Writers Block

bunnie · Feb 29, 2008

I have great plots for stories, but sometimes I get writers block - which can be very frustrating. How can you just suddenly black out from the creations you work on-on a daily basis? Are there any suggestions floating around that can emerge the creative juices to flow?

BlueLucario · Feb 29, 2008

According to what I've read, Writer's block is caused by the author criticising himself.

Here's the right brain: Creativity

The Left Brain: Logic.

The right brain is doing its best to give you some ideas, most irrelevant. But the Left brain intereferes with the right brain's creativity. Saying, "This is wrong, no! Don't that's stupid."

and that's what leads to writer's block.

Mr Flibble · Feb 29, 2008

write. about anything. copy a page from your favourite novel. just get those fingers going.

This is one of my fave stories. Ragtime, by E L Doctorow won several awards in its day. And how did it come into being? ( where is this going?)

The author sat down one day and did not have a clue what to write, no characters, no plot, nothing. Zippadeedoodah. So he wrote about the wall in front of him. Then the street outside. Then he wondered how the street looked when it was built, the trams and horses etc. And then it all just kind of came together.

So write a shopping list, and e-mail, something. If you write it, it will come.

The Scip · Feb 29, 2008

IdiotsRUs said:
write. about anything. copy a page from your favourite novel. just get those fingers going.

This is one of my fave stories. Ragtime, by E L Doctorow won several awards in its day. And how did it come into being? ( where is this going?)

The author sat down one day and did not have a clue what to write, no characters, no plot, nothing. Zippadeedoodah. So he wrote about the wall in front of him. Then the street outside. Then he wondered how the street looked when it was built, the trams and horses etc. And then it all just kind of came together.

So write a shopping list, and e-mail, something. If you write it, it will come.

I agree with this, sometimes its not really writers block butmotivation. If I writer feels like he has no story to tell, he won't write; hence writer's block. The best way to get past this, I've had it before, is to write, at least something every day. Even if, like Idiots said, it is about the wall in front of you. Eventually something will come to you, when it does, run with it.

Sean D. Schaffer · Feb 29, 2008

bunnie said:
I have great plots for stories, but sometimes I get writers block - which can be very frustrating. How can you just suddenly black out from the creations you work on-on a daily basis? Are there any suggestions floating around that can emerge the creative juices to flow?

Someone recently gave me a link to an article by Elizabeth Moon, but sadly I had to get rid of that computer.

Else I would share the link with you.

Your block could be caused by a lot of things. Without knowing your situation, I don't think most people could tell you exactly what causes it. There are explanations that range from chemical imbalances to just plain laziness.

In my own case, I think it was a combination of lack of confidence in my own abilities, and my refusal to follow my heart. I really think that a lot of my problem with the Block was caused by my own feelings about myself, in other words.

So what I did was decide to take control of my own life again. That includes my writing. Trying to please everyone else just does not work, so I have to please me.

Just my two cents. I hope my post helps.

--Sean

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

I can relate to alot of the advice. I must admit that since going back to work full time I can just about fit my writing in every day...between work and running my three children about. I don't want to loose what I really want to do - which is write - hopefully professionally one day, but wanting to be a writer isn't going to bring in my money. I will scribble whatever comes to me and hopefully will beable to bring back the creativeness that I have LIVED for.
I write quite alot of short pieces on my blog - www.titchgal.blog.com - after work and within any spare time. Thanks for all your advice

onlyhere · Mar 1, 2008

I've learned to use writer block to my advantage. It is during those times that I think about my characters, where the story is going.

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

onlyhere said:
I've learned to use writer block to my advantage. It is during those times that I think about my characters, where the story is going.

I guess there is a positive side to everything

Thanks

Forbidden Snowflake · Mar 1, 2008

I get it a lot. I cannot continue and am convinced what I'm writing is crap. I tend to not get over it and not write for months.

Do not do that!

Bufty · Mar 1, 2008

I hope you are not currently in that mode, Forbidden Snowflake. :Hug2:

Forbidden Snowflake said:
I get it a lot. I cannot continue and am convinced what I'm writing is crap. I tend to not get over it and not write for months.

Do not do that!

Mel · Mar 1, 2008

Don't be sad, Sean. Here's the link.
Help! I can't write!

dreamsofnever · Mar 1, 2008

Welcome to AW, Bunnie! I have a few tricks for curing writer's block.

1. If I'm blocked, I'll write something I have no stakes in, like fanfic. Or a drabble, which is just a real short (100 words is standard) stream-of-consciousness mini-story. If that doesn't work, I try the next few options.
2. take a shower. it's quiet, it's getting me out of the room where I'm stuck, and something about water is just really inspiring.
3. take a walk and think about my characters. the act of getting into motion usually gets the creative juices flowing
4. do some chores (i.e. vacuuming, dishes, etc) Usually I daydream about my stories while doing chores since it's mindless activity, so this tends to jumpstart me.
5. listen to music that sets the tone for my scene/characters/plot.

Or I think of a scene that's coming up in my story that I'm really excited to write, and that motivates me to get writing so I can get to that point.

It also helps me to plot out what I'm going to write the next day as I go to sleep. The only bad thing about that is that sometimes I stay up thinking instead of sleeping.

Hope this helps!

Sean D. Schaffer · Mar 1, 2008

Mel said:
Don't be sad, Sean. Here's the link.
Help! I can't write!

Cool! Thanks.

--Sean

caromora · Mar 1, 2008

There's a lot of great advice in this thread.

I've had tons of experience with writers block, and it usually happens when my creative well has gotten a little dry. Taking a long walk, reading a great book or watching a good movie, going to a museum or a concert, or the zoo...anything different and inspiring will get my creative juices flowing again.

And sometimes you just need time away. Maybe your ideas are still stewing and aren't ready to be written yet.

Another thing that helps me is to write something completely different--a poem, or a song. Just creating in general helps. Maybe trying your hand at painting or drawing, or collaging would help!

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

Mel said:
Don't be sad, Sean. Here's the link.
Help! I can't write!

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Thanks for all the advice

HeronW · Mar 1, 2008

Do the 'What If' game for the situation you're stuck in, the character who won't budge, the landscape that looks dull. What if a meteor show struck this place? What if Kate discovered she could tell her mom to stay out of her business-this is her life, mom had hers. Wwhat if black roses grew from coffee pots?

Soccer Mom · Mar 1, 2008

Come play the March FADness game with us. FAD stands for Flash A Day. I post a prompt and everyone writes a short (under 1,000) word story for it. No pressure. Just something to stimulate your creativity.

Georganna Hancock · Mar 1, 2008

Many Causes/Solutions

bunnie said:
I have great plots for stories, but sometimes I get writers block - which can be very frustrating. How can you just suddenly black out from the creations you work on-on a daily basis? Are there any suggestions floating around that can emerge the creative juices to flow?

Although some people proclaim Writer's Block doesn't exist, my research and training in psychology suggest it's real. I prefer to call it a "temporary interruption in creativity". Reframing a problem can help you sometimes.

WB can have any of several causes and, consequently, several solutions are suggested. I've written about many aspects of this dilemma in my blog. The problem appears to be more frequent for creative writers than those who write nonfiction and often have deadlines to meet. If you have recently switched from nonfiction (or switch back and forth) to fiction, a lack of the pressure and push of a deadline can be the cause. So much freedom means much less structure in your writing life. Have you tried creating structure (like outlining a piece) and set deadlines for yourself?

This is just one example. You can search A Writer's Edge for posts on Writer's Block.

Carlene · Mar 1, 2008

I've been writing for 25 years and have never had writer's block. I started as a journalist and I know that was a good thing. There is no such thing as writer's block in a newsroom. You have a story, you have a deadline - you write. I have several projects going at once, so I I run out of steam on one, I switch. It's my job. I'm a writer. I write. I've never heard of Plumber's block or Accounts block. "Oh, I just cannot add today! I'm blocked." Just write, just write, just write.

Carlene
www.themysterystartshere.com

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

Georganna Hancock said:
Although some people proclaim Writer's Block doesn't exist, my research and training in psychology suggest it's real. I prefer to call it a "temporary interruption in creativity". Reframing a problem can help you sometimes.

WB can have any of several causes and, consequently, several solutions are suggested. I've written about many aspects of this dilemma in my blog. The problem appears to be more frequent for creative writers than those who write nonfiction and often have deadlines to meet. If you have recently switched from nonfiction (or switch back and forth) to fiction, a lack of the pressure and push of a deadline can be the cause. So much freedom means much less structure in your writing life. Have you tried creating structure (like outlining a piece) and set deadlines for yourself?

This is just one example. You can search A Writer's Edge for posts on
Writer's Block.

I have noticed the difference in oppinions of the 'writers block.' Some may not agree that it exists, but like you said - it MUST exist, otherwise we wouldn't have heard of it.
I write creative stories - if you have looked at my blog and checked out the short pieces I have written - you'll see that my ideas are creative and often completed within a short space of time between each of them.
Journalists deal with writing day in and day out - often recording details as they happen, or recording what they have been told. They too need to adjust their writing to adapt it into a dramatic or interesting way for their readers, but alot of their inspiration is within the day to day life. Creative writers have to work alone - using their imaginations alot more than non-fiction writers. It's ok to say JUST WRITE - anyone can write - it's the grasping of the readers attention that we need...so if WRITERS BLOCK has a purpose - it's to give the determination to succeed.

Mel · Mar 1, 2008

Sometimes you need to take a break to let the well fill back up.

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

Soccer Mom said:
Come play the March FADness game with us. FAD stands for Flash A Day. I post a prompt and everyone writes a short (under 1,000) word story for it. No pressure. Just something to stimulate your creativity.

Thanks - I'll give it a go

bunnie · Mar 1, 2008

Mel said:
Sometimes you need to take a break to let the well fill back up.

Just what I was thinking - hopefully it don't take too long to fill up.

Carlene · Mar 1, 2008

True, everyone is different. However, I am a creative writer. Have published short stories in the horror, mystery, confession and religious market. have published six books, one non-fiction, one romance, one mystery, one romantic suspence and two humorous mysteries. I get some of my best ideas in the bath tub, while ironing and during my daily walks. I love Julia Cameron's "The Artist Way." If you haven't read it do - and do the exercises. Try morning pages - that should help.

Carlene
www.themysterystartshere.com

bunnie · Mar 2, 2008

That's great-then you will know what everyone's talking about. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for others. I can write up short stories in no time...as you will see in my blog. The short stories take less time for me. The Novel has alot more involvement, and that's when you may find that the block kicks in. Thanks for the tip.

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