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niratisaya · Jun 23, 2009

I don't what has happened to me...
but it seems that whatever happen to me, I need your help. All of you.

It has been three years since I'm writing my last work. And until this moment I can't write anything. Well, I typed some words, but then it becomes all wrong in my senses. It's I'm in a comatose condition right now, while the ideas keep on bubling in my head.

Does anyone of you have an advice or experience to be shared?
Any way out to solve this condition. Since I found quite torturing.

Thank you very much, before.

Gillhoughly · Jun 23, 2009

Read.

All good writers are great readers.

Clair Dickson · Jun 23, 2009

Where's Uncle Jim's permission to write crap??

You seem to be writing words just fine. They show up in the post you wrote...

So, it's an internal filter. You need to stop worrying about HOW you write, and just write. Who knows, as you write, you might find that you can write some good stuff. And the more you write, the more good stuff you'll write.

It's okay to write crap.
You can always edit it later. And you never know, what seems like crap today... may not look the same in a different light.

Today, I took an idea that I thought was crap and turned it into an amazing scene. When I wrote it, I was certain it was going to be trash-fodder. But I wrote it ANYWAY. And it gave me inspiration. Which is way better than frustration of staring at a blank page not writing. ~~IMHO~~ IMNHO.

Write on!

Elidibus · Jun 24, 2009

Seconded with the two above.

But, in my opinion, I'd give myself a chance to write total and utter crap before taking a break and refueling on a good book. However, are necessary at times. That's just the order I do them in.

Or, another piece of advice. You've already committed the time to writing. Let's say that's two hours. Tell yourself you're either going to write something or stare at your computer monitor for two hours. No exception. I expect something should happen within a few minutes

Wark · Jun 24, 2009

Gillhoughly said:
All good writers are great readers.

I disagree. And I'm sure there are some writers I could mention relating to this.

I think it's important to insulate so you don't replicate.

Re: writing crap
Crap is all I got, baby. After I write it, I just try to shape it nice, spray Armor All on that turd, and make it shine.

Clair Dickson · Jun 24, 2009

Wark... concurrent story development can happen no matter what.

But, if you think you're doing something innovative but haven't read your genre, how do you know if your idea hasn't been done to death or you haven't riddled it with common cliches just for lack of knowing better.

I used to think it didn't matter... until I had the time to read. Now I know that I am a better reader for having been exposed to more authors. I REALLY know what I hate to see in books, so I don't do it in mine. I know what's popular, what's oft referred/compared to, and what's been done.

A writer not reading, is like a scientist not following what other scientists have been experimenting with. It's counterproductive, methinks.

ChaosTitan · Jun 24, 2009

Wark said:
I disagree. And I'm sure there are some writers I could mention relating to this.

Please do. I'd be interested to hear of some. Every writer I know is also a voracious reader.

I think it's important to insulate so you don't replicate.

I think it's important to read widely so you don't replicate. I say this quite often, but it's so important to know your genre as a writer. You have to know what's already been written and how it's been done in order to keep your own stuff fresh.

I said this in another thread down in the SF/F forum the other day: it may seem like a good idea to write about a talking magical sword, but if you aren't widely read, you won't know that the story you're writing has been told six ways from Sunday, and that you're not adding anything new. However, if you're aware of what exists, you can make your talking sword something unique.

niratisaya · Jun 25, 2009

thank you very much for the advices!!

from all the adivices I can conclude that I got to read more books, then, right?
and write just everything that comes to my mind, even if it's all crap.

I think that it's just weird, after continuously writing 3 books, then suddenly I've got cramps in my brain neuron.

once more, thank you very much!
have a pleasant day you all!!

Wark · Jun 25, 2009

Of course, Clair and Titan, you're right. But I can't think that reading a work by the subset of a genre that I'm currently writing, while I'm writing it, could cause me to do anything but get ideas. If I were to read a book close to what I'm doing, I would stop writing.

For me, anything I see, do, or hear can change my story. I saw a lady with a horrible perm yesterday. Now it's in my book. Why would I want to write a blatantly derivitive work, which I would probably have to gut in rewrite, when I already know the genre. Heck, why would I write a book in a class that I don't already dig. I know what I like, and it seems most others like those parts of different works.

I pick and choose, to make sure the universe I've built is comfortable, then get a plot, some people, and dialog and action them around.

But, yeah, if I'm wrong, that's cool. Though this would be the first thread where we encouraged someone who wanted to write to not write.

ChaosTitan · Jun 25, 2009

Wark said:
But, yeah, if I'm wrong, that's cool. Though this would be the first thread where we encouraged someone who wanted to write to not write.

I'm not saying you're wrong. It sounds as though reading while you're writing doesn't work for you, because you're an uncontrollable sponge. You absorb and reflect the things you're reading about, and it's not unique. It happens, but you're the author. You can control how much you allow others to influence your work and your voice.

And don't see anyone here encouraging the OP to not write. She's already not writing. She asked for advice to overcome her problem, and while sitting down and allowing yourself to write crap is one method, so is reading. As an author, I need to be immersed in words, and if I'm only immersing myself in my own words, the pool is going to get pretty stagnant after a while. Taking a break from my own words and experiencing those of others is, for me and for many others, a way to shake off the doldrums and reignite the creative batteries.

bettielee · Jun 25, 2009

OP - you must write. It is the only way to get out of the funk. Even if you write utter trite useless crap about standing in the grocery line and reading the tabloids, you must get fingers moving - either with pen or typing. I knowest from whence I speakest. I didn't write for 2 years and then didn't write for another year because when I did try I was horrified at how far the brain/finger connection had degenerated.

Your writing tools are like muscles. They go all slack and fat and lazy when not used.

Try some of the challenges in syw. You don't have to post them, just challenge yourself to write them. I have a book called "let the crazy child write" that I turn to when I am having trouble writing, because it gives me challenges at the end of each chapter, which got the brain going, which got the fingers going. I wish you luck, my friend!

Wark · Jun 25, 2009

ChaosTitan said:
...you're an uncontrollable sponge. ...You can control how much you allow others to influence your work and your voice.

I agree with everything you said except when you started calling names.

I do control how much I allow others influence me. It's just you aren't fond of my methods or my talking about them.

As for escaping words in favor of other words, I don't do that. I don't think in words. I like talking to people though, they make words, and sitting outside, thinking about things.

But, as we all need to reflect on, YMMV.

Clair Dickson · Jun 25, 2009

I think, for the OP, perhaps writing work that seems derivative (or whatnot) may be better than not writing at all?

It's the whole "write crap, because you can only edit what is written" philosophy. Writing something (if your goal is to write) is more productive than writing nothing. Reading may help with getting ideas. So what if it influences one's voice... that can be edited later. A blank page with no story, no characters, no nothing is harder to edit. And as most writers can attest, the first draft is about finishing. The later drafts are about making it worth having finished.

Clair Dickson · Jun 25, 2009

Wark said:
I do control how much I allow others influence me. It's just you aren't fond of my methods or my talking about them.

Um... I didn't see anything that suggested that anyone was uninterested in discussing your methods.

I saw a discussion about getting back to writing, and whether or not reading worked, and why.

And I thought I was recovering from the effects of the mind-numbing heatwave... maybe not.

geardrops · Jun 25, 2009

I will say I went through a three-year period where I couldn't write.

So I read like a beast.

Came out on the other end a stronger writer.

YMMV

Shweta · Jun 25, 2009

dempsey said:
I will say I went through a three-year period where I couldn't write.

So I read like a beast.

Came out on the other end a stronger writer.

YMMV

I did that. Only, for more like 8 years.
I had a lot of reading to catch up on :tongue

Shweta · Jun 25, 2009

Wark said:
I agree with everything you said except when you started calling names.

You may be interpreting a characterization as an insult.
It's not a bad thing to be an uncontrollable sponge. It just has good and bad aspects to it. It basically means what Chaos said -- if you are reading while writing, you can't necessarily stop those ideas or that voice from permeating your work.

And for the record, I'm one too.

The way I deal with it is to read outside the genre I'm writing in while I'm in the middle of a project, to avoid the authors I know to have strong voices that I pick up on -- again, while I'm writing, to allow my reading-within-genre time to compost, and to read as widely as possible so nobody will know where I'm picking things up from.

Not reading at all in the genre you write in has major pitfalls. If you can make it work, more power to you, but you'll be the first person I've heard of who can. I know rather a lot of professional (and award-winning, and yes, best-selling) authors at this point, and all of them are voracious readers.

Wark · Jun 25, 2009

Ok, that's much clearer. I didn't understand earlier.

I wouldn't say I'm an uncontrollable sponge. If I was, I'd cover my eyes and run through the room when my wife watches America's Got Talent. No need for that in any book.

ChaosTitan · Jun 26, 2009

Shweta said:
You may be interpreting a characterization as an insult.
It's not a bad thing to be an uncontrollable sponge. It just has good and bad aspects to it. It basically means what Chaos said -- if you are reading while writing, you can't necessarily stop those ideas or that voice from permeating your work.

Wark, I apologize if you felt insulted by my comment. Shweta explained it better than I did.

TheUnknownAuthor · Jun 28, 2009

Gillhoughly said:
Read.

All good writers are great readers.

Ditto.

Also write something for fun. Whenever I get writers block I write about an embarrassing moment in my life. It makes me feel like I had more control over that situation then I actually did. Usually it comes out rather entertaining and I realize that if I can make my boring life entertaining I can make anything mildly entertaining...

niratisaya · Jun 28, 2009

do you usually involve your own experiences or emotions, when you write your story and on how the characters deal their problems? does it really work?
as i've heard someone said that you have to put a distant between you and your works, in order to get a good result.

sunandshadow · Jun 28, 2009

Have you tried a creativity coach? They are therapists who talk to people about psychological problems with writing, such as the various types of writer's block.

niratisaya · Jun 28, 2009

btw, do you all have a schedule to write your works or you just following the instinct?

Admiral Snuggles · Jun 28, 2009

niratisaya said:
btw, do you all have a schedule to write your works or you just following the instinct?

You HAVE to set aside time to write. The muse rarely plays without a telegram invitation.

niratisaya · Jun 30, 2009

sunandshadow said:
Have you tried a creativity coach? They are therapists who talk to people about psychological problems with writing, such as the various types of writer's block.

i might need that person, the problem is...no one in my country works as a creativity coach. or maybe i haven't had the chance to meet one. but at least i would look for some people with more experience than me.
most of the writers i've met always suggest me to read more and just write whatever come cross my mind.
so, i will read and write more. and set a time to write.

thank you so much for all the advices!
GBU all!!

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