Writer's block

[Whinston]

Do you suffer from it often? If so how do you get over it? And where do you get your inspiration for stories? Mine just comes to me, but sometimes it's a struggle and I do worry about repetition...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

When all is said and done writers block is having nuthin to say. That is, youre fresh outta experiences and imagination. Your cupboard is bare.

Inspiration is experience coupled with imagination that work together to spawn possibilities. The best writers then use the most interesting possibilities to build the tale.

 

[lovecraft68]

Do you suffer from it often? If so how do you get over it? And where do you get your inspiration for stories? Mine just comes to me, but sometimes it's a struggle and I do worry about repetition...

If you have some material already written that you're happy with go backand read it. This tends to work for me as it puts me "back in the mood" and helps recapture that feeling you get when things are flowing well.

 

[PennLady]

Do you suffer from it often? If so how do you get over it? And where do you get your inspiration for stories? Mine just comes to me, but sometimes it's a struggle and I do worry about repetition...

Sometimes it just takes time. Sometimes you need to put the story, or just writing in general, aside for a few days, then get back to it. Reading an old story is a good idea, as is perhaps picking up a story you stopped on a while ago.

For me, I get my inspiration from songs, and from other stories. By that I mean, I'll be reading a story and think, well what if this situation went another way? Or, what if a different type of person was part of the equation? Things like that. For my first story, "Make a Wish," I forget what I was reading but it led to the question -- what if someone had a genie but didn't want to make a wish? Then it often spirals out from there, in directions I didn't expect or intend.

The best, and likely most frustrating advice is to take a deep breath, relax, and then try turning your attention to another story for a while.

 

[oggbashan]

I have several methods:

1. I look at my pile of unfinished stories. Even if I don't get inspired to continue with one of them, I can get an idea for a new one.

2. I write anything, even just a few posts. I may not be ready to write a story but I keep writing. Unfortunately much of my writing time is taken up with real life situations and local politics, so creative writing time suffers, but I'm still writing.

3. I write something every day even if it is a few words in a reporter's notebook.

4. I try to think of a story for one of Literotica's themed contests even if there isn't one running now. Having a theme makes it easier for me to concentrate on ideas.

5. I re-read some of my published stories, looking for What Ifs - what if these characters did something different, reacted differently, met someone else instead.

6. I write a list of possible plot lines. I find that very useful for my fifty-word stories because each set of fifteen requires fifteen stories.

7. I read published collections of short stories. Some of the authors' collections I use from my library are (no order) Asimov, Raphael Sabatini, John Buchan, Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Piers Anthony, Sapper, Kipling, Maugham and a random selection of short story compilations.

 

[sr71plt]

After so many years of writing on short-term deadline, I don't write on schedule anymore (other than meeting long-term deadlines). "Having" to write would kill the fun for me--and probably the creativity as well. I only get hints of writers block, but when I'm stuck on something, I just go do some other activity until I get unstuck. I think I'd do that for serious writers block too. Just go do something else until you are in the mood again and itching to get at the keyboard.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I hatched a horror story this morning. The whole damn thing just blossomed in my head, and its an okay tale. This is how it usually happens with me.

Then another story hatched. Same thing.

Neither are great literature, just creepy horror thats really plausible.

 

[sr71plt]

That's how most of my stories show up. I have one that dropped as I was waking up this morning. It requires some site and name research, though, and I don't know if I'll get around to researching those before the plotline fades.

 

[HeyAll]

Do you suffer from it often? If so how do you get over it?

It happens sometimes. I just sit in front of the screen and I can't think of anything good to write, and if I do write something, it's not that good.

It comes and goes, if I write a lot of stuff for 2 weeks, my brain is going to need a break. But I think the key to getting over it is to think of new ways to spice up your story which gets you excited about writing again.

And where do you get your inspiration for stories? Mine just comes to me, but sometimes it's a struggle and I do worry about repetition...

Mine just comes to me as well.


But basically, I think of a simple plot or theme that I really like and want to write about, and I keep thinking of ways to expand it so that it would be as realistic as possible.

 

[TE999]

I'm thinking of buying some really expensive chocolate to see if I can lure Diedre (my muse) back from wherever she's gotten off to. These literary dry spells are no fun at all.

 

[estragon]

You have written before. You will write again. Just write the truest sentence you know. Then the next one.--a paraphrase of Ernest Hemingway.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If you listen to these people you'll never rise above READER'S DIGEST anecdote contributor.

Ya gotta have something interesting to say. If you won the lottery you'd have plenty to say. If you killed someone you'd have plenty to say about it.

 

[sr71plt]

If you listen to these people you'll never rise above READER'S DIGEST anecdote contributor.

Ya gotta have something interesting to say. If you won the lottery you'd have plenty to say. If you killed someone you'd have plenty to say about it.

Well, yes. And if you are sitting there and not coming up with something interesting to say, going off and doing something can be a source for finding something interesting to say.

My problem isn't in not having stories drop in my lap--it's in scheduling the time to write them up.

 

[Firebrain]

Maybe you just need to be, ahem, inspired...?

 

[Whinston]

Wow

Wow! Thanks guys! I wasn't expecting such a large response.

Pennlady, I find most of my inspiration in the same way, as in, reading something and wondering about different outcomes...

Firebrain, I like your response too... Any ideas/offers?? lol ;-) X

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Well, yes. And if you are sitting there and not coming up with something interesting to say, going off and doing something can be a source for finding something interesting to say.

My problem isn't in not having stories drop in my lap--it's in scheduling the time to write them up.

Your problem seems to be common with better writers, the others are all dressed up with nowhere to go....or theyre walking into walls and doors.