The Mighty Pen Writing Club discussion
The Creative Process
>
Writers Block
message 51:
by
Annalisa
(last edited Jun 11, 2010 12:03PM)
(new)
Jun 11, 2010 12:03PM
I found this post on writer's block with some good tips.
reply
|
flag
Uh, I am one of the people led by their characters. It is (kinda) the way you describe it. It's like I'm having an imaginary conversation with them and they tell me what happened (yes, all that in my head. yes, I'm kinda concerned too) and they scold me if I write poorly a part or something. They're basically my... um what do you call it? Subconsious? Hmmm, not sure... WAAAAGH, I hate forgeting words.
mumble, mumble
mumble, mumble
I'm led by my characters. Well, not really...my characters don't TELL ME what to do, but my characters (especially for this one story...) are so terribly real (and I am proud of the characterization in that story. xD) that they sort of leap onto the page. I don't have to think much about what they'd say, they say it themselves and my fingers just type it out. :S That sounds creepy...
I get writer's block, but just shortly. I mostly write a chapter a week, and sometimes nothing in a month, but I don't think it's writer's block, I'm probably just too lazy to write :)
I agree with Jo. Reading can help with getting a writer in the writing mood.
I have had writer's block for years. I get a plot idea and it won't leave me alone until I start writing it down. Once I get to the actual "meat" of the story, I freeze. Everything overwhelms me- character development, plot development, dialogue... everything. I don't know if this is just laziness or lack of creativity, inspiration, whatever but I HATE IT!! I tell myself that I read too much so my expectations for myself are too high. I want to be as good as this author or that one but I lack the ability. I've thought about attending a writing workshop, thinking that might get my creative juices flowing. I'm hoping this group will help me too, and I think it already has. I think park of the problem is I never sit down with the intention of writing. I don't have a writing "space" per se, somewhere I can concentrate on just that. Instead, I do all of my writing at work... which isn't good, I know. It doesn't allow me the full concentration and attention I need. So that could be it too.
So I'll stop rambling and maybe I can look through these comments and other discussions to get advice on this problem. Any help is appreciated!
LeAnn, I have never had writer's block and I have been writing 23 yeaers, this year will be 24 years. I have had days, where I didn't feel like writing and if I don't feel like writing, I will not write.I do my writing in my head, then I put it on screen.
I'm not a published author. I don't desire to get published. I write for fun. I write for myself and I'm very shy, when it comes down to my work, but I have shared stories with others on Goodreads.
Try listening to music. It helps me. Also, reading a good catcher helps too or even watching a good show.
Inspirations comes to me, even from commercials.
Relax. When you relax, you'll see the words will just flow out.
Edit To Say: You might want to join in a TAS (Toss Around Story - Name I've given a shared story years ago.) A lot of groups have shared stories on them, where someone picks up from where the previous person left off. These can be fun.
Back when I used to write, I would always listen to music and put my full focus into it, and that's what I haven't been doing. There are some days where I'm itching to write, and others I'm not. Other days I want to write, but don't know what to write about so I won't try to force it. I don't really have a desire to be published. If I ever do write a novel that I think people will like, then I might publish it. If not, oh well. Right now, I just want to start out simple and work my way up.
Thanks for the advice :)
LeAnn, I know what you mean about getting stuck as things get going. Have you tried an outline? I figure out what I'm writing in my head, then write down as far as I know, write (as a draft) as far as I can figure out, then when I start to get stuck I go back to my outline. That helps.Also, I've heard from several authors that writing a certain amount of time/words everyday or sticking to a schedule really helps. I haven't done this, but really need to.
Don't worry if it's great or not. Just throw the story up onto your computer, and worry about quality in editing.
And remember: writing stories is more than just typing. If you're figuring out a storyline or character in your head, if you're really concentrating on figuring stuff out, that's writing too. If you're doing a mixture of actual writing and planning, then it should go more smoothly.
ya sometimes when i write, most ofmy storis r born through a single character
I think the outline thing would help. In high school, I was able to write stories because I had a deadline, plus an outline and classmates to help me edit. I need to have that kind of discipline again.I actually wrote an outline for a story but haven't gotten very far with writing it. I already have a vague idea of how I want the story to end, and that's huge for me.
really? I just get a couple of main events formed in my head, write them down then edit and analyze later. Soon I have a nice thick book.
Yeah I usually have a few ideas of what I want to happen, but get stuck with writing all the boring parts that lead to them. How do you keep motivated through the boring aka "filler" parts of a story?
LeAnn, never write parts to fill up space. Write parts that will add to the story. I don't believe in just writing anything to fill up space. A writer should never write anything boring. If something makes a writer bored, you better believe it will make the reader bored.
I write for myself. I'm my number one fan. I write stories that I would love reading, not only because it's my creation, but because I would read my story if it was written by another writer.
I don't write boring stuff. I don't want to put my readers (and that includes me) to sleep.
Good point. It sounds too easy but at the same time, this is great advice and I plan on using it. For one story I was writing, I only wrote the exciting scenes that had popped into my head. I skipped all the boring stuff and went straight to the good stuff. This worked for awhile but then I didn't know how I wanted to it end. I think I'll try that again but have a clear ending in mind.
Before I start a story, my ending tends to come to me, before my beginning.
same but sometimes I just make the story work itself out.
I've finally figured out the trick that works for me! Take a look at the scenes you still have to write (the "boring" ones) and figure out if you need that scene to make the rest of the book make sense. If you don't, cut it. You'll probably cut it in editing anyway, so don't write it. If it's needed, try adding another sub-storyline to make it more interesting.
Jess, why the future scenes have to be boring?
That sounds like a good idea, Jess. If I start to write and it gets boring, I'll either cut that scene or make it more interesting.
So I had an epiphany recently. it's not anything earth shattering but it definitely opened my eyes. I realized that if a scene sucks, I can edit it and make it amazing. I can just write down the general idea of what takes place and then when I have time, I can edit and make a final draft. I already knew this, yes, but for some reason it's finally sinking in. My first draft does not, and will not be, my final.
That's true! Mostly my first draft is very ugly. My father's trick is when you finish the writing, leave it for a few days, and reread it again as a reader. Then we can edit them.And I usually only make a general idea only and when I write the real thing I just improvise. But everything, even the conversations, are already imagined in my head.
That sounds like a good idea. I think I'll do that once I'm fnished. Now, about dialogue, how do you make it seem realistic and flow? And also, with describing what the person is doing while talking. I have the most trouble with that. I usually just write the dialogue and later I'll add descriptions of what they are doing.
With me I never get writers block. I just get a basic layout of the story and let the characters make the desisions from there :)
Well, Maggie, you are very lucky and I envy you :)
I never get writer's block either. I do get days, when I don't want to write and I don't write. I feel if a person don't feel like writing and they write, they will just write anything. I have been writing for 24 years and I do 99% of my writing in my head. I tend to know the end of my story, before I even begin my story.LeAnn, you wanted to know how you can write a person doing things at the same time of talking. I'm don't write like an author. Which, I'm not an author, I'm just a writer. I write my stories like a story, but they read like a script. I write in present tense too. I just don't want my readers to see what my characters are doing, I want them to know what they are doing. In other words, I don't like to just tell a story, I like to show a story.
Off Topic: If anyone wants to check out my story Trespassing on Goodreads, you can: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...Warning! My story isn't flawless. You will see errors in it. I write for fun. I'm participating in a writing challenge. I'm shy when it comes down to my work. I usually just write for myself, but I've taken a bold step and started sharing stories on Goodreads.
I'm not an excellent writer. I know that although that writing is my talent, I still can perfect my writing. All talent in my opinion is never exempt from going higher. I have a lot to learn about writing and I'm game for that. I love writing. I write for fun. I don't want to be published.
Arch, that's what I want to do. I want to show my readers what the characters are doing while having conversations. I want to put them there in that situation like they're watching a movie. That's what I have problems with. I guess I need to do a better job of visualizing it in my head first and describing that in greater detail. And I don't think I'm an excellent writer either, but seriously, who thinks that anyway? If they do, they most likely aren't. Writing is about re-writing and improving what you started. That's the beauty of it. You can always perfect it and make it better.
Yes LeAnn, imagine the scene in your head and write what you see. I'm my own worst critic. I have always been that way.
really? I like 2 write my stories from the perspective of the main character. I always screw the pronouns :/ But come on! I'm sure ur both very talented writers :) i dont like it when ppl r 2 afraid 2 share their gifts :)
Maggi, I'm shy when it comes down to my work. But, I have taken that big step and shared stories on Goodreads. I have posted a link to my contemporary romance story Trespassing on here.
thts great! tht is a big step and u should b glad u took it! wats ur story about?
Maggi wrote: "thts great! tht is a big step and u should b glad u took it! wats ur story about?"My story is an interracial (bwwm) contemporary romance story. My characters names are Cop and Sanjar. Cop is seeking revenge for his father's death and the man that Sanjar's work for is the man that killed his father.
ooooo sounds intense! and also really good! Interesting names though...where did you come up with them?
Maggi wrote: "ooooo sounds intense! and also really good! Interesting names though...where did you come up with them?"My characters in my stories tend to have unique names. My hero's real name is Helicopter, Cop for short/nickname.
her cool! my characters have pretty common names. My most unique name is Genie (short for Geneva)
Maggi wrote: "her cool! my characters have pretty common names. My most unique name is Genie (short for Geneva)"Cute
thx :) it took me a while 2 come up with. I needed her name 2 b unique her natural hair color is a bright, flaming red. Genie is quite stubborn. and has a bad temper but shes kind hearted and means well :)
Maggi wrote: "thx :) it took me a while 2 come up with. I needed her name 2 b unique her natural hair color is a bright, flaming red. Genie is quite stubborn. and has a bad temper but shes kind hearted and means..."What's your story about?
its a realistic fiction about 5 girls and their young councelour who all go to a Fat Camp. Their names are Genie, Stacie, Dakota, Natalia, and Britney. Their councelour's name is Tamara. They all go for different reasons, have their own back-story and they each have their own personality. Oh course boys are involved and so are the everyday adventures of camp! :) I think it's pretty good. There aren't enough books about tht kind of thing rite now :)
ya its not quite done yet so i havent posted it yet :/ but its gonna b good :)
