I've run out of words :(

[amber03]

So, I'm writing my second novella and half way through, after 15,000 words, I've run out. I mean, there are no words left. I've totally lost direction and all sense of story control....

ARGGHHHH!

Is this writer's block? Where have all the words gone?

A
x

 

[SixtyMinuteMan]

You can have some of mine. I can't write a grocery list in less than a gojillion words, take all you want.

Just leave me at least three synonyms for each gender's genitalia, I'll be fine.

 

[amber03]

You can have some of mine. I can't write a grocery list in less than a gojillion words, take all you want.

Just leave me at least three synonyms for each gender's genitalia, I'll be fine.

Hehe, thank you! Can I have 15,000?

 

[slyc_willie]

So, I'm writing my second novella and half way through, after 15,000 words, I've run out. I mean, there are no words left. I've totally lost direction and all sense of story control....

ARGGHHHH!

Is this writer's block? Where have all the words gone?

A
x

Put it away, watch some TV, take a walk, play with the dog, whatever. You've overloaded yourself and you need a distraction. Happens to me once in a while, too.

 

[TxRad]

Words I have plenty of. Three or four dictionaries full. Now, getting them in the right order and making them make sense, that's a whole other story.

Put it down and write something fun and quick. Clear the mind. Then reread and take back control.

 

[markelly]

Put it away, watch some TV, take a walk, play with the dog, whatever. You've overloaded yourself and you need a distraction. Happens to me once in a while, too.

I agree... Walk away from it and do something else, even if you go out for an evening. You have your mind wrapped around it and thats why your at a loss. Even the break of an evening or a day helps.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Words I have plenty of. Three or four dictionaries full. Now, getting them in the right order and making them make sense, that's a whole other story.

Put it down and write something fun and quick. Clear the mind. Then reread and take back control.

That is probably how I am going to have to write my suspense/thriller novel. It is going to be non-linear, setting up some false assumptions about the characters. but that is a different story

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Here are some words...
Donkey
Sheep
Dildo
Tatas
Ass
Finger
Schlong

I have more if you need them

 

[glynndah]

You can reuse those same 15,000 words. Just switch the order around a little.

 

[jomar]

Put it away, watch some TV, take a walk, play with the dog, whatever. You've overloaded yourself and you need a distraction. ...

...
Put it down and write something fun and quick. Clear the mind. Then reread and take back control.

I agree... Walk away from it and do something else, even if you go out for an evening. ...

What the hell kind of advice is that?

This is Lit!

You need to get laid, get off, get pleasured!!!

That's the only way out of this block.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You have nothing to say!
Look at your plot.

 

[NoJo]

So, I'm writing my second novella and half way through, after 15,000 words, I've run out. I mean, there are no words left. I've totally lost direction and all sense of story control....

ARGGHHHH!

Is this writer's block? Where have all the words gone?

A
x

I have that problem because I don't plan my stories properly and just write like a mofo until I reach a cul-de-sac in the plot.

I'd guess you have to unwind the plot and head off in a slightly, or even completely, different direction. As others here have posted, the first stage is to take a break to get some distance from the story

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If you have a plot and know it, a loss for words should be the least of your problems. The words will often require work, but there is no loss for words, because you know the story.

In a typical conservation about a date you had, you have no trouble expressing how it was, ditto for a movie if someone asks you about it....becuz you know the story and the plot.

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

If you have a plot and know it, a loss for words should be the least of your problems. The words will often require work, but there is no loss for words, because you know the story.

In a typical conservation about a date you had, you have no trouble expressing how it was, ditto for a movie if someone asks you about it....becuz you know the story and the plot.

I found I had less trouble with writers block when I started outlining stories before I started them. I loved letting my creative side write stories, but at times I got stuck and just sat there thinking 'Now what?'

Knowing the story is only half the battle (god now I'm paraphrasing GI Joe ) I find what jamms me up the most is not being able to feel the scene. Trying to write something happy, or sexy, or with any kind of life, while I feel like something the cat coughed up with the hairball, just doesn't work.

Maybe it's just me, but I need my mindframe dedicated to the scene. For example, when writing something depressing I might spend a bit of time watching or reading or listening to things that make me sad. For an action scene I might exercise first so I feel energized. For sex scenes, well use your imagination.

I agree with taking a step back. Clearing your head, and stop writing the story like you're writing it (if that makes any sence). Go back to the story when you can write it as though you are living it.

Best advice I can give. Works for me.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BIANCA

You express the process superbly. Its identical to what we do when we recall a movie or trip to the circus or vacation. And when you have no idea what the story is, you get writer's block when you get ahead of your imagination.

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

BIANCA

You express the process superbly. Its identical to what we do when we recall a movie or trip to the circus or vacation. And when you have no idea what the story is, you get writer's block when you get ahead of your imagination.

Thank you JBJ

It took me a long time to get it right, but when I decided to become a freelance writer I realized writers block wouldn't be a good excuse to miss deadlines. I had done tireless research and experiemented and finally came up with a method I find nips blocks in the bud.

I think writers sometimes get caught up with the 'artform' and forget that, like all other arts, the creativity is a mere part, not the whole.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BIANCA

Even non-fiction writers better have a story to tell.

When my eldest daughter was a kid, she wanted to join the school band. So we got her an instrument what she ignored and never learned to play. One day I said to her, YOU JUST WANNA MARCH IN THE PARADE, RIGHT? 'Yes' was her response.

Real writers know where theyre going. I need to transplant 12 tomato bushes today. I need to clear the plot, dig the holes, fill the holes with stuff, cover the roots of the tomatoes, stake them, and water. Its a lotta work but thats the process. Scribblers dont know the process.

 

[Boota]

With the way I "outline" there are a lot of holes in the story that leave room for spontaneity. I know before the first word is on the page where the story is going, but occasionally I hit a snag in one of the so called minor scenes on the way there. I can sit down and slag my way through it if I have to, it's just not as much fun. Sometimes a good long walk will do things that all the brain-wracking at the monitor just won't do.

If the problem is really that you don't have the words you want, write with the words you have and fix it later. Just get the story down and tweak the nuts and bolts later. In the computer age there really isn't such a thing as a true second draft anymore. You might even find out after a little distance that the words you had were fine.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Outline your stories, Amber. It makes writing them so much easier. Here's one of my outlines...

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/Jenny_Jackson/KS76836.jpg


Now if I only knew who the victim was...or is that me??

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

With the way I "outline" there are a lot of holes in the story that leave room for spontaneity. I know before the first word is on the page where the story is going, but occasionally I hit a snag in one of the so called minor scenes on the way there. I can sit down and slag my way through it if I have to, it's just not as much fun. Sometimes a good long walk will do things that all the brain-wracking at the monitor just won't do.

If the problem is really that you don't have the words you want, write with the words you have and fix it later. Just get the story down and tweak the nuts and bolts later. In the computer age there really isn't such a thing as a true second draft anymore. You might even find out after a little distance that the words you had were fine.

OF COURSE! I just wrote a monster story with 7 drafts, it still needs work at the end because I havent found the right words to express the end. But I know what the end is!

Stream of consciousness scribbling is okay; its like jumping on the bike and going for a Sunday ride. You might end up someplace interesting, you might meet someone special, you might end up runover by a drunk.

 

[amber03]

Thanks everyone for all the fab advice!

I'm going to revisit it tonight after having a few days away from the story itself. I now have a better sense of direction with it. Sometimes I think it just swamps me, I want it to be perfect and even though I know it's my best work yet, I know that I also just have to write it and then revisit it once it's done to fill in all the blanks.

Thanks for the support!



A
x

 

[Zeb_Carter]

You ran out after 15,000 words...try putting 95,000 words in the order you want them and then running out. And I have the beginning, the end and major parts in the middle and such but, then there are some key connection pieces needed and I have run out of gas and words.

So I have taken a break...moved into a house-still getting settled and putting things away-and plan on getting back to it next week sometime.

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

BIANCA

Even non-fiction writers better have a story to tell.

When my eldest daughter was a kid, she wanted to join the school band. So we got her an instrument what she ignored and never learned to play. One day I said to her, YOU JUST WANNA MARCH IN THE PARADE, RIGHT? 'Yes' was her response.

Real writers know where theyre going. I need to transplant 12 tomato bushes today. I need to clear the plot, dig the holes, fill the holes with stuff, cover the roots of the tomatoes, stake them, and water. Its a lotta work but thats the process. Scribblers dont know the process.

Reminds me of the much repeated phrase, 'Everyone wants to write a book'. I never agree with that for one very simple reason. They have no idea what it entails. What they want is a book with their name on it. They don't want to do the work.

I always find it funny when some of my friends who claim they'll write a book one day ask me how often I write. I tell them everyday, without fail. They'll call me and ask how long I've been working that day. I'll tell them five hours, so far. They'll ask how much I've written. Some days I'll say "Nothing". When they ask why I tell them quite simply "Research" which floors them.

They don't get why a fiction writer would need to do that much research. I got tired of trying to explain it. To me it makes sense, if I put something in one of my books, be it a page or a paragraph, I better know what the hell I'm talking about.

Your daughter reminds me of mine. Only with mine it was ballet and tap. She said she wanted to be a dancer. She refused to get up saturaday mornings to go to class. Turned out she just liked the tutu and the noisy shoes.

 

[CamLion]

I don't want to be critical, but do you really believe in the story? If you do, then stepping away from it for a while sounds like good advice.