I write daily, even if it's not actually on my current project. I always set aside ten minutes at least in the morning and evening to write a little in my journal (I cut out my horoscope and paste it in and write down anything I remember from my dreams in the morning, and before bed I just try to sum up my day with at least one anecdote). This means that even if I don't have time to do anything really literary, I'm still using the writing part of my brain. If I have time, and sit down and get stuck I always read a little of my favourite book. At the moment it's 'On The Road'. Something about that book makes me yearn to write an tell a story.
Is your trouble that you don't have any ideas or that you can't get the actual words out? Ideas are easier to come by, I'd say, as people above have suggested. If you can't get the words out, that's more difficult. I find writing just short little things on the moment I felt inspired, just a paragraph or 2, helped to keep things flowing and make me feel productive. But I've been on weekend long courses on writer's block and still haven't found the answer. In fact, having talked about the block all weekend, we managed to infect several more people! It really is very very difficult.
Oh, perhaps try to find something by a writer with a unique style (it was Hemingway for me) and try to emulate their writing. Hijack their style for a bit, and eventually it'll blend into how you write, and then by having a new, slightly different style that you feel more confident in you may be able to write more easily.
My "fix" for writers bock is two part, and is effective I assure you. First remember you can always edit. Now I am sure you know that, but knowing it is not enough, it needs to be churning through your mind with every sentence you write: Bill took a step(I can always rewrite it), Bill got shot(I can always rewrite it), etc... Secondly is just a little commitment. Dont sit down and go "Hopefully I can write a page or two". It will never work. Sit down and say "No matter what I am going to write a half page". And once you get rolling it will be little trouble.
Since I'm always writing about something, when writer's block comes up I just switch tracks until it passes. I'm writing a novel right now, which is my main focus, but when I get writer's block I will start to work on something else I started. That is just me, however. Maybe you could try going back to the beginning of your piece and revise it with a fine tooth comb. Normally when you go back over something, ideas will suddenly start popping into your head. If that doesn't really seem to work, you could always take a break from writing. Set your pen down or get away from the computer, take an inspiring walk outside or take a nap. Just get your mind of the piece and do something else. Come back to it later and see what happens. (I know this is the common solution given to writers block but it works for some. Not me.) Hoped that helped any.
It sounds to me like this criticism or the roadblocks suddenly become more realized to you once you tell someone else about it, whether because of your own self consciousness or because of your perceived criticism of the work. Just try thinking about it in a new way. Maybe you feel disgusted with your work momentarily and can't bring yourself to continue it. That's what happened to me the very first time someone was very harsh with my work. I lost my nerve. You can continue the novel just to prove something to yourself and possibly get back into the work(or you'll realize for sure you can't continue it) or you can just give up and find a different idea.
I, too, don't really believe there's a thing called "writer's block"--I wouldn't call it laziness, but I think all too often it's just a label used to excuse various reasons not to write. Reading about the subjects that I'm interested in writing about is always useful to me, if not for breaking out of a slump then for at least getting ideas or learning more.
1. by not believing it exists [which it really doesn't!] 2. if/when stuck on some aspect of what you're writing [that's not a 'block' just a temporary lack of ideas that work], just lay it aside and write something else in the meantime... when you go back to the problem, you'll see it afresh and should be able to figure out where to go next... 3. if you can't write anything at all, that's not a 'block' either... just means you're not a serious or fully-committed writer, 'cause if you are one, you can always write something!
If you're in a really bad place in your personal life and you're really depressed most of the time how do you keep that from showing itself in your writing. I don't want my writing to be dark and cynical even if that's the way I feel right now. Are there any tips you can think of to help me?
Laziness, I wouldn't say that when you're taking the time to try and write. The easiest way to get rid of it is to watch a great movie that makes you feel good. It is guaranteed to work every time. That post seems to contradict itself as the meaning of a block is described here http://www.thefreedictionary.com/block yet you discern the fact that it exists.
Like any other kind of work, you have to push your personal life issues aside and keep your mind on the job. If some of your mood creeps into your writing, you may have to fix it in revision. In the workplace, your managment may have some empathy toward you if you have life problems, but the degree to which they will tolerate it affecting your work will be very limited. It as to be that way. As a writer, you generally have to boss yourself. Don't indulge your employee's mood. Tell him to cowboy up until he is on his own time. If your depression is chronic, you may need some manner of assistance.
Don't. Some of my best work (both in terms of how I percieved it and its success in the market) came from when I was working through my Grandfather's death. The work was moody, deep, but completely honest. Use it don't dump it.
Actually, she disputes its existence (discern means to detect or observe). I agree with her. It's an excuse, not a real phenomenon. Sometimeas your creativity may be less than at other times, but you still need to write. No teacher would accept "writer's block" as an excuse for not turning a written assignment in on time. Don't you accept it either.
I guess a better question would be how to cure a lack of motivation to write. I feel this way sometimes and listening to music helps me. I have a hard time not feeling motivated if I'm listening to my favorite music.
People do the things they do because they are rewarded by their actions. Being lazy for example is something that yields fast rewards and makes us want to continue this line of behavior. You continue to do this because it yields results and it becomes habit and habits are hard to break. (Man did I just ever butcher psychology theory lol!) What if you could do something rewarding while writing that could stimulate the brain and have it feel rewarding and make you want to continue to write? Sounds. The typewriter, to be exact. Do a Google search for keyboard typewriter sounds. I bet you that if you find a good enough sounding typewriter sound it will make you want to continue to write. Eventually you will get into the habit of just writing and you can then remove the sound. Writing will just be habit at that point. Of course if typewriter sounds are not your thing, find a sound for your keyboard that is. The point of the sound is to please you. You are going to want to keep hearing that sound, so you are going to keep writing to reward your senses with that sound. Wow, I am not on my A game at all tonight with explaining stuff. lol! Anyways, I think you get the gist of what I am saying, I hope. For added effect with the typewriter sound, change your font to courier and put it at size 12.
Personally, what I do in this situation is write it all down. All the anger, hatred, depression in a stream-lined funnel prose, and then, go back and reedit so it fits the content of the story. For instance, if there's a scene where a protaganist has insecure thoughts, feelings, and constantly doubts himself, I cut and paste my real life experience into the mind of that character. I use my own experiences to bolster the sense of realism and draw the readers into psyhic of the protaganist's mentality to build a bond between the two, and establish a kind of empathy, to give an honest, down-to-earth prose.
Good suggestion... I think it's the story that scares most people as well.... well it scares me at least. The Idea is Great, the Idea is fun to write. then after you finish your first chapter, you need to write the... story with the plots, charachters, depth etc.. then it becomes less fun, and a lot harder. But it is true you need to be inspired. Music is good, and I will have to try this interesting suggestion.....
You also don't just have to focus on the one thing. If what you are working on is light and you just cant do it at the moment. Write something with your feelings... write and release some steam and then get back to your other work after. The more you write the better! You can save your gloomy work for later too! Some of my best stuff is written when i was in a dark place.. ....I hope you pull through OK.
It's not exactly "keeping them apart," but, as a "moody writer," I try to match my feelings to the moods of the piece I am writing. When I find myself out of line with my MC or the mood, I reread it all over so that I can run the same gambit as my characters. Granted, that means I have to get a bit depressed when I was otherwise happy, but it helps me to mantain the correct mood to write the piece. I also tend to write a few pieces at one time, each with a certain range of emotion, that way, I can simply put something aside until I can reign myself into it again. ~may your words flow and your keys never strike back
I agree with those who suggest you use it. I've had a pretty rocky life, and I've been called on it before. Once someone actually told me that they envied me because I've suffered. They were sure it affected my writing, and I think it does. If anything, my work is less depressing for it. My lows are normal, but when I get a high, it's quite an event. It really taught me how to examine emotions. Of course, I still look forward to the day when I have most of these major issues in my life straightened out. Hopefully, things will get on track soon as I have plans (that are looking pretty good if my bf and I get the little house we're after - still waiting to hear back) to move out of a rather abusive household and to another state whooo! Better late than never... but I digress. The only draw back I've found from writing depressed is that I can't give ANY character a happy family life. If a character had a pleasent little family, they're dead. At best, they're allowed a caring sibling.
When it comes to this sort of thing, I think you have to have the same mind-set an actor does. It's not necessary to push those emotions aside exactly. What you have to do is put your mind into the emotions of the scene you are working on, whether it fits your mood or not. In the Exorcist, you have a twelve-year-old girl doing and saying disgusting and vulgar things that you would never expect a twelve-year-old to to do or say. When asked about it, the actor said, "I'm not saying it. Regan is" (Regan is the character's name). I think that mindset fits for when you are writing a scene that doesn't fit your mood or a character you don't relate to well but you know the story needs it. On the other hand, if you are writing a scene that fits your mood perfectly, or a situation that you relate you very well, there is no reason not to channel that. I heard that J.K. Rowling came up with the Dementors when she was depressed, and they were an effective story-telling device. Actors can channel their own feelings if they are applicable to the scene. One example I love is in The Two Towers. When Aragorn kicks the helmet and screams, he is literally screaming in pain because at that moment, he broke his toe. On the DVD extras, they show the takes they did before that, and there is a big difference.
I often can't write when depressed (I'm depressed often), BUT, when I do write, my depression and negative feelings never make it into the story. My story is not my life--in fact, I do everything I can to keep myself out of my stories. I've been doing this for years, so it's no longer difficult for me. I'm writing about my characters, not me, and even though I give them my emotions and get in their heads, I keep the two strictly separate. My characters have no clue I exist. It's best this way. I realize this probably isn't helpful to your particular situation. Rei also has some good suggestions. Sometimes, it's all about acting.
