Ask the Author: J.E. Erickson
Answered Questions (3)
J.E. Erickson
I have about 5k words of a tech noir/cosmic horror story set in future dystopian Minnesota, as well as 2k of a splatterpunk work about a demonically possessed phone app.
J.E. Erickson
Finish what you're working on and move on to the next thing. Writing -- any creative art, really -- is a perpetual work in progress. If you don't find what you consider your acceptable level of failure on your project (labor of love or otherwise) you can find yourself spinning your wheels on it forever.
Finish what you write. Write something else.
Finish what you write. Write something else.
J.E. Erickson
It depends on the source of the blockage for me. I think most writer's block comes from places of self-doubt, lack of preparation, and not feeling like you're asking the right questions of your characters. At least for me it's these things.
What I do is just freewrite. I have a document that exists solely for me to smear word vomit upon. I kill characters, give them their deepest desires, change them in some fundamental way -- anything I can do to discover who they are in a little more depth. It's all stream of consciousness, no subject too taboo, not worried about editing content. It's helped put me in a workable headspace, as well as generate ideas and characters for other stories.
What I do is just freewrite. I have a document that exists solely for me to smear word vomit upon. I kill characters, give them their deepest desires, change them in some fundamental way -- anything I can do to discover who they are in a little more depth. It's all stream of consciousness, no subject too taboo, not worried about editing content. It's helped put me in a workable headspace, as well as generate ideas and characters for other stories.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more