Cure for Writer's Block

When I get writer's block, it's for a very specific reason. I always know that reason, and I know how to fix it, so the most it ever lasts for me is a day or two while I try to figure out the best angle to use to get around it.

The only time I shut down is if the scene I'm writing is wrong. Maybe I've approached it from the wrong angle, or its pointless, or it doesn't fit the characters, or any other little reason like that. Even then, it's not true writer's block because I can keep going if I have to, I just get more and more uncomfortable.

The solution, every time, is to delete the chunk I don't like and re-write it.

I guess I've been lucky. I've never actually frozen up and realized I didn't know what happened next. Er. Sorry.

For me, the trick is to drop everything and go on a walk. The amazing thing is that this works 80 percent of the time for me!
However, walks may not work for you, or you might not enjoy the area.
You'll probably receive more enlightened posts after this one.

I myself am wondering this: why isn't there a Writer's Block section in the Novels FAQ????

Well, there is a Forum dedicated to Jenna's book Outwitting Writer's Block... it isn't a FAQ, but maybe it'll do?

I don't call it Writer's Block, because that brings to mind an elderly writer sitting in front of his typewriter for hours, with nothing to show for it but leg cramps and blank sheets of paper.

I don't have a problem with ideas, or with having things to write, so I never feel blocked, persay. I do, however, have issues with discipline. Even BIC doesn't work, because my computer offers so many distractions (like AW). It's all about closing Explorer, turning on some music, opening up the WIP, and writing dagnabit!

There are so many ways to push past writers block.

Ones I use and work.

Switching mediums. Sometimes it's daunting to stare at the computer screen when you are not sure exactly where you want to take them or you know where just not how. I grab my notebook and pen and change locations. This helps clear my mind.

Outlining. This is an easy way to plan through a part that's causing me trouble. Outlines are easy to alter and can give a good picture. It doesn't matter if you end up sticking to them or not, sometimes just having lines to fill in the blanks helps to get those grey cells working again.

Sounding Board. Mine is my sister. Someone you can bounce your ideas off of in a creative manner and one who isn't afraid to say that idea is crap, you can do better than that. Sounding boards are worth their weight in gold, even if you are the one doing all the talking.

Clearing your head. Walking, taking a break, stopping for lunch, going out of the house for a while, listening to a cd. Music is extremely helpful, especially instrumental because it allows my brain to empty and refocus without outside interference.

Identify the problem. If you can find what is causing the block, it reduces the problem to what it is and allows you to think through it.

Skipping ahead. Sometimes when I am stuck on a problem, I will bookmark the spot and skip ahead to a part I already know how it goes. This gives me extra time to puzzle through it without holding my progress back.

Intruding Ideas. Sometimes my writers block comes from outside ideas bombarding me on future writing projects. I don't ignore them (they drive me crazy if I do) I write everything I can think about them down, then put them away and carry on with my current WIP.

These have worked for me for over 5 years now and having three children in the home I've had to become rather creative when it comes to not only finding the time to write but the clarity of mind when I do so.

I hope these help. Again these are my personal ones, they won't work for anyone, but you can take others and frankenstein them and taylor fit them to your needs.

Usually when I have writer's block, I write. That tends to cure it right up. In most cases for me, it's about confidence.

block

I don't believe writer's block actually exists. I think painting yourself in a corner exists, but this is not writer's block. I also think laziness exists, but this is not writer's block, either.

I'm a writer. It's what I do. I can't afford writer's block.

Even more so when I am working comic books, because everything starts with me. I don't work, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer and editor don't work. And if the editor doesn't work and because they see the rest of their team isn't work, they tend to cut out the problem.

Obviously with a novel, in many cases, there is no one maybe to push you. I think it tends to come down to attitude. Writer's block is an excuse not to write and feel tortured (in a good, artistic way) and who here doesn't want an occasional justification for goofing off?

The night was hot, wait no, the night, the night was humid. The night was humid, no wait, hot, hot. The night was hot. The night was hot and wet, wet and hot. The night was wet and hot, hot and wet, wet and hot; that's humid. The night was humid.


The night was dry, yet it was raining.


The night was sultry.

I have not had Writer's Block in a long time. But when I did get it, I learned that I got it from stress. Too much stress can cause massive Block for me--to the tune of months at a time. So, I try to relax every week, at least one day (Usually Saturday) out of that week. I find that this resting and relaxing helps my imagination to do better than it does without these techniques.

I also like to read. That seems, too, to help me out of a Block situation. Whether reading for pleasure or for study, I try to read something every couple days--I should be reading something at least once every day, but I cannot seem to get into the habit.

Another thing I do is try to write at least a vignette (a short descriptive work, maybe a page or two long) every morning that I'm not working on a manuscript. That helps bring out ideas for new stories that I can work on at a later time.

kuatolives said:

The night was hot, wait no, the night, the night was humid. The night was humid, no wait, hot, hot. The night was hot. The night was hot and wet, wet and hot. The night was wet and hot, hot and wet, wet and hot; that's humid. The night was humid.

The night was dry, yet it was raining.

The night was sultry.

Click to expand...

I can't tell if you just cured Writer's Block, or inflicted it, or channeled the spirit of the aforementioned James Joyce.

PeeDee said:

I can't tell if you just cured Writer's Block, or inflicted it, or channeled the spirit of the aforementioned James Joyce.

Click to expand...

I think he's quoting Billy Crystal from Throw Mama From The Train.

If it's general block, write anything. Write a journal about what you did that day, what you want to do, what you think you should do. It helps kick start the flow. If it's due to a specific problem, there are several things to do. Delete the last five pages and start writing them over again. Sit down with an blank piece of paper and write out, "I want this to happen but instead it going this way..." rationalize it all out in writing for. Free form, flow of thought. You might come up with something.

PeeDee said:

The only time I shut down is if the scene I'm writing is wrong. Maybe I've approached it from the wrong angle, or its pointless, or it doesn't fit the characters, or any other little reason like that. Even then, it's not true writer's block because I can keep going if I have to, I just get more and more uncomfortable.

The solution, every time, is to delete the chunk I don't like and re-write it.

Click to expand...

Yup, this is basically how it works for me too. (And, apparently, how it worked for LeCarre.) I actually appreciate those moments in a way, because they make me feel more confident about the rest of the book- if I was okay to write the other bits, but this one is giving me a hang-up, at least I can be reasonably assured the other bits were at least somewhat plausible.

I have had writer's block in between projects, though, and that was a really scary time. There was a period where I actually got physically ill when I tried to write (I'd just gotten out of college, completely terrified about where my life wasn't going, and I was very upset that my writing wasn't saving me from myself like I'd always assumed it was supposed to), which was the worst. But I think actual block during a story or novel is more an indication of a solvable problem than anything else.

Jamesaritchie said:

I don't believe writer's block actually exists. I think painting yourself in a corner exists, but this is not writer's block. I also think laziness exists, but this is not writer's block, either.

Click to expand...

I don't think Jamesaritchie exists, actually.

There's a difference between writing yourself into a corner, and writer's block. Writer's block is your subconscious mind sabotaging your efforts, for whatever reason.

Getting yourself out of a corner is a much easier thing to deal with. I do many of the things already suggested. Going for a walk can be a good way. Deleting the scene, another.

Writers block sucks big time. I can write three short stories, a few poems, and then get stuck on completing my novel. So ... I don't know if I need to do the burn and rewrite or just write the next sentence and see where it goes. I've had writers block before and it lasted for days or weeks. I can't say that it was because of my story, as much, but most likely the world where I live at any given moment. See, I move a lot and sometimes I don't have a real home to live. Like tonight. I am homeless of sorts, and so my current writers block is environmental.

Now when I find a new job, an apartment, and have a warm bed then maybe I can complete another novel. Yep, writers block sucks but being poor and homeless takes the cake.

Cheers,

I also believe there's no such thing a writer's block. For me, there are periods in my life when I want to write, and periods in which I like to do other things. I can only focuss my mind on one thing at a time. Right now I feel like writing again.


Nickie

Nickie said:

I also believe there's no such thing a writer's block.

Click to expand...

So when I guy sits down and really wants to write, but all that happens is his head threatens to explode, what would you call it?

Go on, tell me. I want to know.

Then we can discuss that, whatever name you care to give it. A rose by any other name... (and a pile of poo too.)

A person, at one time or another, may find himself unable to write even when he'd like to. Saying you don't believe it, is a bit like saying you don't believe in Belgium.

Well, I've been to Belgium, and I've had writer's block too, and I won't go into which was worse, but it cranks me bigtime having people tell me my struggels didn't happen.

Shame on you.

(I haven't had the Block in years, but I still remember the days.)

When I get 'stuck' I open a blank page and simply write about the subject I 'think' is blocking me. Sometimes, when writing this way, without pressure, I end up using great chunks of it in the main WIP.

As soon as I start 'playing' with the problem, it takes on a whole new life of its own.

I'm not sure what I get is writer's block at all, I think its more of writer's flood. I get stuck, or loose interest on a project, because I don't want to write it, or am not enjoying that story any more, usually because I have had a better idea and want to write that instead.

It has taken me a very long time to get anything finished.

Lolly said:

I'm reading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre right now. In the foreword, le Carre says that in his first draft he wrote his main character into a corner. He struggled for months, but couldn't figure out how to solve his dilemma. So, he says, I took the manuscript out into the garden, burned it, and then started writing again from scratch. The result is this novel.

Click to expand...

Wouldn't it have been a real treat to have been able to read that before it burned? I've been having a sort of block for awhile on the second book I'm writing, mainly because there seems to be so many avenues I can take. So, to keep busy, I've turned to short stories. Most are just weak jabs at common subjects but a few have grown enough to stand on two legs. One has been submitted, one is stewing in revisions and one is waiting for a little spice to be added to make it just right.

I think writing short stories, even if you hate what they become, are a great way to remove a block. Just file them away! Sometime in the future you might find a line or two (or even a complete plot idea) during a re-read that leads to a new work or boosts the creativity of a WIP.

Jamesaritchie said:

I don't believe writer's block actually exists. I think painting yourself in a corner exists, but this is not writer's block. I also think laziness exists, but this is not writer's block, either.

Click to expand...

For once, I agree with James.

You wouldn't get a builder saying, "Oh, these bricks. They torture me. I can't decide what order to build this house in. I stare at the blank lot all day long and I just can't think how to lay the foundations," would you?

scarletpeaches said:

You wouldn't get a builder saying, "Oh, these bricks. They torture me. I can't decide what order to build this house in. I stare at the blank lot all day long and I just can't think how to lay the foundations," would you?

Click to expand...

Perhaps, but most most builders don't have to create the bricks with their mind.

Sometimes it is just laziness, but it can be counter-productive to throw that in somebody's face when they're honestly trying to write, and just not having any success. When you're stuck in the mud, have a bunch of people screaming, "Duh, you idiot! Just step out of the mud!" usually makes things worse. Especially if the mud is self-provided.

scarletpeaches said:

For once, I agree with James.

You wouldn't get a builder saying, "Oh, these bricks. They torture me. I can't decide what order to build this house in. I stare at the blank lot all day long and I just can't think how to lay the foundations," would you?

Click to expand...

Yeah, but we writers don't use bricks as our main building blocks. Putting together a novel is not as simple as putting together a house. For one thing, the carpenter already has a blueprint from which to work. A novelist has to basically start from scratch.