When I have trouble writing I. . .

LightShadow · Aug 26, 2006

The writer in the corner

It is during those moments when I am alone, silent, and in deep thought that my characters speak to me. It is when I allow the world to vanish, and the noise to cease that my stories develop. When you don't know where to go next in your journey, stop and listen to the writer hidden deep in the corner of your soul.

aric77 · Aug 26, 2006

i do something similar to that, but i usually just close my eyes and turn on my music and let my minds wander for abit. it always gets me back on track.

maestrowork · Aug 26, 2006

... take a long drive with the top down and music blaring...

Ardellis · Aug 27, 2006

I have conversations with my characters, get them to talk about the scene, what's going on in their heads. I write it down as I go, without looking back until I'm done. Sometimes I can get some pretty startling insights on why I'm stuck.

Or, I just hang out on the AW boards until breakfast is ready.

howiehok · Aug 27, 2006

lie down in a totally dark room, and close your eyes.

Works every time.

Carrie in PA · Aug 27, 2006

I ignore my work for a few hours and insist that I am NOT going to worry about it. Usually the muse starts clamoring for attention shortly thereafter.

mjlpsu · Aug 27, 2006

Go for a walk, have some coffee and a glass of scotch... edit instead.

SeanDSchaffer · Aug 27, 2006

I find that I'm best able to listen to my characters when my music is off, and I'm sitting in as close to complete silence as one can get to in an apartment building.

I also find I can read better when the music is off, but that's another topic for another thread.

LeftUnsaid · Aug 27, 2006

If I wait for a moment in which I have no time to write, I will be able to write. Sometimes it's all about patient procrastination, and also knowing that I shouldn't be doing this right now (but what, really, is more important than writing?).
So, basically, everytime I am late for anything we can assume it's because of writing.

janetbellinger · Aug 27, 2006

It usually comes to me when I'm drifting off to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or doing something unrelated to writing.

Thomma Lyn · Aug 27, 2006

janetbellinger said:
It usually comes to me when I'm drifting off to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or doing something unrelated to writing.

Me, too - also driving, exercising, showering.

I also find that playing piano or listening to music helps spur on the muse.

klostes · Aug 27, 2006

For me, it's 'free-writing." Sitting down and complaining in longhand about what I'm having trouble with in this story or just repeating over and over the issues I'm struggling with. It may not come right away, but it does come.

REading poetry helps, too, for some odd reason. Maybe the difference in structure and word usage?

smiley10000 · Aug 28, 2006

Procrastinate.

Not the answer you wanted I guess. Unfortunately, I haven't found a way to get around my laziness...

I'm working on it...
:poke:

10000

sanctuary6284 · Aug 28, 2006

I usually stop trying to write and go to work, or school, or start reading a book. Sometimes I'll watch an anime(love this stuff) or play a video game. It's amazing how mindless activities help me get my story on track.

DragonHeart · Aug 28, 2006

If I get stuck I don't push it right away. I'll put on a favorite TV show (if it's time for one, I hate channel surfing), listen to music, watch an anime, or play a video game. Sometimes it's just easier to let someone else do the thinking.

I'll usually end up hearing or seeing something that sparks an idea, and then I'm back and writing some more.

~DragonHeart~

NeuroFizz · Aug 28, 2006

I just get on with my other business. Forcing it, or trying to find a comfort zone to get things turning, just doesn't cut it for me. I'll start thinking about how the lawn needs to be mowed, or what to get the kids on their next birthday, or something unrelated to writing. If I just get on with things, and put writing out of my mind, sometimes writing things will pop, and sometimes other things will get my mind going. When writing stuff comes to me, it might be in the shower, it might be while driving the car, or when trying to fall asleep. It could even happen while I'm mowing the lawn. For me, there is no magical activity or state of being that brings writing ideas out of the fog. Ideas come when they come, and trying to force them produces forced writing (again, for me).

Pat~ · Aug 28, 2006

Pellegrina Leoni said:
Me, too - also driving, exercising, showering.

I also find that playing piano or listening to music helps spur on the muse.

Me, too! Often I'll just drop the writing and go on to another creative pursuit, and let the words come later. I never force it; I just can't write that way.

Mark Lazer · Aug 29, 2006

Anyone familiar with Chuck Palahniuk's egg timer method?

When you don't want to write, set an egg timer for one hour (or half hour) and sit down to write until the timer rings. If you still hate writing, you're free in an hour. But usually, by the time that alarm rings, you'll be so involved in your work, enjoying it so much, you'll keep going. Instead of an egg timer, you can put a load of clothes in the washer or dryer and use them to time your work. Alternating the thoughtful task of writing with the mindless work of laundry or dish washing will give you the breaks you need for new ideas and insights to occur. If you don't know what comes next in the story… clean your toilet. Change the bed sheets. For Christ sakes, dust the computer. A better idea will come.

gp101 · Aug 29, 2006

LightShadow said:
The writer in the corner

It is during those moments when I am alone, silent, and in deep thought that my characters speak to me. It is when I allow the world to vanish, and the noise to cease that my stories develop. When you don't know where to go next in your journey, stop and listen to the writer hidden deep in the corner of your soul.

You picked the long way of saying:

wait till 2am when no one calls or rings the doorbell, most normal kids/wife/significant other are asleep, and infomercials dominate cable TV. You have no excuse NOT to write, unless you have HBO. You're almost forced to write because the world really does seem to vanish at that hour, and I get a lot of writing done. But the following day is ruined for me. The choices we make...

henriette · Aug 29, 2006

smoke a joint and take a nap...

MidnightMuse · Aug 29, 2006

maestrowork said:
... take a long drive with the top down and music blaring...

I like to do this too.

Of course, I don't drive a convertable

But if I'm feeling clogged, stepping away from the WIP and doing something else for a few hours or a weekend always does the trick for me.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 29, 2006

mjlpsu said:
Go for a walk, have some coffee and a glass of scotch... edit instead.

I'd go with the scotch. My writer in the corner of my soul enjoys a good whisky. Besides, it's scary in that corner, and the whisky bolsters his courage.

cree · Aug 29, 2006

henriette said:
smoke a joint and take a nap...

What she said.

country-writer · Aug 29, 2006

When the house is quiet, my mind comes alive.

When I stall, I pick up my Natalie Goldberg's books Writing Down the Bones and Wild Minds and rediscover the joy of writing once again.

LightShadow · Aug 29, 2006

As long as the door's locked, the noise is gone, and the kids are at school and work - - - writing is good!

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