on shattering the (writer's) block?

[silverwhisper]

i did a quick search and didn't see an actual thread about this recently, so my apologies if i'm delving into ground that's been covered to death.

i find myself blocked on a number of writing projects, both for lit and other stuff. the trick i usually use, of starting a different project in the hopes that when i lose steam on it i can return to an earlier piece, just isn't doing it for me right now.

anybody have any favored methods for getting around that?

sidenote: it's extremely depressing to be blocked on the choreography of a sex scene.

ed

 

[Weepingguitar]

sidenote: it's extremely depressing to be blocked on the choreography of a sex scene.

ed

That's exactaly where my story has come to a screeching halt. I know where I want things to end up...but I can't decide how to get there.

 

[NoJo]

i
sidenote: it's extremely depressing to be blocked on the choreography of a sex scene.

ed

You need to think outside the box.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I would suggest doing it step by step, rather than trying to handle all of it at once. That is, tackle the oral first, for instance, followed by the fingering, and then the vaginal, etc. Orgies are even more important to choreograph right. I have learned this from experience, due to stories where I was criticized (rightly so, I might add) for being too "clinical" about the whole business. Also take plenty of breaks for dialogue and revelation of the participants' thoughts.

 

[silverwhisper]

weepingguitar: well, hey, at least we can commiserate... :>

sub joe: while thinking outside the box is usually good advice, it's hard for me to keep this all straight: it's a three-way and since that isn't exactly a common occurrence for me, it's a bit of a challenge--i always found lthe real thing to be that way... :>

severusmax: as mentioned, this one's a three-way. the male (POV) character is observing his 2 female friends and isn't allowed to participate: just watch. i'm having trouble balancing the need to describe the protagonist's frustration and tension while also describing what's happening on the bed.

i'm sure it'll come to me in time...

[grumbles]

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

weepingguitar: well, hey, at least we can commiserate... :>

sub joe: while thinking outside the box is usually good advice, it's hard for me to keep this all straight: it's a three-way and since that isn't exactly a common occurrence for me, it's a bit of a challenge--i always found lthe real thing to be that way... :>

severusmax: as mentioned, this one's a three-way. the male (POV) character is observing his 2 female friends and isn't allowed to participate: just watch. i'm having trouble balancing the need to describe the protagonist's frustration and tension while also describing what's happening on the bed.

i'm sure it'll come to me in time...

[grumbles]

ed

Are you doing this in first person? That could help, you know. You should probably alternate paragraphs between the two. You should probably make a point of the physical aspect of the frustration (i.e. hard cock, blue balls). If you wanted to make it worse, add ropes or strong feelings for one or both of the girls. Then make it easy on him, perhaps by having him find a sex partner soon afterward. Just a suggestion.

 

[silverwhisper]

actually, this one actually is first person...that's a good idea. i've been kinda vacillating, wanting to go one way, then the other, and here it turns out that might be the solution! :>

sadly, now i need to get the other stuff kick-started...

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Glad to be of help.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

You need to think outside the box.

And try not to muff it.

Seriously, we throw the expression "writer's block" around entirely too much, using it describe everything from not knowing what to write about to having written ourselves into a corner to being lazy or bored or more interested in watching TV. Obviously, each of these problems has a separate solution. To lump them all togethr as "writer's block" isn't very helpful.

It sounds like you're not blocked, but having trouble with balancing descriptions in a story. You might try reading some other similar stories and see how other authors have handled it, or you might post an excerpt and ask people how it reads. From your description, I can't really tell what the problem is.

Jack groaned as Mitzi lowered her head to Cecelia's crotch and lapped at the dew-bedecked lips with her pink, petal-like tongue. The blonde gasped and thrust her hips off the bed, and Jack felt the blood pound in his head as Cecelia grabbed Mitzi's head and ground her muff demandingly against the other woman's open mouth...

--Jack, Mitzi, and Cecelia

 

[silverwhisper]

doc: that's an excellent point re: the prospective overuse of "writer's block", and in the case i described, you're absolutely right.

there's a few projects on which i'm stuck right now:

1. the situation i described above. i think that severusmax's suggestion will probably be what i need to get going on it again.

2. a classic fantasy (ie., non-erotic) story in which i've finally gotten my 4 protagonists together and i'm trying to give them a plausible reason to go and do something mildly hazardous together w/ people they've never encountered before. there's some character dynamics across each pair of relationships (romantic tension, kindred spirits) that could produce some of what i want, but i haven't found something that gets them all, relationship-wise, where i want them to be.

3. the next chapter in my jenn & tom series (link in profile), in which the couple is having phone sex while the husband is on a business trip. it's hard for me to build the correct sexual tension that's such a key element of phone sex and modulate it the way i want, although i'll confess that's probably a function of a lack of comfort describing male masturbation. i know, i know...for me, it's easy to do, but hard to write. er, sorry about that phrasing...

4. the next chapter in my beth's seduction into porn series, i've sort of written myself into a corner with 3 paragraphs that just don't work so i think i need to scrap 'em. i just don't know what should come next.

and if you've had the patience to read this far, you have my gratitude for that alone. :>

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

doc: that's an excellent point re: the prospective overuse of "writer's block", and in the case i described, you're absolutely right.

there's a few projects on which i'm stuck right now:

1. the situation i described above. i think that severusmax's suggestion will probably be what i need to get going on it again.

2. a classic fantasy (ie., non-erotic) story in which i've finally gotten my 4 protagonists together and i'm trying to give them a plausible reason to go and do something mildly hazardous together w/ people they've never encountered before. there's some character dynamics across each pair of relationships (romantic tension, kindred spirits) that could produce some of what i want, but i haven't found something that gets them all, relationship-wise, where i want them to be.

3. the next chapter in my jenn & tom series (link in profile), in which the couple is having phone sex while the husband is on a business trip. it's hard for me to build the correct sexual tension that's such a key element of phone sex and modulate it the way i want, although i'll confess that's probably a function of a lack of comfort describing male masturbation. i know, i know...for me, it's easy to do, but hard to write. er, sorry about that phrasing...

4. the next chapter in my beth's seduction into porn series, i've sort of written myself into a corner with 3 paragraphs that just don't work so i think i need to scrap 'em. i just don't know what should come next.

and if you've had the patience to read this far, you have my gratitude for that alone. :>

ed

No problem.

 

[silverwhisper]

well, i finished draft one of problem #3. now to send it to my editor, who, btw, rocks. :>

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Glad to hear!