Writers block

[SubmissivePet]

So now that I have all the time in the world to write...I have complete and total writers block.

I feel like I am standing infront of a wall that has no breaks.

I have ideas but none of them will come together..so scattered. Anyone have suggestions on how to break an extreme block?? I lost my muse..where do I find another?

 

[penandpaper]

Unfortunately, this is the first time I've dealt with a real case too. I would suggest, as I've been doing, to make sure you exercise your mind at night by reading, get some exercise, and try to write - even if it's just summer haikus.

 

[SubmissivePet]

yeah...i read a lot. I read on here..I read traditional novels...nothing is working. I am on month 5 of a total block, and its really frustrating

 

[slyc_willie]

I have this happen now and then. You get so many ideas, it's hard to concentrate on one. Or, you have only one, but it doesn't coalesce.

There are a few things I do. I wait for a quiet time of night, turn on the TV for some background noise, open a new document, and pop a beer. The relaxation of inhibitions tends to make my fingers dance, and I care less about the structure of what I'm writing as opposed to the story itself. Structure can always be fixed later.

 

[penandpaper]

If it's erotic, I suppose you can always go have sex and just write about it. If not, then I would listen to Slyc, he seems fairly productive.

 

[ms.read]

find a plot bunny thread. Go to Nanowrimo.org, or writer's digest. com The latter has a thingamajig called writing prompts.

My favorite is: It's a dark and stormy night and the power has just gone out. Your neighbor has invited you and another over for dinner so the food in her fridge doesn't go bad. Write what happens next! 500 words.

BTW if you feel you would like to do this challenge, feel free to pm me with the results. I am an Executive Beta Reader, after all!

 

[slyc_willie]

If it's erotic, I suppose you can always go have sex and just write about it. If not, then I would listen to Slyc, he seems fairly productive.

Depends. I write a lot, but much of it remains unfinished. Writing is an addiction I willingly feed; if tapping out words on a keyboard were like imbibing alcohol, I'd be in the hospital.

Another trick I use to motivate myself is to act out various scenes. No, not the sexual ones (well, okay, sometimes, and I thank God the SO is amicable that way), but the dialogue. Conversations between characters. A certain poignant or dramatic moment in which the hero gives that speech, or says those words, or confronts the bad guy. I close my eyes and envision the scene, sometimes play some appropriate music to accompany the images.

 

[penandpaper]

Depends. I write a lot, but much of it remains unfinished. Writing is an addiction I willingly feed; if tapping out words on a keyboard were like imbibing alcohol, I'd be in the hospital.

Another trick I use to motivate myself is to act out various scenes. No, not the sexual ones (well, okay, sometimes, and I thank God the SO is amicable that way), but the dialogue. Conversations between characters. A certain poignant or dramatic moment in which the hero gives that speech, or says those words, or confronts the bad guy. I close my eyes and envision the scene, sometimes play some appropriate music to accompany the images.

I so do that, to the point to where I'm in the car and I may be arguing with the other imaginary character. It's odd, I get out and I'm back in the normal world. I write, and I fall back in, riding the emotions of the character. It's hard sometimes.

 

[slyc_willie]

I so do that, to the point to where I'm in the car and I may be arguing with the other imaginary character. It's odd, I get out and I'm back in the normal world. I write, and I fall back in, riding the emotions of the character. It's hard sometimes.

But fun, too. I don't know how many times I've had imaginary swordfights and gunfights in my living room.

 

[rgraham666]

At the moment I'm unconcerned if I ever write again. Is that writer's block?

 

[sadangel]

At the moment I'm unconcerned if I ever write again. Is that writer's block?

Yes it is. *hugs*

I hope you do write again. I love your stories. They touch me so deeply. I keep looking forward to seeing more stories from you. I shall be patient, as I know the words will come again for you. You are dealing with the co-author(ex) issue and it's taken a hold in your psyche and leaves you wondering if you are good enough. You are!! x12

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

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[Liar]

I have ideas but none of them will come together..so scattered.

And why is that? I usually find that the best ideas are the ones staying put, stubbornly waving a big "HERE I AM" sign, just waiting to be picked up. The ideas that you have to corner and pin down, are usually not worth chasing. A scattered, unfocused idea will lead to a scattered, unfocused story. A simple, strong idea, on the other hand... If you happen upon a simple, strong idea, you'll know. I've never been able to force one out. When they come, they come.


Ask yourself, why is it so important for you to write a story right now? Isn't it better to wait until *that* idea comes to you?

Anyone have suggestions on how to break an extreme block?? I lost my muse..where do I find another?

There is no muse. Only motivation, dicipline and habit. Write. Start with "It was a dark and stormy night..." and type down the first nonsense that comes into your head. Don't try to choose words or think up a plot. Does it suck? Good. Write some more. Does it still suck? No worries. It's meant to. It's there to get you into the habit of smearing your mind over a piece of blank paper. When you're in the habit, and getting it just out there without developing a headache or an inferiority complex, you can start to experiment with tailoring it. Steer it into plots, think up clever phrases, play with metaphors, find some writing challenges, do naughty limericks, describe the smell of the moon, chronicle the implications of a garlic infused monster fart in a packed elevator, write a love letter to cheese, write a blowjob from the perspective on the penis,

And keep doing it on a regular basis, until you find an idea that is worthy of writing, instead of scattered pieces you have to chase around.

 

[Handley_Page]

Every writers block boils down to one thing: YOU GOT NUTHIN TO SAY. YOU HAVE NO STORY TO TELL. Its that simple.

I don't subscribe to that.
I find myself with lots to say but not the skill to say it right.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

.....

 

[Handley_Page]

'Twas a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to the Mate: "Tell us a story." And the Mate began his tale.

'Twas a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to the Mate: "Tell us a story." And the Mate began his tale.

'Twas a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to the Mate: "Tell us a story." And the Mate began his tale.

'Twas a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to the Mate: "Tell us a story." And the Mate began his tale.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

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. .

 

[Le Jacquelope]

So now that I have all the time in the world to write...I have complete and total writers block.

I feel like I am standing infront of a wall that has no breaks.

I have ideas but none of them will come together..so scattered. Anyone have suggestions on how to break an extreme block?? I lost my muse..where do I find another?

I mow through. I sit down, and force it. It looks bad when I do but then I come back later and edit.

I've alleviated much of the negative effects of doing this by having a story outline ahead of time - writer's pseudocode, basically.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

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[Le Jacquelope]

JERKY?

The topic is WRITERS BLOCK nor WRITERS, BLACK. False alarm.

LITTLEJOHNSON

This topic is about WRITERS BLOCK, not finger painting for idiots. That's next door, and you're late for class.

 

[xssve]

At the moment I'm unconcerned if I ever write again. Is that writer's block?

Sometimes a break is good for you, break you out of a rut, you can go back and look at it with fresh eyes - "all work, no play", etc.

I usually progress quite a bit after a break, even a long one - sometimes you get to where you're running on autopilot, and you're not being as creative as you could be, I take more chances after I've had a break.

Not worrying about it is a good sign I believe.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

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[Liar]

How is that a problem?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

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[ms.read]

rgraham. this is just to let you know that I too, await your next story! You are a very good writer!