What happens..

[GinaeEvans]

When you find that you have writer's block and just can't get any words out?

I can honestly feel a change in myself when it happens to me. It's almost like I get edgy, unhappy and a little tense. Even irritable. When the words finally do come, I feel a distinct sensation of relief.

Does anyone else experience this?

 

[oggbashan]

When you find that you have writer's block and just can't get any words out?

I can honestly feel a change in myself when it happens to me. It's almost like I get edgy, unhappy and a little tense. Even irritable. When the words finally do come, I feel a distinct sensation of relief.

Does anyone else experience this?

I stop writing and do something else such as posting too much to the Literotica forums.

Or go for a walk beside the sea.

 

[Ironiclaconic]

For me, it means I screwed up in my story and have written myself into a corner where the characters don't want to go in the direction my story wants them to go. I either need to go back and change something so that the story makes sense to the characters or change the story in the direction the characters want.

 

[GinaeEvans]

I stop writing and do something else such as posting too much to the Literotica forums.

Or go for a walk beside the sea.

Yeeeeeeeeeeah... >.> The first one.

 

[GinaeEvans]

For me, it means I screwed up in my story and have written myself into a corner where the characters don't want to go in the direction my story wants them to go. I either need to go back and change something so that the story makes sense to the characters or change the story in the direction the characters want.

I HATE that. Very discouraging. The very thought of going back to rewrite makes your nose wrinkle up. I'm familiar with the feeling.

 

[sr71plt]

I've never experienced this with fiction. With paid nonfiction work I've had it from time to time.

As Ogg suggests, though, I think this is time to go off and do something else. You'll reach a point where you can't wait to get back to it. (Either that or it wasn't really an activity that needs to be high on your priority list.)

 

[GinaeEvans]

I've never experienced this with fiction. With paid nonfiction work I've had it from time to time.

As Ogg suggests, though, I think this is time to go off and do something else. You'll reach a point where you can't wait to get back to it. (Either that or it wasn't really an activity that needs to be high on your priority list.)

Teach me? I'll bake you cookies. Or whatever pastry you prefer.

 

[DeeZire]

Definitely, although more in the realm of songwriting for me. (I've been grumpy for months, as my GF can attest to.) When you write from inspiration, the rush, the high, is hard to explain to non-writers, as is the funk that comes in between. When you write as a discipline, I think it's not such a big deal.

There are many suggestions for ways to overcome writer's block. I think in your case, reading a bit over at Terrible Minds and then jumping into a short, one-page story that's totally out of your comfort zone might be a good exercise. Or trying the 50-word story discipline. By the time the 50-word limit has stopped you, you might have stumbled upon something to say. If the block is in the context of a multi-chaptered story, or even within a chapter, jumping ahead might help. Then you can come back and fill in what's necessary to get the piece from here to there.

Another method for overcoming writer's block is to bring your pocket-rocket vibrator into a church during the day and give yourself a couple of orgasms, but it's only going to work if you blog about it here at LIT.

 

[GinaeEvans]

Definitely, although more in the realm of songwriting for me. (I've been grumpy for months, as my GF can attest to.) When you write from inspiration, the rush, the high, is hard to explain to non-writers, as is the funk that comes in between. When you write as a discipline, I think it's not such a big deal.

There are many suggestions for ways to overcome writer's block. I think in your case, reading a bit over at Terrible Minds and then jumping into a short, one-page story that's totally out of your comfort zone might be a good exercise. Or trying the 50-word story discipline. By the time the 50-word limit has stopped you, you might have stumbled upon something to say. If the block is in the context of a multi-chaptered story, or even within a chapter, jumping ahead might help. Then you can come back and fill in what's necessary to get the piece from here to there.

Another method for overcoming writer's block is to bring your pocket-rocket vibrator into a church during the day and give yourself a couple of orgasms, but it's only going to work if you blog about it here at LIT.

I'm incredibly sucky when faced with word limitations. OH GAWD THE SUCK!

-ahem-

Anyhow, the block is mainly because I honestly do not know what happens next. How can I not know? Who else would? Sometimes, writing makes no sense.

Also, I have never tried the church method. It seems interesting, but I'm not sure if it would help me out any.

 

[oggbashan]

I have writer's block on three possible Valentine's Day stories.

Only one is specifically Valentine's Day. The others could be made to fit. But I have no enthusiam for any of the three. My muses don't like cold weather.

Nor do I.

 

[sr71plt]

Teach me? I'll bake you cookies. Or whatever pastry you prefer.

It can't be taught. I credit mine to nearly thirty years of journalism, work-for-hire nonfiction and fifteen years of editing nonfiction books, when I wanted to be writing fiction and did so with every stolen minute. On top of that my brain formulates--and forms--stories at the rate of more than one a day and drops them on me largely formed already. So I'm not composing as much as keying what's already in there to clear it out of my brain. There isn't much time for a blockage if there's more than one in there at all times wanting to bust out.

And I have other interests. I probably wouldn't even realize I was at any sort of a blockage point on writing before I was off pursuing another interest.

On technique, I don't polish while drafting (and not that much afterward either). If I hit a wall on the perfect word to use, I either use one not so perfect and contemplate it on a review, or I put XXX and steam right through. The draft goes down as quickly as I can do it and I only go back to add or adjust plot points that need to be changed because my characters have changed the plot.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I dont have the problem. Writers block is entirely LACK OF ANYTHING TO SAY until you replenish your stock.

 

[GinaeEvans]

I have writer's block on three possible Valentine's Day stories.

Only one is specifically Valentine's Day. The others could be made to fit. But I have no enthusiam for any of the three. My muses don't like cold weather.

Nor do I.

My muses are incredibly fickle. They might give me 5-10k words in the span of a day or two, then NOTHING for weeks after.

I don't think it's the weather, in my case. It's the fact that my muses are contrary little blankity-blanks.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

In most cases I know the overall direction in which the story is supposed to go, so if I get stuck at some point I'll skip ahead and work on a section that is more fully realized in my mind. Sometimes I put the story down and start working on another. And then there are times where I stop writing all together and spend some time getting ahead on my paid work. There are times when taking a break is the only thing to do.

To answer the question from your first post--I don't generally experience a sudden opening of the creative floodgates. Rather, it is usually upon waking up with the realization that I have resolved the problem, and an anticipation of the opportunity to get back to work. On those days I can't wait for lunch time to arrive, and I often find that work is unbearable.

 

[GinaeEvans]

It can't be taught. I credit mine to nearly thirty years of journalism, work-for-hire nonfiction and fifteen years of editing nonfiction books, when I wanted to be writing fiction and did so with every stolen minute. On top of that my brain formulates--and forms--stories at the rate of more than one a day and drops them on me largely formed already. So I'm not composing as much as keying what's already in there to clear it out of my brain. There isn't much time for a blockage if there's more than one in there at all times wanting to bust out.

And I have other interests. I probably wouldn't even realize I was at any sort of a blockage point on writing before I was off pursuing another interest.

On technique, I don't polish while drafting (and not that much afterward either). If I hit a wall on the perfect word to use, I either use one not so perfect and contemplate it on a review, or I put XXX and steam right through. The draft goes down as quickly as I can do it and I only go back to add or adjust plot points that need to be changed because my characters have changed the plot.

I didn't think so.. Oh, well.

I only have experience in the fact that I've been writing little snippets since I was a wee lass. I've no official schooling. I suppose I could look into, it though.

I polish constantly, even when I'm not... I'm a little obsessive about it. It's often very distracting.

I dont have the problem. Writers block is entirely LACK OF ANYTHING TO SAY until you replenish your stock.

That's eerily accurate. It's like the last word is all there is right now. When I try to type more, literally nothing comes to mind.

In most cases I know the overall direction in which the story is supposed to go, so if I get stuck at some point I'll skip ahead and work on a section that is more fully realized in my mind. Sometimes I put the story down and start working on another. And then there are times where I stop writing all together and spend some time getting ahead on my paid work. There are times when taking a break is the only thing to do.

Yeah, me too. Sometimes, though, I'll have difficulty weaving the scenes together in a believable way. Or, something unexpected happens that I really like, which ultimately causes me to go back and rewrite. Mainly, because this new thing I've thought of is an impossibility with the current flow of the story.

I've taken quite a long break thus far. And I'm feeling that itchy, uppity, ansty sensation in my brain. This usually means that the muses are rousing, but need some encouragement.

 

[sr71plt]

I polish constantly, even when I'm not... I'm a little obsessive about it. It's often very distracting.

Then I suggest that this is the major reason for any blockage you've having. You're concentrating on polishing too soon and it's hanging you up.

That's probaby what you need to cure yourself of doing. Get it drafted. Worrying about polishing later. But you may be like me. The spontaneous writing almost always is better than the hashed-over reviewed one. Often polishing just means overworking it and making it stilted with words and phrases that are too big and blowsy for the story.

I think that what JBJ could be true of some folks, but not necessarily so. I think it often is not a case of not having anything to say but in getting hung up too early on what you want to be the perfect way of saying it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I didn't think so.. Oh, well.

I only have experience in the fact that I've been writing little snippets since I was a wee lass. I've no official schooling. I suppose I could look into, it though.

I polish constantly, even when I'm not... I'm a little obsessive about it. It's often very distracting.



That's eerily accurate. It's like the last word is all there is right now. When I try to type more, literally nothing comes to mind.



Yeah, me too. Sometimes, though, I'll have difficulty weaving the scenes together in a believable way. Or, something unexpected happens that I really like, which ultimately causes me to go back and rewrite. Mainly, because this new thing I've thought of is an impossibility with the current flow of the story.

I've taken quite a long break thus far. And I'm feeling that itchy, uppity, ansty sensation in my brain. This usually means that the muses are rousing, but need some encouragement.

I could write a thick book about my experiences in Vietnam, cuz I know the whole story from start to finish, it would likely be dull and a bagga loose associations but I wouldnt lack for words. Thats how it is when you know the whole story.

 

[bashfullyshameless]

It happens. I do one of two things:

1. Walk away from it for a while. Don't feel bad about this--particularly if writing isn't something you're doing for a living (yet?). You need to learn how to recharge, and you also need to learn what your own patterns are so you can work them to your advantage.

2. Write something else completely different. I only started writing on Literotica because I had hit a frustrating (minor, and I knew it) bump in a non-erotic novel I was writing. I gotta say, it genuinely changed my life... but it also kept me in a writing habit. Good things can come from shifting to a different story if you give it a try. And sooner or later, the answer to whatever vexes you will come.

 

[TE999]

Deidre, my muse, has fled the coop from time to time to attend one of those innumerable orgies on Mt. Olympus leaving me bereft of ideas and motivation.

When that happens, I hie myself to the local mall with idea book and pen in hand, find a relatively comfortable place to sit and people watch. You'd be surprised how many ideas you can glean from the endless parade of humanity passing by.

Once I begin to write again, the perfidious little wench returns, full of apologies and begging for chocolate.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Usually when I feel blocked, I'll read. Sometimes it jars the ol bean loose and the idea flow.

 

[TxRad]

Sex fixes all problems that it did not create in the first place.

And if you are wondering who said that, I did.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

I take a shower. Generally I'll think of something even if it's not the current project. They have these nifty bathtub crayons that wash off the walls real easy, and I use those to write stuff down so I don't forget it while I'm in there. I generally get out of the shower and it looks like I murdered someone (what? the red color shows up the best). I don't care what it knocks loose, but it gets the words flowing again.

Of course, the next time I take a break to rest my eyes from the computer screen I have to go in there and clean the damn shower... Eh, it's give and take.

 

[SamScribble]

When it comes to writer’s block, I use the Peter de Vries model: ‘I only write when I am inspired. And I see to it that I am inspired at 9 o'clock every morning.’ Actually, in my case, it’s more like 8:30.

 

[GinaeEvans]

Yeeesh! You guys got ahead of me.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. Several were very helpful.

Mr. Pilot, I will try to take it easy on the editing. That may indeed be my problem.

Happy writing/reading/playing/what have you everyone.