What do you do if you can think it but not write it sometimes?

[yodawanobi]

I have been thinking about what to write down on my story but that is as far as it goes because when I got to write my mind goes blank within seconds. What would be the best way to get around that?

 

[Mickie]

With all that's going on this week, I've had a very hard time writing, so I suppose I can at least give advise on this. When I really can't write something it's usually because my mind is preoccupied with other events. Unfortunately, I use writing as an escape from events in rl. So, it's necessary to dump the extraneous things from my brain -- like rage, speculative thoughts about what's going to happen, and plain depression.

As a writer, I'm consumed with images of the tragedy, and a need to put my feelings and impressions on paper. My daughter is writing a poem, and having the same problems I have -- the words we're using are not strong enough, or evocative enough to convey the absolute truth. This problem has been a problem with anything meaningful that happens in my life. I cannot do it adequate justice.

So, my advise to those who are attempting to write and yet cannot find the words to express their vision is to keep the words flowing. It doesn't matter that the words don't exactly say what you want to say. When you've written it all down, then go back and find those words that approach the meaning you see in your head. Cut the rest and re-write. Eventually, you'll have described your vision as closely as you can.

Nothing will ever describe to every person each detail of your vision. All we can do as a writer is continue to try, and hope we come close to what we really 'see'.

Mickie

 

[JUDO]

How to get from where you are...

Yo -

Hmmmm...

Haven't had the problem, but how about some suggs??

1) What is in your mind? Pictures? Words? Dialog?

2) Decide 1, and write whatever it is (exactly as you think of it) down in prose. Don't flesh out, don't try to be creative, don't critique, just do it.

3) After you have written it down: What do you have? Is it a story? an idea? a character? a scene?

4) If it is NOT a story, then ideas, scenes, dialog and characters are the building blocks of stories, but not the stories themselves.

You can take the idea, dialog, character or whatever and put it into a story easily.

Decide what the main character wants (what they want to achieve or get), then do three things. 1) Decide how they don't have it (the setup story) 2) Decide how they are going to get it and what prevents them from getting it (the second act and main part of the story) 3) Decide if they will get it or not and resolve it (the end of the story, third act or resolution).

NOTE: Be careful. By "it" above, it does not mean a thing necessarily, it might mean an experience or enlightenment.

5) If it is a story, but not all of it's there. Look at #4 and decide what's missing of those components.

Hope this helps.

- Judo

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Essentially you just asked "How do you write?" And I'll give you the age old answer: A writer writes.

 

[Tim Smith]

I know, .....

Do what I do,
Just write stories that piss picky people off, I do .
Hey, Works for me.

Tim...,..,.,.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

It's a simpler answer than you think...don't bother trying to write it down, at least not entirely. THe story's not ready to be written yet. The way a good story develops is generally like planting vegetables. You start by planting them, then you carefully water them and spray them with nutrients, then they grow, slowly, then you can pick the vegetable. THe actual writing part's just the ending, when you pull the veges from the vine. You're just not there yet. If the story's really bothering you, then just think about it, not consciously in a controlling manner, but in aspects that are beside the plot, like small details in things you've already decided, make detailed scenes in your head out of what you thought could hold no more detail. If you get absolutely nowhere with this method, then try writing the story from the middle, not bothering with the beginning. THis version of the story will not be useable in the end, but simply writing tends to inspire the creative process to move forward a little faster.

 

[christophe]

small notes work for me

one thing i have found that the harder u try to write the more apt u are to draw a blank! if u think of an idea just jot it down. if you are abel to write more then go for it. sometimes thes little notes before ya know it these notes become like pieces of a puzzle...all ya have to do then is piece them together

 

[MissVictoria]

I'm not sure if this could be helpful, but if I know what I want to happen, and I get stuck, I will go lay down on my bed and turn on the tape recorder. I'll live out the storyline in my head, and speak outloud as I write, as if I'm telling the story to someone in the room. Then I type up the transcript, print it out, and rewrite what I've said, adding more details, changing things around to make it flow, etc.

 

[christophe]

sounds like a great idea

actually thats i great idea...kinda like the "note to self" do u find that helps in your writings?

 

[MissVictoria]

I don't have to do it often, but sometimes it does get me unstuck.

PS: Your signature gets that song stuck in my head. And when I try to get it out of my head, "Past the point of know return" comes in in its place!! ACK!

 

[christophe]

past the point of no return

hmmmmmmmm i prefer the music of the night my self... but past the point of no return is a good tune, although a bit sad

the bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn, weve passed the point of no return. say you 'll share with me one love one lifetime lead me save me from my solitude, say you want me here beside u anywhere u go let me go to.......

there ya go now that should ring in your ears all day!
cheers chris