Fear of Writer's Block?

cinders23 · Dec 2, 2006

Why do I do this? I’m up to about 36,000 words in my novel and I’m pleased about it so far, but before every chapter I feel like there is yet another wall to climb over. I get this worry that I’m not going to be able to come up with ideas to keep it fresh, exciting, and have it all make sense. So far I’ve been able to push forward. After finishing a chapter I will write one or two chapter outlines for the next chapters. (For some reason I’m not good at writing an entire outline for a story. I never stick to those.) But there is always this apprehension that I’m going to get stuck. Is anyone else like this? Is this fear of writer’s block? I write science fiction and fantasy, so coming up with unique ideas is important. Any suggestions to keep the idea bank more full?

All thoughts appreciated

Cindy.

scarletpeaches · Dec 2, 2006

Don't try to climb over the wall. Write through it!

In fact, the wall is not there! Ignore the wall!

As for outlining one or two chapters ahead, I think that's a good idea. There's less to undo if you need to backtrack.

And you have 36k. Congratulate yourself.

Gillhoughly · Dec 2, 2006

Try writing the last chapter. It doesn't have to be detailed, just make it a good screaming, edge of the seat climax.

Put it aside.

Write what leads TO it with the rest of the book.

Much of the process to get there is figuring out the why and how that led to it. Your subconscious will start filling in the blanks between what you're working on now and what you've already done. It's okay if the climax changes as the story develops.

Just HOW did a green at the gills farm kid end up in a fighter diving full throttle at an exhaust port on the biggest battle station ever made? How is it he's able to hit such an impossible target? How does he get there? Who are the people he meets on the way?

Just how did a little girl and her dog end up at the witch's castle being chased by all those guards? What does she have the witch wants so much?

How did a woman end up in a mechanical dock loader fighting a pi$$ed-off alien? How dangerous is the alien? What is the woman fighting for other than her own survival?

Good luck!

Azure Skye · Dec 2, 2006

Maybe the pressure to keep the idea bank full is what's really the problem. I don't know about anyone else but that type of pressure stifles me. Trust that the ideas will come and just keep writing. Write nonsense if you have to. If it's the first draft, just write until you reach the end and fix it in the second draft.

ORION · Dec 2, 2006

Gilloughly has a great suggestion.
Sometimes it is great to have a place to write to. You can always change it.
30,000 words for me is the "slow down" point. I get mired. Kind of like the 1/2 way mark for a marathoner.
It has happened this way for every one of my books. I would not consider it writers block.
Sometimes I even make empty pages for chapters and put a line or two on each page to guide myself to the end.
Often I will write the first chapter and the last and the middle then work inside out.
Tricks.
but they help me.
JMHO

kuatolives · Dec 2, 2006

I never know what I'm going to write when I sit down. There's always a phrase a character says or something small that happens that dictate where I go from there. I live in a constant state of writers block.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 2, 2006

worry

Every time I start a novel, every last time, I worry that I'll get stuck, that I'll run out of ideas, that it won't be any good, that some editor will see thorugh me and tell me I'm washed up, even if I do finish it.

But somehow the novel always gets finished, and editors see fit to buy them.

I suspect such worry is normal. You just have to sit down and add some words each day, even when the doubts set in.

alices · Dec 2, 2006

Personal I find it much easier not to write in chapters per se. I just write and then see where I want to end/start a chapter. It works for me.

tjwriter · Dec 2, 2006

It sounds like you're about mid-book, and it seems that people always have fears and doubts about that time.

Uncle Jim wrote something about mid-book that you may or may not find similar to your issues:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710&page=132

Akuma · Dec 2, 2006

I have a problem that when I am finished with one chapter, I will write the title for the next one (Chapter so and so) and then I feel a bit afraid in the same sense you did. I freeze up.
So I never write those the big words chapter so and so and write maybe after a nice old press of the Enter button. I get rollin', and then come back to put the Chapter title once I'm confident.

Try it, if you think it will help.

TrickyFiction · Dec 2, 2006

I seem to hit that midway wall in just about every project I start, usually somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 words. What actually helps me is to give it a rest for awhile and work on something else. I try some shorts, or I start another novel. Right about the time I hit the midway wall in the new novel, I'll get all fired up about the old one. We'll see how long I can keep up this pattern, though.

I like the last chapter idea, too.

It's good to know that this is a common thing, isn't it?
I was so relieved to find out it wasn't just me.

Zolah · Dec 2, 2006

cinders23 said:
Why do I do this? I’m up to about 36,000 words in my novel and I’m pleased about it so far, but before every chapter I feel like there is yet another wall to climb over. I get this worry that I’m not going to be able to come up with ideas to keep it fresh, exciting, and have it all make sense. So far I’ve been able to push forward. After finishing a chapter I will write one or two chapter outlines for the next chapters. (For some reason I’m not good at writing an entire outline for a story. I never stick to those.) But there is always this apprehension that I’m going to get stuck. Is anyone else like this? Is this fear of writer’s block? I write science fiction and fantasy, so coming up with unique ideas is important. Any suggestions to keep the idea bank more full?

All thoughts appreciated

Cindy.

Give yourself a break! You and I both know that your idea tank is overflowing and that you've ALWAYS got more ideas than you know what to do with. I bet sometimes you actually get this really worried feeling, like: What if I die before I get to write all these stories? Don't you?

You're just getting mid-book jitters. Wait until you hit the downward slope and then you'll get so exhilerated you won't feel this fear anymore. It'll be more like the bit on the rollercoster where you're starting to gather speed and you can see the big curve coming (your one thought: wwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!).

If it helps you to get over your mental freeze, try reminding yourself that you're not actually writing a novel here. You're writing a draft. In fact, it's a rehearsal for a novel. Not a biggie. Just plough on.

BruceJ · Dec 2, 2006

There's nothing to fear but fear itself (to coin a phrase).

Do you find it necessary to stay on a linear track, c-23? Reason I ask is that, when I run into a brick wall, I might jump ahead and write a scene that will be stitched in later. I've even jumped into the next volume of the series when an idea strikes that I want to get down in draft. It refreshes me, pumps me up a little that there actually might be a creative corpuscle or two left in me somewhere, and softens the rigor (and the attending self-fulfilling prophecy of a block) of a purely linear approach to the project.

I don't know, does that help any...?

cinders23 · Dec 2, 2006

Thanks everyone,

Wow! This is a great group. There are a lot of good suggestions here that I'm going to try. It's nice to have people to talk to who understand. I do feel more inspired that I can make it to the end. I've never tried to write the last chapter, but I'm going to try that idea. I'm also going to try not being so linear.

Thanks again for the encouragement. I have to bookmark this thread and read all the posts as a reminder.

Cindy.

icerose · Dec 2, 2006

I just went through this in a different sort of way.

I was writing this script and it was clicking along great, then it ended at forty pages too short.

If anyone knows what it's like to try and double your work when you have the "whole" contained story right in front of you, it's a nightmare! I finally got through that but my very next script I could see that it was also going to end up in the same position and suddenly I was paralyzed. I couldn't write anything for weeks, it was awful. It still isn't long enough but I know exactly what you mean.

Fear of Writer's Block?

cinders23

scarletpeaches

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Azure Skye

Huh?

ORION

Sailed away years ago

kuatolives

Gonzo Journalist

Jamesaritchie

alices

tjwriter

Emerging Anew

Akuma

Rare Writer Pokemon

TrickyFiction

Who?

Zolah

Over the hills and far away

BruceJ

Me and my Muse

cinders23

icerose

Lost in School Work