Have you ever really wanted to write but just found you couldn't? I've had an idea in my head for months...but for some reason, I can't make myself begin writing it. It's not writer's block...it's just the lack of will to write. I don't know how else to explain it. Does it ever happen to you?
Yep..Happening to me now Words aren't just forming... Taking a break, even if it's for a week helps tho
For me writers block is easiest beaten by just writing - it doesn't have to be good. In a first or zero draft of something I write rubbish/filler until the idea comes. The writing isn't wasted I often add dialogue which builds relationships between my characters or helps me understand the backstories better ec. Beginnings of stories I find varies, several have just happened - others I have written many times before finding the one I am happy with (often taking it to 5-15,000 words before deciding it isn't going the right way). Right now I have a scene that scares me the emotion involved will bother me - I don't want to write it so I am writing rubbish until I can't back out of it anymore and to get up the courage.
I know how you feel I have had a few ideas in my head and a lot of the time I write something totally different. Sometimes, maybe a story has its own time to be written. It is not always now.
no, it doesn't... but then i've been a full time writer for decades and have always written as i breathe--because i can't not do it...
Mike Myers (Austin Powers, SNL etc) had said on Inside the Actors Studio that writing is a discipline that you practice. Like any sport, you don't get better by not doing it. You may not feel the will to write and even if what you are writing is junk, it is a matter of getting the discipline in writing down. I'd be willing to bet that published authors, on a deadline, find a way to make it happen. That's what many of us want here is to be that author that is published and on a deadline for a new book or whatever. It's at that point that you realize that having spent time writing when you weren't 'feelin' it' that being disciplined comes in handy. Elmore Leonard said “I don’t believe in writer’s block. I don’t know what that is. There are just certain little areas that I know I’m going to get through. It’s just a matter of finding a way.” That, I think, is the discipline of writing. Sometimes, we feel that the writing has to come from that magical and inspirational place. I'm guilty of this. However, sometimes it is just problem solving. It's easy to write when it flows but we rely on that to get us through. An athlete does not become a world class athlete because they didn't train because they weren't in the mood. They became world class because they were driven by the end goal and that sustained them to train and work on they days that didn't come easy. Keep writing and good luck.
I get it from time to time. I go through my day rolling ideas into suitable plans and get myself psyched up to write only to find that when I get home and set the laptop up I cannot put anything together.
I get sick of my own work too and I absolutely agree with the posters that suggested taking a break from it. It really does help I can promise you that.
Makes like Nike and Just Do It. If the idea you'd like to work on just isn't coming out of your head on a particular day or time, then don't write it. Write something else. Get your creativity up and running. Freewriting is an amazing practice because that's exactly what it is. You don't have to write your story every day, you just have to write every day, regardless of material composed. Just do it.
Congratulations, you're like most people. Not just here; I mean, everywhere. Human beings tell stories all the time. Jokes, anecdotes, things that happen to them, explanations. And we enjoy reading, and watching stories play out on the big screen or on the television or through a web video. And we enjoy making stories up and finding that our listeners / viewers enjoy hearing them. That, plus the dual facts that a) writing is portrayed as "easy" in popular culture and b) writing is celebrated and generally lauded by "regular" folk, means that more than half of all people will "want to write a story / book" at some point in their lives. Most never get around to it. This doesn't make them "lame" or "bad" or "dumb," it just means that there are other things that are more important than writing. Like feeding the dog, working a job, updating Twitter, watching the next episode of "The Walking Dead," caring for the kids, cleaning the garage -- posting on WritingForums -- going to Youtube . . . "Writing out a story" is just one of those things that most people "want" which they don't make time for. And that's okay. And since people who don't want to write but think they want to write may at some point get hit by a clue-by-four and say "holy crap, I'm deluding myself; I'd better write it down before it gets entirely forgotten" and then out will come the story. And there's no way to know which kind you are in advance. A person can go years, decades, with a story in mind which they aren't writing (meaning they're want-to-be-writers, not actual writers), and then finally get a grip and finish a book and become famous. (It's happened. Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz spent 14 years on his prizewinning book. Which is an awesome book, BTW.) Many other people will spend years thinking about writing without actually writing. Ten years later, they're in the same rut. Note that some people will worry they're in the second category when they aren't. You don't need to sell stuff to be a writer; as long as you're writing, you're getting in practice and you will eventually get better if you keep going. So write. And if there's no time, or you can't find the time, read John Scalzi's post on writing (located conveniently in my post signature and maybe that'll be the kick in the arse you need for inspiration. Luck.
Hello, I'm new to the forum. I've always felt born to write, as if there was a genetic drive to do it, irrespective of talent. I say this for a reason, because I haven't written anything in well over a decade due to profound depression and other stupid things completely leaching my creativity and deforming it into the ground. But I always felt a need deep inside to write. So I dusted off my old writing and outlines and read them, and just about died. The realization that I can no longer write, not like that, the getting into the character's heads. the characterization and point of view and 'wedding' it seamlessly to action. I can no longer do it. I'm intimidated by my own writing! I read it and it reads like I could not have possibly wrote it. These days the desire to write is still there (never left), but the ability has degraded to the point I can barely string two words together, where everything was 'real' and flowed almost like something tangible before. I feel like a dried husk, with a dead talent I never even knew I had, until it was gone. I'm not sure what to do. Use it or lose it, and I lost what was as natural as breathing. Just stunned and wondering if it's even possible to get the 'fire' back. Is it possible to not have lost the ability permanently? I never had to learn anything (came by some abilities naturally). I just did it and it flowed like magic and seemed to work itself out. I'm freaked out and more than anything just want to be able to write to that ability again. Is there any hope? This is worse than writer's block. This is losing a part of myself.
Don't worry. **HUG** Your inner writer has not died. Writing is an art and we all have to practice and get better. Everyone needs improvement. The only way to get better at writing is to write. You say you haven't written in 10 years. Chances are that's the problem. Let your writing side breathe, even if it produces crappy stuff at first. Focus on finishing a story to the plot's completion, then you can go back and edit to make it better.
Going by your post, I can see nothing wrong with your writing ability. You have strung more than two words together there. Come back to it gradually. Start off with something small and rebuild your writing from there and don't give yourself a hard time. Best of luck
I'm guessing there is nothing wrong with your writing ability in itself, as long as you have the confidence and emotional strength to use it. Can you find joy and satisfaction in writing even if it's not brilliant? If so, the time you spend writing is not wasted, even if you don't produce anything publishable.
Trilby's right, I thought your post was worded beautifully. I recently had the same problem, though, not for ten years, I didn't write for a long time then when I finally felt the 'urge' again I went back to my old stuff and was completely bowled over. The key is in the polishing - can I assume the stuff that so knocked you sideways, you'd edited a bit? In my case, the stuff that amazed me certainly hadn't started out that way, I went back and back tweaking words here and there and changing bits until it shone. But yes, the solution really is to write, start out with a new project, not something beloved you might get bad memories about - and just hack away at it until you feel a twinge, the need to change something, or a phrase that 'needs' to go in. Then you know you're there. BEST of luck!!
This happened to me too! I didn't write for a few years and then when I looked at my old notebook full of comics and stuff, the story of Davy Jones and Olaf Smith caught my eye. I was like,"I want to write something like this again." It was my motivator. So I started writing again. And I've never stopped since.
Even if your ideas are the dumbest in the whole world, write them down anyway. As long as you keep writing, your writer's block will eventually be cured. Even now I feel my notebook calling to me. Too bad it's at home and I'm at my grandmother's house... Example-I once wrote a fantasy story where the villain tricked the hero into killing the Creator, the guy who controls the space-time fabric/continuum. Now, it was a perfect way to describe the personality of the villain(cunning, let's others do the dirty work...) and a good way to kill of the Creator, who I wanted dead for plot reasons. But what would happen when the Creator was dead? He was the only thing keeping the universe together. I didn't have a clue. So I just wrote some random ideas, until I got to the idea where the Creator's soul possesses the sword that killed him and attacks everyone, and even though it's dumb, while writing it I came across the idea of have his spirit manifest and find a suitable body before the universe is plunged into chaos. From then on, I had an epic chase with the villain trying to kill all suitable candidates, and the hero running a race against time.
With me every new project is a struggle to start with it takes time to get to know plots and characters. It was a shock first time it happened I went from flying along with my first project. The story and characters were great. I then started project two and I had to start all over again from the start - although the characters were familiar I was seeing them from a different POV - I needed to get to know them again.
Agreed There's no way its gone. Your mechanical skills may get rusty, and that fire and inner creativity can get stalled, but I guarantee if you write some nonsense you'll find your life experience has increased your skill. Just push through the inertia issue and you'll be super happy you did. I had the same problem. I suffer from adult ADD and when I finally got on medication, I was afraid that so much time was wasted and that I lost something. You'll be fine.
I'll repeat what the others said. I see nothing wrong with your writing in your post. It was considerably better written than many posts I've seen here. I think the problem may be in trying to go back to where your writing was before the other issues. Depression and other emotional problems change you, and your outlook is different than it was when you were writing what you were writing ten years ago. You've also lived another 10 years, with 10 years' worth of additional life experience (apart from the depression), and this, too, changes your world view. You may at some point want/be able to go back to your old projects, but first you need to get comfortable with writing again. Find something comfortable and familiar to write about, and then do it. Write about something you know intimately. Experiment with different approaches to find which ones best give voice to what's inside of you. There is a voice there. We can see it in the words of your post. Good luck and God bless.
ditto all of that!... just sit yourself down whenever you have the time and write something new... ignore all the old stuff and see what you come up with now... the more you write, the easier it will get and you'll find you haven't lost a thing, it just got a bit stiff and creaky from non-use is all... love and hugs, maia
Don't worry, I know how you feel. I'm sure you'll be able to write again, you did after all write this post =))
I understand what you mean. I go through periods of depression which lead me to become apathetic towards writing, and although I haven't gone as long as you I often find my skills need serious exercise when I decide to write again. I understand what you mean by losing a part of yourself, I've felt that way before when I thought my ability had dried up. Don't lose heart, it will take work but just write and it will come back to you
