Hit the wall

Sweetleaf · May 4, 2009

I have completely and utterly hit the wall.

My first book I wrote having already laid out thirty pages of detailed synopsis and character outlines, but this one I dived in head first and now I've hit the bottom.

I haven't written anything for the last couple of weeks now. I know what's going to happen, but I've got a major creative block on the details.

Should I just stop now, and start doing complete outline of the rest of the book before I proceed? Am I just asking a stupid question? Or should I push through and trust that it will come together?

I don't think I'll write without the groundwork again. It's too hard.

Willowmound · May 4, 2009

Both might work. When this happened to me not too long ago, I resolved to push on. When I did, I found an outline suddenly forming itself of its own accord. End result the same. Words happened.

TheIT · May 4, 2009

Consider whether you've taken a wrong turn in the story. For me, reluctance to write usually translates to problems with the story.

Try writing ahead. Jump ahead to a different scene and see whether that breaks the words loose.

Brainstorm. Sit down with pen and paper and write down questions about what's going on in the story, what the characters are doing/feeling/intend to do, whatever. Write down questions as they come to you, no matter the order, and don't worry about not being able to answer them immediately. Sometimes figuring out a problem means figuring out the right question to ask.

Plot ninjas. UJ's example: write "Suddenly, a naked woman screamed." and continue from there.

Throw something wild into the story just to give your creativity a kick in the complacency.

Write something completely different for a while. Let your subconscious percolate about this story.

Good luck!

ChaosTitan · May 4, 2009

overtired said:
I haven't written anything for the last couple of weeks now. I know what's going to happen, but I've got a major creative block on the details.

Should I just stop now, and start doing complete outline of the rest of the book before I proceed?

It sounds as though outlining is something that worked well for you the first time, and writing the second book without one is stumping you. And that's fine--everyone works differently.

If outlining the rest of the book gets you writing again, then do it. Once you get back into the story, it may help you restart the creative batteries.

Also, are you reading? Often? I've noticed my words come more easily when I'm also reading regularly. After all, if I'm not ingesting words, how can I return them to the page?

Shail · May 4, 2009

I usually hit the wall during rewrites. Bleh. I can't offer advice, but encouragement . . . That I have lots of.

Remember that you are a writer, and you have a story worth telling. Know that you're strong, and you're just taking a rest. Your story hasn't dried up. It's just waiting for you to catch up.

Suggestion: Maybe try writing an outline to give yourself a little kickstart. Or even write a short based on some of your supporting characters to get back into the mood you were looking for. Sometimes redirecting helps you get back on the path.

NeuroFizz · May 4, 2009

What is your next scene? If you have the story thought out, you should know, in basic terms, what the next scene is going to show. Take your focus off the finish line and just look as far as that next scene. When that one is done, think of the next scene, but not beyond. Anytime the writing gets tough, the ending of the story starts hightailing it away so the path there gets blurred in mirage wrinkles. If you cut back to one scene at a time, it may help get through the tough spot because the goal isn't way off in the distance. It's just around the bend of the immediate scene.

hammerklavier · May 4, 2009

It sounds to me like you are an outliner... so outline.

Sweetleaf · May 4, 2009

Thank you all - you rock

:e2headban

bettielee · May 4, 2009

What ChaosTitan and TheIt said! Both of those, with a cherry on top.

Straka · May 4, 2009

I had a friend who outlined his book for years and never wrote it. Too much ground work is possible too I suppose.

If I were you, I'd take a break and read some books for inspiration and study.

Stunted · May 4, 2009

Sometimes what I do is make a list of what absolutely has to happen. So, say for example, that I'm JK Rowling (you don't know that I'm not) and I'm totally stuck. This Dursley shit is dragging. How are we going to get to the fucking magic school?

So I make a list. What has to happen?
People are a bitch to Harry.
The Dursleys comically freak out.
He gets to Hogwarts.

And then, from there, I can re-evaluate what I have, figure out what to hack, and maybe even discover a whole new way to do things!

So...yeah! That's what I do.

Stunted · May 4, 2009

Sometimes what I do is make a list of what absolutely has to happen. So, say for example, that I'm JK Rowling (you don't know that I'm not) and I'm totally stuck. This Dursley shit is dragging. How are we going to get to the fucking magic school? So I make a list.

What has to happen?
People are a bitch to Harry.
The Dursleys comically freak out.
He gets to Hogwarts.

And from there, I can re-evaluate what I have, figure out what to hack, and maybe even discover a whole new way to do things! Yes!

RunawayScribe · May 5, 2009

I'd suggest outlining the rest, since it seems to have helped you in the past. I prefer to work off outlines too - keeps me on track. They're also good to dig yourself out of plot holes or dead ends. Think of the next major plot point you want to happen, and figure out what has to happen for you to get there.

PoppysInARow · May 5, 2009

Well, I'd like to jump on board with everyone else and suggest an outline, but my way of getting around that is a little different. Think about your next scene. If it's from the POV of your MC, then switch it, make it from the POV of another character instead. Change the scene around just slightly so the meat is still there, but the way you present it is differnt. That might make what you have to write a little easier.

Phaeal · May 5, 2009

ChaosTitan said:
Also, are you reading?

I love this question, asked with the same urgency your mom or the ER doctor might ask "Are you eating?"

Yes, it's a proper diagnostic question for writers.

Madison · May 5, 2009

I tried working without an outline for my current WIP - it worked really well for 55k and then I crashed big time. I just didn't know where to go, and I'd gotten too tangled up in the details and couldn't see the forest...

So I'm outlining right now, and while it's frustrating because many of those 55k will be trashed, I now know where the plot has to go. And not outlining gave my characters the freedom to do some surprising (and cool) things that they wouldn't have done with an outline.

I'd definitely suggest outlining - just remember that you never HAVE to stick with it if you have new ideas or if your characters seem to be going against it. It's just a good idea to know where the story's going - as we both learned the hard way

Quossum · May 5, 2009

ChaosTitan said:
Also, are you reading? Often? I've noticed my words come more easily when I'm also reading regularly. After all, if I'm not ingesting words, how can I return them to the page?

Funny, if I'm in a "normal" writing mode, I also read a lot. But if I'm in a mad, rabid, cannot stop no matter what writing mode, I can't make myself read too much. It's like I can't stand having those characters' lives bouncing around in my head when it's all all all full of my characters and their problems!

But yeah, writers should also read! As Phaeal said, a good diagnostic question.

--Q

Hit the wall

Sweetleaf

Momentary lapse of reason

Willowmound

Lightly salted

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

ChaosTitan

Around

Shail

mostly normal

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

Sweetleaf

Momentary lapse of reason

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Straka

Bored Fanatic

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

RunawayScribe

It is what it is.

PoppysInARow

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Madison

summertime...

Quossum