to think about the story structure, it allows me to use mechanics like foreshadowing and callbacks to other references when I 'plot out' a story using simple notes.

Keep them short, unless the creative juices start flowing and you're just straight-up writing again.


Example notes copy-pasted from a story I'm working on.

<<Pawn 219 tells her his real name. Loves her despite her pain. To punish them, Archer has Pawn 219 castrated. After that, when she tries to comfort him, he cringes away from her. She alienates herself from the others. From everyone. They hate and fear her. She is trying to protect them. This makes her hate Archer more than anything in the universe. Literally unsafe for him (or anyone) to be in the room with her unless she is heavily drugged. She goes along with automated practices, while being recorded and lightly drugged to ‘damper her’. The one thing they have left to bargain with her is texts.>>

 

[sr71plt]

That was a little foul mouthed, I agree .. in my defense ... a writer writes, and while there is correct grammar, there is style and word use that people, the readers love ... and as a writer , you have to sift through that to reach the broader audience.

There is a connection to be made in writing how people think and talk and for those that cut all life from their sentences, doom themselves.

There is a big difference from text book writing and writing people want to read ... ask yourself what kind of writer you want to be? ... textbook and boring ... or exciting and wanted? ...

there is a definite grey area .... the writer has to choose for themself

I think your generalizations and your "all of you" indictment renders your discussion meaningless.

 

[PrevertOne]

It was the way you composed your first post.

So you free form your stories? Writing as you go along? The one drawback is you can get to the stage when you just don't finish it.

I write the story out then I type it. What I mean by "bad ideas" are the stuff I discover later when I type the draft to be posted.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

I write the story out then I type it. What I mean by "bad ideas" are the stuff I discover later when I type the draft to be posted.

I was confused with you saying you don't dislike writing it out. You write it down before finishing it up and 'finessing' it.

Hell for me that's Christmas!

 

[PervOtaku]

When I get a new idea that I like, I write it down. Just note, broad outline stuff. In part so that I won't forget any details later, but also because writing this stuff down helps banish it from my head. Though it's never fully banished until I have the story written out properly. I have favorite/key scenes from multiple yet-unwritten stories that pop up and run through my head incessantly on various days.

 

[49greg]

When I get a new idea that I like, I write it down. Just note, broad outline stuff. In part so that I won't forget any details later, but also because writing this stuff down helps banish it from my head. Though it's never fully banished until I have the story written out properly. I have favorite/key scenes from multiple yet-unwritten stories that pop up and run through my head incessantly on various days.

I don't have to write a story down to have a good idea disappear from my head, it happens all by itself. I'm out doing whatever and get a good idea, before I get back to where I can write it down .... all gone.

Dammit.

But I do have ideas for scenes that I remember, and I also have done stories based on an idea for a key scene. Sometimes the story is as good as the scene, sometimes not.