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Topic: Writer's Block
| Author | Message |
| neugirl | Posted – 1/29/2008 2:07:25 PM | show profile I'm attempting to write my first novel and I keep running into road blocks. Just wondered what you all do to get those creative juices flowing again.. |
| writerandeditor | Posted – 1/29/2008 2:33:31 PM | show profile Honestly, I think the idea of writer's block is crap. Sometimes you write well, sometimes you don't. When I know that what I'm writing is not my best stuff, I just push through and resolve to go back and edit it later. |
| neugirl | Posted – 1/29/2008 2:35:58 PM | show profile Thats actually a good point. Thank you. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 1/29/2008 3:47:52 PM | show profile I believe this with non-fiction. In that case, you've gathered the information and the writing is about the best way of presenting it. Not so with fiction. Sometimes the problem is you aren't sure what the story is or which direction to go. Sometimes that means you need to just plunge away, but sometimes you need to contemplate. --Honestly, I think the idea of writer's block is crap. Sometimes you write well, sometimes you don't. When I know that what I'm writing is not my best stuff, I just push through and resolve to go back and edit it later.-- |
| foodlit | Posted – 1/29/2008 4:03:46 PM | show profile Writer's block is real. Sometimes it means that your subconscious isn't thrilled with the direction you've taken, or you're just nervous, or anything. One way I deal with it, is by giving myself permission to write crap and to show up each day and say "I just have to write three pages, even if they stink." That is amazingly freeing, if you just commit to getting three pages down, a scene basically. What usually happens is it starts out rough, then picks up steam. Sometimes it's way better than expected, other times not so much, but putting out those three pages a day makes it easier to stay in the flow. I have a good friend who just wrote an 80k book in two months by averaging only 4 pages a day on her first draft. When she went back and edited, revised, she added in layers and depth and pages which brought it to about 80k, in just about two months...by taking baby steps. She sold that book too! |
| Astera | Posted – 1/29/2008 10:08:40 PM | show profile This is something I'm struggling with, too, neugirl. I am at work on my first novel, and I'm having trouble finding the energy to write once I come home from my soul-sucking full-time job. I just attended a writer's conference, though, and it really re-energized me. (Having an editor read part of my manuscript and tell me to send her the rest really gave me a shot of confidence.) Now, I am going to commit to writing several pages a day, even if they might not be great, even if I am tired. I think the key is just getting words down on paper. And foodlit, thanks for an inspiring story! ------ www.adventuresofastera.blogspot.com |
| neugirl | Posted – 1/30/2008 3:28:16 PM | show profile Thank you all for your words of encouragement and suggestions!! Its really helped re-shape my focus. |
| neugirl | Posted – 1/30/2008 3:28:17 PM | show profile Thank you all for your words of encouragement and suggestions!! Its really helped re-shape my focus. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 1/30/2008 4:17:26 PM | show profile Have you tried mind mapping? Write something by hand in the middle of a large piece of paper (landscape oriented). Around that word or phrase, write down everything that pops into your mind. It's more liberating than doing a linear outline and sometimes it helps the juices flowing again. Writing can be enervating unless you really think first about what you want to write. IOW, good writing comes from good thinking. |
| neugirl | Posted – 1/31/2008 3:08:29 PM | show profile Yeah, this is actually my first novel as well. And it started out promising but then I got stuck. But I definitely think its important to write a few pages a day just to keep the momentum going and then go back and edit the bad stuff later. All the suggestions have been helpful. |
| neugirl | Posted – 2/19/2008 2:19:32 PM | show profile Thanks again to everyone who reached out to me concerning this topic. I'm doing a lot better with my writing. And so far I've been consistent with it. |
| neugirl | Posted – 3/14/2008 2:38:24 PM | show profile I just wanted to thank everyone again for their words of encouragement. I am a lot more consistent with my writing and I'm enjoying the process a lot more now. I think its because I am more comfortable with the direction my story is going. So the words are flowing a lot easier now. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 3/15/2008 11:42:47 AM | show profile Are you in a writer's workshop? If not, I suggest joining a good one. It's motivating and helpful to get feedback. |
| neugirl | Posted – 3/15/2008 9:50:34 PM | show profile I agree. I've actually been looking into that because I do really need to be involved in something like that because they tend to be helpful and emcouraging. |
