The Writers Block Thread

The only reason I was bothered by it is because I take my writing seriously.
Its the only thing I am good. Its the only thing that I can show off to and people know me for something.
Its something I can do and I want to do.
Its my thing and I love writing so much.
But I get shy and unsure when I realize how much more better people are then I am. I face reality and I don't want too.
Because this is my dream.

 

I do know how you feel...

I will write and write all day sometimes, and be so proud of myself for working so hard. When I stop and read what I've written, though, I find myself annoyed and depressed and frustrated. Some days it feels as though I'll never get to the point where I'm a decent writer.

However, I am passionate about writing. I also think that you just need to be patient with yourself, and if you love it, it can happen for you. It just takes time.

 

I'm seventeen, just a year older than you.

A few tips:

1. Stay on this forum, we've got some excellent reviewers.
2. Post your stuff up regularly, so it can be corrected.
3. When you're done with a piece, run it through SpellCheck a hundred times, and go over it again twice yourself to spot some unfound grammar mistakes.
4. THEN post it up.
5. Stop worrying, implement the advice given to you, you have loads of time to improve.

 

I'm 16 too (woo-hoo!), and so I can sympathise with you.

Last year the one thing I learnt in English was how to write a proper structured essay.

I was a naive 15 year old going into year 10 who thought her essays were perfect, after all, I had been getting great marks last year for them.

I got a nice big shock when my first essay for Year 10 came back... covered in icky red side notes down the page.

I wanted to kill my teacher. Since when did I get red pen on my essays?

But the truth was, my essays were fine - for an average level. My new teacher saw things that needed improvement in my level of writing, which my previous years teacher would have deemed unimportant.

For the first half of '07 I rarely gave any attention to the red scribble, but my marks weren't getting any better either (they were still really good, but not the fantastic level I wanted them to be at, considering I want a journalism career in my future).

So I began to take all those comments on board in the second half of the year. It hurt, I can tell you, because I wasn't exactly writing in the natural flowing way I wanted.

But then I got my next essay result back, and I was happy. More than happy actually.


In the end, one teachers (or reviewers) ideal of writing may not be the same as anothers. Also be aware in your class you will have peers who struggle to string a sentence together that makes sense. Which sometimes means your teacher will consider your writing 'perfect' compared to theirs, despite it honestly not being at the publishable level you are seeking.

So when you talk to your teachers (especially ones who have never taught you before), be sure to tell them to correct your work - and grade it - fairly strictly.

There's no better motivation than seeing a slip in your grades, which will force you to improve and take on board all that criticism.

Leaka, your problem is that your online and offline reviewers are analysing your work at two different levels.

 

And that online reviewers, like the ones on this forum, review at a usually higher level.

 

Not necessarily, but it does expose you to more varied reviews, for example some might like the descriptions like others think they might need work. The writer can't please everybody, so he/she needs to learn to discriminate between the reviews and take what he/she needs.

 

Look at it like this:
Some of us are writers. But some of us are STORYTELLERS.
Me, for instance. I'm a HORRIBLE writer. I also have no faith in it either. But continuing reading and writing will make you better. The number one advice authors give you is to read, read, READ, since it helps your writing abilities. Maybe you're not reading enough-?

 

I read giant novel books.
I'm only in the 10th grade, but my reading level is at the college level. Or Post end of the high school semester.
I read most of the time.
Thats my second hobby.
Reading and writing thats all I do.

 

I just wanted to add. I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it...

Just like no one is born a doctor, no one is born a writer. It is a skill that takes years of study and practice to develope, and even with that you probably won't perfect it. There are many very good writers; there are few perfect ones. Just keep up the writing and don't forget to study.

 

Ah writer's block, how it mocks me so.

In this case, it's not so much of a case of laziness, more a case of no will to write no matter how much I want to I guess is how I'll describe it.

I have a story. I have a plot. I've just had no inspiration to write. At all. My characters feel empty. I've tried giving them depth, which in turn made them cliché. My story line is going no where at the moment, although I know where I want it to end up.

How do you guys deal with writer's block?

Any tips with making a story enjoyable to write?

 

I'm having the same problem right now with a new story. The first few chapters were great. After that--it was almost like the excitment and good plot development deflated. I'm going to take a break from that story. Maybe you should do the same with yours. Come back to it later. And maybe pick up a book that seems to be written in the same style and pay very close attention to how it's written. That's always helped me.

 

I usually bang my head against the block until one of us breaks. Keep trying. Do writing exercises, try to remove any and all stress from your life. Put signs all over your room saying "Why aren't you writing?" Keep plugging away.
And if that doesn't work, take a vacation. Spend a week or two and don't think about writing at all. It may refresh you.

 

I've always found the longer you put it off the lesser the chance you'll ever return to it. Two weeks would be the maximum to put it off. That's all I'm giving myself right now, because I'm absolutely stuck at 10,000 words, yet I know how to continue, and want to, but am just too lazy.

 

best way to get past writers block, I think is probably remembering why you write anything in the first place

 

I have never experienced such thing.

 

Write something. Anything. And keep writing until something good comes out. Remember: Even if you write 900 words of crap for every 100 words of good stuff, you'll still be 100 words of good stuff better than you were! And you may later find some good stuff in the crap.

 

All I can suggest is to ride it out mate. Writers block comes and goes all the time, just get used to using the time well when you are inspired to write. Even if you wake up at three in the morning with an idea, get it wrote down as it might help. Try practicing whenever you get the urge, even if it is crap.

One thing I would say is do not try and force yourself to write. Start doing this and it becomes a chore, keep doing it and you go off writing alltogether. Just sit it out.

Heather

 

Here's what I do: stop writing. If I'm having trouble with a manuscript, I let it breathe and give myself space.

 

Pretty much what everyone else said: take a break from it, but certainly don't neglect it. If you get even a tiny draft of inspiration, use it. A draft can swiftly turn into a gale.

As for me personally, I may write short little stories about the characters that are in the story I'm currently focusing on. A day in the life of Jade, a tale of heroism by Wolf, one of Krista's elaborate traps laid for her friends... It helps my interest to return a lot more quickly.

 

Lpsider,

I agree with you. Creative block is a luxury. Stop giving yourself permission to not write. Stop telling yourself that you can't write, and just write. If it's crap, toss it in the wastebasket and write something else. It's appallingly easy to lose the habit of writing every single day. The longer you stay away from it, the harder it is to get back to it.

Start another writing project. Write a short story about a twelve-foot tall, purple-skinned, 17-armed race of people who live on a lost island. Write essays on the South American blister beetle and how it affects your existential angst. Write limericks, dirty or otherwise. Write letters to your congressman. But write something.

Change your process. If you normally write longhand, try composing directly on the keyboard. If you are usually a keyboard composer, try writing with pen and paper. Dictate into a recorder.

Change the locations you write. Instead of your desk, find a picnic table at the park, or a table at the library, or a city bus.

Oops, I rambled. *stepping off the soapbox*
Just my tuppence,
RR

 

Whenever I come across writer's block, I'll either take a break from writing it for awhile, or I'll go back and do some editing on the piece. Doing so could help give you some reminders on the story (as well as give you some editing experience), and also give you a chance to think over what you're writing about. Right now I go back to other manuscripts I've "finished" for some polishing.

Reading good books while taking a break from writing can also help.

 

I don't think there is such thing as a "writer's block". Just always give yourself something to do with writing and it'll all come naturally. Never slack off in something you enjoy doing and/or pursue to one day make a career out of. You'll never get anywheres.

 

Take a walk - in a good way

Ah, writers block.

If it relates to a particular story I normally ask myself a question, or ask one of the characters a question, and then go for a long walk. Then I don't try to think about it. I'll plan my shopping list, figure out what to have for dinner, wonder what that tree is and then, if all goes well, an idea will insinuate itself amongst the general ramblings of my thoughts.

If its writers block in general there's nothing I can really do except relax, read books and newspapers, talk to people and wait for that first germ of an idea that beckons to me.

 

Lately when I've suffered from it, I go and stand on my third floor balcony and watch the cars drive back and forth on the road out front. It seems to do the trick. Then again, I don't think about what I'm writing at all while I'm out there.