Writers block / burnout / lack of inspiration

[Djmac1031]

I'm experiencing a bit of writers block lately.

It's not that I don't have any ideas for new stories; I have several in fact.

But when I sit and actually try to write them, I start losing patience and am becoming indecisive on which exact direction I want the story to go, or who I want these characters to be.

Besides the obvious, taking a break, are there any suggestions for writers block / burnout?

Also: inspiration. As I said, I do have ideas. But I also feel like others have told some of these stories already, and told them better.

I suppose we all rehash the same material sometimes or at least use the same common elements.

I suppose maybe I'm just putting too much pressure on myself to write something completely unique and different, then getting annoyed when I can't do it lol.

I am definitely going to just take a break, slow down, and not try and force stories just to create content.

But when the ideas are flowing, I actually do enjoy writing, and I'm just kinda missing that enjoyment.

 

[lovecraft68]

First thing is not to let the its been done before stop you. None of us would have stories if we didn't replicate previously written ideas. I-and others-have even done some replication within our own stories, but if you can mix it up readers are happy to enjoy the same basic concept as long as its entertaining.

You have ideas so it sounds like either over thinking, or not being able to pull the trigger so to speak. What has worked for me is to go back and read something I've previously written, often times that can get me back in the flow.

I say your own because if you read another's it can get their voice in your head or maybe get the "they're better" stuff in your head.

But in the end, if nothing works then it could be time to default to the time off strategy or you'll keep frustrating yourself.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Some things that work for me:

Start by writing an ending, then work towards it

Pick a location you know well. Describe it. Think of something that might happen there, and write it. Doesn't have to be the beginning or end of the story, it can be anywhere in the narrative. Build from it in both directions.

Pick two people. Could be people you know, a celebrities, characters from books or movies. Put them together and imagine the conversation between them. Or use pre-exisitng characters of your own, maybe from completely different stories. See what builds from there.

 

[TadOverdon]

Read different things.

For me, it's been reading in genres that I've never been into. Also reading more nonfiction.

 

[HeyAll]

My philosphy is; treat your mind like your body. If you workout really hard for several days in a row, then your body will need rest or slower days after. Sometimes your mind needs a small rest.

 

[jsmiam]

Take a break. Your pay will be unaffected.

I spent more time on the last two stories I wrote than I ever had, mostly the editing, but also not abruptly ending the story when I got fatigued with writing it (which happens often. )

And though they were my least error-laden works, I simply spent too much time on them. I knew it while I was doing the writing and I know it when I think back too.

It’s easy to start taking this too seriously. I’ve taken breaks before and returned eventually, feeling fresher. I skipped the winter contest, I’ll probably skip Valentine’s. My ideas are still saved away as outlines.

Plus, I got three long postponed real-life things accomplished, and it feels good. I prioritized and shit! ;-)

 

[PoisonPen33]

When I get stuck while writing, I try to make sure to read a new book or watch a movie/TV show I've never seen. I figured if my conscious brain isn't working with the muses, maybe my unconscious brain deserves a shot.

 

[Djmac1031]

Thanks for the feedback, all. Some good suggestions.

Funny, I decided shortly after making this post to try writing a story I've wanted to start for some time now just to start SOMETHING, even if it wasn't any good, just to exercise my brain.

It's actually coming along better than I expected.

I think my other problem is I tend to rush myself sometimes. Like I'm somehow obligated to post a new story every week or something lol.

I think I do have to just try and relax and break when I need to and not worry about forcing a story just to do it.

Oh, another thing I found funny; just posted chapter 16 of my Jenna series, and it was a chapter I struggled to finish for the reasons I mentioned above.

Even after multiple edits, I didn't feel 100 percent happy with it, but decided to at least publish it anyway, then I could break from that series for a bit.

It's been getting great reviews despite my concerns, so it's either better than I thought, or my readers are very generous lol.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I think my other problem is I tend to rush myself sometimes. Like I'm somehow obligated to post a new story every week or something lol.

I think I do have to just try and relax and break when I need to and not worry about forcing a story just to do it.

I had this wild thought after I posted my first story that I could do one per month.

Nah… not a chance. I didn’t need that pressure on myself, so I just write at my own pace - except when a timeline here rears it’s ugly head.

 

[SimonDoom]

The first thing I would say is, if you don't want to write, or if you're not motivated to write, then don't. Just let it go. Stop. Take a break. There's no compulsion to do this.

Step back from whatever story you are working on and ask yourself if you really want to write it. Why? Maybe you don't really want to. If so, do something else.

Or are you interested in the story, but you're stuck on some part of it? Think about the story as a whole, and then think about what you can write that carries off the essence of the story.

Good luck.

 

[lovecraft68]

Thanks for the feedback, all. Some good suggestions.

Funny, I decided shortly after making this post to try writing a story I've wanted to start for some time now just to start SOMETHING, even if it wasn't any good, just to exercise my brain.

It's actually coming along better than I expected.

I think my other problem is I tend to rush myself sometimes. Like I'm somehow obligated to post a new story every week or something lol.

I think I do have to just try and relax and break when I need to and not worry about forcing a story just to do it.

Oh, another thing I found funny; just posted chapter 16 of my Jenna series, and it was a chapter I struggled to finish for the reasons I mentioned above.

Even after multiple edits, I didn't feel 100 percent happy with it, but decided to at least publish it anyway, then I could break from that series for a bit.

It's been getting great reviews despite my concerns, so it's either better than I thought, or my readers are very generous lol.

As to the first part of your post-that you were able to start writing-sometimes talking about the issue is a form of catharsis, and once its out of your head and has been addressed either on social media or a real life conversation, it works itself out.

To the comment that your story you were unsure of is doing better than expected, I find that happens to me all the time...unfortunately I also get the opposite of thinking I nailed something and the readers disagree.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Thanks for the feedback, all. Some good suggestions.

Funny, I decided shortly after making this post to try writing a story I've wanted to start for some time now just to start SOMETHING, even if it wasn't any good, just to exercise my brain.

It's actually coming along better than I expected.

I think my other problem is I tend to rush myself sometimes. Like I'm somehow obligated to post a new story every week or something lol.

I think I do have to just try and relax and break when I need to and not worry about forcing a story just to do it.

Oh, another thing I found funny; just posted chapter 16 of my Jenna series, and it was a chapter I struggled to finish for the reasons I mentioned above.

Even after multiple edits, I didn't feel 100 percent happy with it, but decided to at least publish it anyway, then I could break from that series for a bit.

It's been getting great reviews despite my concerns, so it's either better than I thought, or my readers are very generous lol.

Sometimes a new stand-alone story just doesn't work. I had that problem with a submission to a contest on another site. I tried three different versions, and I couldn't get far with any of them. So I went back to writing new chapters for two existing series, one of which is on this site, and those are flowing much better.

 

[Comshaw]

I'm experiencing a bit of writers block lately.

It's not that I don't have any ideas for new stories; I have several in fact.

But when I sit and actually try to write them, I start losing patience and am becoming indecisive on which exact direction I want the story to go, or who I want these characters to be.

Besides the obvious, taking a break, are there any suggestions for writers block / burnout?

Also: inspiration. As I said, I do have ideas. But I also feel like others have told some of these stories already, and told them better.

I suppose we all rehash the same material sometimes or at least use the same common elements.

I suppose maybe I'm just putting too much pressure on myself to write something completely unique and different, then getting annoyed when I can't do it lol.

I am definitely going to just take a break, slow down, and not try and force stories just to create content.

But when the ideas are flowing, I actually do enjoy writing, and I'm just kinda missing that enjoyment.

I have a folder with a bunch of unfinished stories in it, 180 to be exact. I to get to a point where I lose patience, or hit a spot where I'm unsure of the direction I want to go. When that happens, I put it away in my unfinished folder. Occasionally I will go back and skim through each. When I do, most times the direction I need to go on a story hits me and I add to one or more of them or finish 1 or 2.

If I were writing to make money, this approach probably wouldn't work. An author writing to make money has to be able to turn out works when they need to. But I'm not, so I can do it however I feel like doing it.

As far as someone else doing it better, pardon me but BULLSHIT! How do you know they did it better? How do you know, until you offer it up to the readers, that they will think the other person did it better? Each of us have a voice and that voice is unique to us, a perspective unique to who we are as individuals. By doing so in your voice, telling a tale that has already been told makes it unique, puts the flavor of your life, your experience into it and it will be unlike any other. It may not be as good, (take careful note of the phrase "may not") but you'll never know until you offer it.

In the world of music, there are many examples of what I'm talking about. Take "I will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. Many don't know that song was a cover. It was written and preformed by Dolly Parton for the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". I saw an interview with Dolly not long after Whitney's rendition hit the airwaves. Dolly said she was driving when she heard it on the radio and didn't even realize it was her song until it was halfway through. She said that when she did realize it was the song she had written and preformed, she also realized that because of Whitney's absolutely fabulous performance, it would always be Whitney's.

That's my take. Hope it helps and I hope I haven't been too abrasive in my response.

Comshaw

 

[Djmac1031]

That's my take. Hope it helps and I hope I haven't been too abrasive in my response.

Comshaw

Not abrasive at all. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[thatsbogus]

I find I have to be motivated by an idea to start writing. It takes me a long time to come up with a story concept, characters, and motivation, but once I have that the story flows pretty easily. If I’m having trouble finding inspiration I try not to force it, but I’ve always got in the back of my mind that I’m looking for ideas.

The other terrific piece of advice I rely on all the time is from Simpsons writer John Swartzwelder: re-writing is easier and more fun than writing. If I’m having trouble with a scene I just force myself to get to the end of it, stilted dialogue, terrible, I’d be embarrassed to publish it - but once the beats are established it’s easier to go back and change it as inspiration finds you.

 

[Djmac1031]

The other terrific piece of advice I rely on all the time is from Simpsons writer John Swartzwelder: re-writing is easier and more fun than writing. If I’m having trouble with a scene I just force myself to get to the end of it, stilted dialogue, terrible, I’d be embarrassed to publish it - but once the beats are established it’s easier to go back and change it as inspiration finds you.

I've done that often, especially on the last story I successfully finished and published.

I had a LOT I needed to present and just pushed through it. Then spent several days cleaning it up to something that actually worked.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I have a folder with a bunch of unfinished stories in it, 180 to be exact. I to get to a point where I lose patience, or hit a spot where I'm unsure of the direction I want to go. When that happens, I put it away in my unfinished folder. Occasionally I will go back and skim through each. When I do, most times the direction I need to go on a story hits me and I add to one or more of them or finish 1 or 2.

If I were writing to make money, this approach probably wouldn't work. An author writing to make money has to be able to turn out works when they need to. But I'm not, so I can do it however I feel like doing it.

As far as someone else doing it better, pardon me but BULLSHIT! How do you know they did it better? How do you know, until you offer it up to the readers, that they will think the other person did it better? Each of us have a voice and that voice is unique to us, a perspective unique to who we are as individuals. By doing so in your voice, telling a tale that has already been told makes it unique, puts the flavor of your life, your experience into it and it will be unlike any other. It may not be as good, (take careful note of the phrase "may not") but you'll never know until you offer it.

In the world of music, there are many examples of what I'm talking about. Take "I will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. Many don't know that song was a cover. It was written and preformed by Dolly Parton for the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". I saw an interview with Dolly not long after Whitney's rendition hit the airwaves. Dolly said she was driving when she heard it on the radio and didn't even realize it was her song until it was halfway through. She said that when she did realize it was the song she had written and preformed, she also realized that because of Whitney's absolutely fabulous performance, it would always be Whitney's.

That's my take. Hope it helps and I hope I haven't been too abrasive in my response.

Comshaw

Wow, 180 unfinished stories! I think I have about fifteen - I'd have to count them.

Speaking of songs where the cover is more famous than the original: I think there is a YouTube video that lists some of them. One that surprised me: "Harlem Shuffle" was originally by Bob and Earle in 1963, not The Rolling Stones. Also, Elvis got "Hound Dog" from Willie Mae Thornton. Her version has more lyrics, and it's also from the point of view of a woman talking about a man, not the other way around.

 

[SimonDoom]

I have a folder with a bunch of unfinished stories in it, 180 to be exact. I to get to a point where I lose patience, or hit a spot where I'm unsure of the direction I want to go. When that happens, I put it away in my unfinished folder. Occasionally I will go back and skim through each. When I do, most times the direction I need to go on a story hits me and I add to one or more of them or finish 1 or 2.

If I were writing to make money, this approach probably wouldn't work. An author writing to make money has to be able to turn out works when they need to. But I'm not, so I can do it however I feel like doing it.

This describes me, although my unfinished story catalog is more like 40, not 180. That's impressive. I'm not making any money off it either, so I feel no particular compulsion to finish a story if I feel like it's not quite ready to be finished. I figure it will cross the finish line eventually, and I'll be there, helping it along in my own way and on my own time.

 

[46n2]

Some things that work for me:

Start by writing an ending, then work towards it

Pick a location you know well. Describe it. Think of something that might happen there, and write it. Doesn't have to be the beginning or end of the story, it can be anywhere in the narrative. Build from it in both directions.

Holy hell - that is fantastic advice.

Good god. Did you come up with that yourself?

I'm looking at that recommendation objectively enough to see that it not only works for my own patterns but could never be worth NOT trying for anyone else.

That is... most definitely worth a bump.


PS This week appears rather productive in this section of LIT at least. LOTS of good stuff here. Very encouraging and therefore rewarding, for the potential of anyone else to see and gain from. Good work, peeps.

 

[ChloeTzang]

.... Start by writing an ending, then work towards it

...Think of something that might happen there, and write it. Doesn't have to be the beginning or end of the story, it can be anywhere in the narrative. Build from it in both directions.

Both things that I do. I usually start with the ending and write it out, sometimes in final form, sometimes just a narrative outline that I come back to later, but it really gives me something concrete to write towards. Then I'll write the start, and then I'll fill in key scenes, and after that I'll work to link them all together into a story.

By the time I'm 25% of the way thru, I usually have the whole story more or less outlined, and it evolves as I fill in the gaps. Works really well for me.

 

[46n2]

By the time I'm 25% of the way thru, I usually have the whole story more or less outlined, and it evolves as I fill in the gaps. Works really well for me.

I agree.

I've written a few screenplays (nothing ever developed or purchased). And I'll "Step It" all out completely like that before I've ever begun page 1. Then it writes itself. I'll spend maybe 2 months setting all that up. And one month or less on the actual pages. Plus whatever length of time I might unendingly fart around with the results that won't ever sell ; P

It's different with Erotica. I'm a lot more selfish with this stuff. I only begin it because I cannot be certain of a concrete ending. I'm just - literally - screwing my way through it on the way to an answer I can't quite be sure of at the end. That's what makes it fun for me. Grab a little "strange", ya know?

But I think the point that MelissaBaby made that mattered most was that it does not have to be the certifiable ENDING you begin with. It's just a point of completion. Something you might even be familiar with enough that can get you to some point of a finish. Something obtainable. Not a beginning but rather a reasonably obtainable completion point.

We psyche ourselves out. that's what "Writers Block" is. Like, what happened, you forgot what you already know and can depend on? Nope. You're just out there again with it and you don't wanna fall flat on your face this time (or all over once more).


-It's difficult, this stuff. I compare it to internally having a baby, or even building your own home. When you're done with that you ask the person next to you, "Is that Something?"

And they potential say, "Huh? I don't see anything there at all. What are you talking about?"

Cuz it ain't real at all unless someone else says it is.

That shit fuckin hurts. If you care about it holistically at all. That shit hurts.

So yeah, we're gonna get psyched out.

I would way rather grab an actual hammer and hit a nail into a piece of wood all day. Did that get done? Indisputable. There it is. A nail done into a piece of wood by a hammer. Awesome, let's have a go at that again then tomorrow.

But write something that matters?

Better eat yer Wheaties.


-So. Make it obtainable.

"It's okay, you're not writing it all just yet. Just write out that one part. About that place you know. Maybe that's only a thing you needed to ghet you to another place. That part won't even be within the story when you're done. But to get there. You'll need that part first. That's all. Just that and nothing more. Don't go too far beyond."

That is TREMENDOUSLY sound advice and I would suspect perpetually effective.

Next time I'm stuck? I'm gonna use it. No doubt.