As long as you're doing either as the first step and not just to keep from sitting butt in chair and writing the damn story. As a new writer, you have to wean yourself (violently) away from the idea that every word you write has to be perfect right out of the gate. Play with it. Experiment with it. Have fun with it. After you get your feet wet (in terms of not trying to be Hemingway), then you can get more serious about what you really want to say and how to say it.
For acute writer's block, ie being stuck on a section say, of a particular piece (or, though it will be difficult, one of, the worst subject that's nagging you) nothing works like freewriting. I suggest by hand instead of the WP, set a timer, or just write the length of the piece of paper and put the subject at the top of the paper, and just start writing as fast as possible, if you (and you will) come to a spot where you are drawing a blank, continue to write I"M STUCK, I"M STUCK, or I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO WRITE, I CAN'T THINK, etc until a thought comes up (it will) to the timer. Now kick back and start writing about the subject. I teach a small writing class every week and this is how I start it out...Good luck mike
If I have difficulty visualising a scene so I don't know how to start it, I'll just note down the main things that happen, and any images that come to mind. You can always come back and flesh out later. Sooner or later you're bound to come across a scene that is so crystal clear in your head it just pours out onto the page. Then write backwards or forwards as necessary.
When I started, I just wrote scenes that appeared in my head. Some of them fit and some didn't. Once I cleared out the ideas that I was holding in cranial RAM, I was able to think more clearly about the big picture. Once the ideas are written (typed?) they now have a place for safe keeping while you work on the rest of the story. When I'm frustrated or too full of jumbled thoughts to put something cohesive in my document, I work on character outlines. Its background information about each character, most of which will never be in the book. But this gives me a stronger feeling for who the characters are, and makes their actions and words become more natural. It also gives me something to do while my brain calms down. The important thing is to just write. Ahem. So get on with it.
I find when I have this problem the only solution for me is to write the "wrong" bit. This is usually (for me) something about 1/4 way though, but some people want to write the end or whatever. If I break chronology, break my plan, I can write a more exciting bit, a more formed bit, or just see it as drating out ideas and exploring my choice of language. I have the problem with one piece of work that I can't write the beginning - the setup for the character to get into the siutation the novel is about. It's really annoying, because the more I write later on, the more I need the first bit to build upon. I know what happens in essence, I have a rough idea where I want to start (halfway through the set up sequence - such that the skipped over bit is explained in the bit included and it condenses what could be otherwise very boring), but not what images. Perhaps you have the "no images" problem. One way to try to get images is to go out, look at the things around you and how you can see them, describe them. Maybe my character is lonely. I'm at a bus stop. Could I write something about sitting at a bus stop, watching bus after bus go past, life continuing, andjust being there, being out of it?
For me, I've learned to accept the fact that I'm probably going to hate my first draft of a piece. Especially if its something I've been holding onto and playing out in my mind, because its so close to me that nothing does it justice. But guess what? Having something written (even if you think if fails miserably) is better than having nothing. You can always go back and re-work it. You have to just fight through. If you find a certain scene is especially hard for you to get down the way you want it, write a brief synopsis and key things you want to happen. Then go write a different scene and come back to the other later. I used to always hate my writing. I would start a story, not get past the beginning, and scrap the whole thing. That left me with a whole lot of heartache and nothing to show for it. I still hate a lot of the writing I do on a first draft, but sometimes, amongst all that crap, is this nugget of gold that i didnt even realize i had. So, like you'll hear over and over: stick with it and write!
@cuetip29. That resonates with me sooo much, that is exactly the problem. And I took every ones advice and hey I have a third of chapter one and a bit of chapter two (unless i edit the order). Not saying they are good, but its a step. Thank you everyone
In my experience, a novel grows a little bit like a tree. When you are at the very beginning, you start at the deepest roots, which feels uncomfortable, because the roots are small, and are burried deep down in dark, black soil. As you continue to grow the story, one sentence or one paragraph at a time, you gradually get to the point where you leave the roots behind, come out of the soil (Ah! Fresh air and sunlight!), and you start building a solid tree trunk that rises into the air. That's when you've done the initial world-building, and your story really starts to move and flourish. The best part comes when you reach the crown of the tree. Lots and lots of branches, with leaves and blossoms at their tips! I don't know if that makes sense. What I'm trying to bring across is - the beginning of a novel is hard to put to paper. As the story grows, and you progress forward, things get better with time. It is also likely that your writing quality will get better with each chapter (because you become more experienced, and more comfortable with writing). This means that once you are all the way through, you should go back to you initial chapters and edit/partially rewrite them for a better reading experience. I hope this helps in some way...
I'm at the same place with this new novel I want to write. Maybe because I will have to explore a different territory to write it, one I'm not too familiar with, so that feels a little intimidating to be honest and words have never been this hard to get on paper before. (I haven't even started yet) I can't even figure out where to start, how to start or with which character I should start (there are two). I'd say make yourself sit down and write it. that's what I'm going to do, as soon as I have gathered the right amount of courage anyway.
When I'm stuck, I just write a scene that I know will happen - I don't try to start from the beginning or anything. That usually starts me off, and then I can jump around to other pieces. Would that work getting you started?
Everyone's crap in the beginning because you can only get "good" through practice. I'd suggest trying short stories before you take on a novel, but even your first novel probably won't meet the standards you're actually capable of. You just have to keep chipping away at it and hope that one day you get to where you wanna be with your writing.
I wish I had someone to bounce ideas with. Unfortunately, the people I know are more interested in television and video games. No one I know finds writing as stimulating and beautiful as I do. :/
I'm pretty new to writing, and I have a hard time disciplining myself. I was talking to my gym buddy today, and she came up with a great idea - what if I also had a 'writing buddy'? The way I'd like to do this is to have a clear time when I want to write, and ask my buddy to call me at that time. I talk to the buddy about what I want to write today for at most 6 minutes, and the buddy takes notes. Then we do the other way (buddy tells me what they want to do, I take notes). Three advantages: 1. There's a set time that works for both of us, and we each have a human being waiting on the other end of the line. 2. Ideas become clearer when we share them with someone else 3. It's easier to modify a draft than to write it from scratch, but easy to speak through what we think the draft is. The hardest part of writing, creating the draft, is now on the buddy, but they only have to take notes, so it becomes easy.
Writer's Block, to me, is defined as when nothing new or inspiring is coming to my pen. In that case, my perfect cure for writer's block is to go somewhere unfamiliar. I will go anywhere I have never been, or rarely go. I clear my mind. And I just be. Wherever I am. I don't think, I don't do anything except experience all around me. I take in the sights. I take in the sounds. I take in the scent. Then I afterwards I think about that. I think about how my characters would feel in that scene. How would they react? To me, thinking with a fresh open mind, or putting my characters in my mind somewhere new and different, always helps me to start to write again. Even if that doesn't help me write part of that story, at least then I have something to think about, and write about.... EXample.... As Hemmingway-esque as this sounds, one of my favorite things to do, is go to a bar I've never been, by myself, right around when work gets out. I will have a couple beers, and let myself soak in the people around me. Why are they here? What are they thinking? Who are they avoiding at home? Who are they meeting here? These types of experiences creates ideas in your brain, for new stories, or for old. I could go on all day about the places where I get my ideas. But I hope this is of some sort of help for people with writers block. all the people here find it as stimulating and beautiful as you do. bounce around with all of us
I sometimes go exercise or drive around for a bit, that always clears my head. Like the beautiful lady above me suggests, going into an unknown place is indeed a good way to get creative. Meditating is awesome in many ways. Do it for 10 minutes, set an alarm clock. Push every single thought out that's about to enter into your head and focus on just being. After coming out of that, you're in a calm state of mind and there's space again in your head for creativity. This works for me. The best way is just to start hammering away at the empty page though. Write whatever's on your mind, flow of consciousness style. It's a good way to warm up your brain.
My sister who is a creative writing major told me that there is no such thing as writer's block. There are lots of things to write she says. You could start another short story then maybe, it would jump start the bunny of the previous story you can't seem to write. Sometimes, we are overtaken by fear because we tend to think too much. We get so critical about ourselves that even before we put down a single phrase we delete it inside our brains. Just let it go... Having a routine and a plan works too ^-^
Writers Block, well seeing as how I have even written a full piece yet I cant say I know much but i usually like to brainstorm what will happen first and all then fill in the gaps but that writers block always decides to get in the way. Best thing ive found is to read! i have my notepad open next to me while i read and am surprised by the amount of ideas that pop into my head while I'm reading
If you ge writers block, stop working on whatever you are working on and focus on something else for a bit. I do random writing exercises or words games, things that are related to writing but is more fun vs work (which writing a novel can feel like at some points, especially towards the middle). Writing exercises can be anything; I like to write down 10 random ideas and make a story that has to include all those ideas, or flip through the TV and write down the first word that comes to mind with each channel, then construct a story that includes those subjects. Key is make it fun, not work, and then you can go back to your work when your attitude has lifted. Word games can work in the same way. Get a peice of graph paper and write a 5 letter word, then, using the letters you have available to you, try adding 1 letter at a time to form new words in any direction. Add a B above the word LATTER to make it BLATTER, add an M below the A to make MATTER, etc. Try to fill up as much of the graph paper without repeating a word. They work for me, maybe they will work for you.
some authors say that writer's block is only an excuse.... couldn't tell, thankfully i haven't had one yet
I personally never have writers block. I only have moments when i don't have the urge to write. And when those moments are present, i imagine all the possible scenarios and plot flow for current writings and ideas for new writings. That way, i might not write a single word for days and other times i might write two thousand words per day. The urge is what determines when i write something and when i do not. It also enables me to write something good rather then something that 2/3 has to be edited.
I can't say i've ever experienced "writers block" but burn out is definitely common even among the most prolific writers. Give yourself a break between projects. Also, I'll juggle two or three stories at a time because it gives me a chance to break the monotony when you're working on novels. Of course I prioritize stories and never work more than three at a time. One final tip that always seems to work for me, don't think to hard about things fit together (for example, I'll write just dialog without being descriptive with the "he saids she saids). Then I come back fresh the next day and plug in scene descriptions, etc ... Hope that helps
I think it'd help if the world and writers themselves would stop telling themselves that they could and should only write when inspiration kicks in. If you wait for that, I think you'd never finish anything. Now don't get me wrong, inspiration is really important and it breathes life into your work - but WAITING for inspiration, now that's something I don't get. You look for inspiration, you don't "wait" for it. What I mean is, writers seem to be in this trap of being a victim to themselves, as if they - their actions, their work - is at the whim of their moods, their life situations, their ever-changing emotions, and then we victimise ourselves and say "No, we CAN'T write!" And because we think like this, it becomes true, and it paralyses us. But the truth is, you just get down and you start banging the keyboard (or your pen) and you write. It's a choice. It's a simple muscular action. You choose to write, or not to write, it's got nothing to do with your whims. Fine, without being "in the mood" and inspired (which I also believe in), your work may come out as being rather crap but heck, you've written! And now it's no longer a blank sheet of paper and you have a better idea of how you want your piece. Already, that's the first stop to freeing up your mind and getting that inspiration back. Usually, a writer's block is really just fear, and a lack of ideas. You don't know where you're going or where you want it to go, and thus, you're stuck, and staring at a blank page or running from your laptop/notebook isn't gonna cure it. Only by realising that you have the power to get rid of the block will you be on the way to doing so. Writer's block is not some mystery - it's just a choice. It's how I finished my first draft - I was scared, what if I don't finish? And then I realise, that's a choice I have to make, a choice of putting my fingers to the keyboard and typing even when I feel dry, and it's all in my power to do that.
Problem: I can't come up with anything to write! It isn't much different from "I can't figure out how to program this!" Take a break from writing and come back to it later. There's no point in staring at the paper for hours if you can't figure out what to write, just like there's no point in staring at a computer screen if you can't come up with the correct algorithm you need.
Hello All: For about five years I have had an idea in my heart for a coming of age love story. The idea has been building with scenes and details growing day by day. For the last three months I have felt so compelled by this idea that I've worked a number of outlines, back stories, scenarios....anything to get the story off the ground. I've even started a few chapters in different places within the story, to get a feel for it. That's where I am getting hung up. Every place that I start doesn't seem right for me. Nothing sounds on paper the way that it does in my head. My waste can is filled with sheets of paper and I am getting increasingly frustrated. Any thoughts?
