Still fighting the slump... An idea to get back at it..

lucidzfl · Sep 2, 2009

So, admitedly I've been very busy for the last week or so, not to mention nursing a three day hangover thanks to this weekend...

But i've been frozen at 40,500 since last wednesday...

I even have the next 8 chapters already outlined and yet I cannot seem to sit down and WRITE.

When I was looking at some pictures the other day, I started thinking about how I would describe the scene and the words I would use.

I realized one of my weaknesses is my ability to establish a sense of scene, so I had a crazy idea.

Sit down and figure out EVERY single scene that is in my book, and use the internet to locate a picture that looks exactly what is in my mind. Then sit down and just write what I see in that scene, since OBVIOUSLY my imagination->paper translator is broken.

What kind of whack stuff do you guys do to make yourself start writing again when you freeze?

Freelancer · Sep 2, 2009

I know how you feel. I also fallen into this not long ago, but here is my method which is worked fine: Every day I promised to myself that I'm going to write 10 sentences, no more, while I start to listen some music which gives the atmosphere for that scene. As I know myself when I see the sentence or sentences are not fit into the story, I'm going to correct them, edit them, and expand them. Then somehow the 10 sentence always became longer paragraphs, then pages.

The second method, try to delude your thoughts from the original project and start to write a new one... anything which flips into your mind.

cwfgal · Sep 2, 2009

I immerse myself in stories, whether it be books, movies, or TV. I know my subconscious is always working on my current project in the background and often other stories will give me an idea to jump start the writing.

Sometimes, though, I just have to force myself to sit and write. I often find that the right piece of music helps to put me in the scene/mood needed.

Beth (aka Annelise Ryan)

The Grump · Sep 2, 2009

Yeah, it's a bummer when you can't get your story, chapter, scene off the blocks.

I use a lazy way to solve the problem. My cat demands lap time in the mornings. Once he stops wiggling. I doze while he sleeps after firmly setting the next scene in my mind. When I get to my computer, I usually know what's going to happen -- at least for the next scene.

My current draft isn't progressing fast, but at least something gets written each day.

S.J. · Sep 2, 2009

This sounds totally crazy, but... I have a jar of jelly beans beside my laptop, and at the end of every five pages I eat one. (That is, as long as a certain brother hasn't stolen them.)

And, cwfgal, same! The right piece of music is ESSENTIAL.

Rarri · Sep 2, 2009

I kick my husband out. Well, sort of. I know he's going away (tomorrow actually) on a normal trip, but i'll be damned if i can concentrate until he's out the door. However, aside from that option. I tend to try and write something connected but not essential to the WIP (IE dump MC in X situation and see what happens); i find out something new about a character and sometimes something to add to the WIP. Failing all those? Chocolate does good things.

Ardent Kat · Sep 2, 2009

My husband is a comic writer-artist, so I use him as a sounding board and bounce ideas off of him. Sometimes just talking out loud helps and I'll solve my own problem while he listens, other times he'll suggest a way out of the corner that I hadn't considered. That's more for when I'm stuck for what to do next in the story, though, which sounds different from your situation since you've got the story, but you're stuck anyway.

If you know what to write, but you can't do it: Kill your television (or video games or whatever else is distracting you)--refuse to do any non-writing activity until you've completed the writing first. Feed yourself well. Get lots of sleep. Refuse to let yourself not write. Set reasonable low-bar goals for yourself and always meet them whether you feel like crap or not. If writers wait until inspiration strikes or until we feel like it, the work would never get done. I find I lose steam the longer it's been since the last day I met my word count goals.

Aggy B. · Sep 2, 2009

I find the point in the proposed scene where everything goes to hell. (In my WIP pretty much every scene is that way.) And I start writing at that point. In many ways it's much easier to begin with "The gun shot rattled the room to its timbers." Sort of like the ninja approach but trying to stay more on target.

Later I go back and fill in the beginning of the chapter, all the build up to the ignition point.

Alternately, I write something completely different. (Pixie dust snorting addicts and hard nosed cop? Check.)

If that doesn't work I try and write in the most extreme computation of linguistic style I possibly can.

One of those three methods usually gets me going again.

erin_michelle · Sep 2, 2009

What usually helps me is reading what I've already written. I immerse myself in the story and sometimes an early scene jump starts my mind into thinking about a future scene. Watching TV, reading another book, or listening to music that's relevant to what I'm trying to write also helps. The hardest part is getting back into the writing after taking a break--but once it happens, sometimes the ideas/words come back to you out of nowhere.

Tracey Bentley · Sep 2, 2009

lucidzfl said:
I realized one of my weaknesses is my ability to establish a sense of scene, so I had a crazy idea.

Sit down and figure out EVERY single scene that is in my book, and use the internet to locate a picture that looks exactly what is in my mind. Then sit down and just write what I see in that scene, since OBVIOUSLY my imagination->paper translator is broken.

What kind of whack stuff do you guys do to make yourself start writing again when you freeze?

I'm with you when it comes to writing descriptive scenes and using pictures/photos may work towards accomplishing it.

I do caution you though, this sounds like something I would do when the writing isn't coming easy. It's almost an escape to start "researching" instead of writing. You feel like you are doing something but, in reality, all you're really doing is procrastinating. At least I am.

lucidzfl · Sep 2, 2009

Mama Bear said:
I'm with you when it comes to writing descriptive scenes and using pictures/photos may work towards accomplishing it.

I do caution you though, this sounds like something I would do when the writing isn't coming easy. It's almost an escape to start "researching" instead of writing. You feel like you are doing something but, in reality, all you're really doing is procrastinating. At least I am.

Thankfully I've almost got all my images already. Just about to post them to my blog.

I can't write while I'm at work. Doesn't stop me from taking a 15 minute break to do my 'research'

I brought my paper with me last night where I broke out every scene.

I should be able to write tonight after I get home from the in-laws.

Stunted · Sep 2, 2009

Usually, when I get stuck, it's because my idea of how the story should go is retarded. When I feel like I've been battering my skull into a corner, I put the novel down for three days. At the end of those three days, like clockwork, I'm raring to go.

I also sometimes make lists of the things that need to happen and find ways to get these done in the most elegant way so as to cut out what isn't working.

I also sit back and check to see if I'm taking good care of myself.

lucidzfl · Sep 2, 2009

Stunted said:
Usually, when I get stuck, it's because my idea of how the story should go is retarded. When I feel like I've been battering my skull into a corner, I put the novel down for three days. At the end of those three days, like clockwork, I'm raring to go.

I also sometimes make lists of the things that need to happen and find ways to get these done in the most elegant way so as to cut out what isn't working.

I also sit back and check to see if I'm taking good care of myself.

Sadly, I

a. Already have the next several chapters outlined so I'm not stuck, just not motivated.

b. I have taken like 7 days off, and I'm not rearing to do anything.

aadams73 · Sep 2, 2009

lucidzfl said:
I even have the next 8 chapters already outlined and yet I cannot seem to sit down and WRITE.

Have you entertained the possibility this is the problem? Often if I'm pushing a story in the wrong direction, the first warning sign is an inability to move forward and a lessening of enthusiasm. Loosen your grip on that outline and see where that takes you.

lucidzfl · Sep 2, 2009

aadams73 said:
Have you entertained the possibility this is the problem? Often if I'm pushing a story in the wrong direction, the first warning sign is an inability to move forward and a lessening of enthusiasm. Loosen your grip on that outline and see where that takes you.

I honestly do not know how I would do that.

Aggy B. · Sep 2, 2009

lucidzfl said:
I honestly do not know how I would do that.

You could start by having the MC do the opposite of whatever you had outlined for him to do. Chances are that won't work out but it might get you thinking about what he can do differently.

lucidzfl · Sep 2, 2009

Aggy B. said:
You could start by having the MC do the opposite of whatever you had outlined for him to do. Chances are that won't work out but it might get you thinking about what he can do differently.

Thats actually really fucking interesting.

I uh... I should write that...

My MC would never just walk right up to the fortress and demand his wife back.

EVER....

But the second I thought of him doing that I had a whirlwind of ideas...

Aggy B. · Sep 2, 2009

lucidzfl said:
Thats actually really fucking interesting.

I uh... I should write that...

My MC would never just walk right up to the fortress and demand his wife back.

EVER....

But the second I thought of him doing that I had a whirlwind of ideas...

ellisnation · Sep 3, 2009

Sounds like you're just being lazy, (*wink,wink*). I'm not sure any of us can help you with that because we're all such highly-motivated overachievers.

Sorry, you're on your own

MGraybosch · Sep 3, 2009

lucidzfl said:
My MC would never just walk right up to the fortress and demand his wife back.

EVER...

I agree. My MC wouldn't bother to make demands; he'd simply find a way into the fortress, and either sneak past the guards to get to his wife or leave a massacre behind him. He wouldn't stand at the gate and give a sniper a chance to put a bullet through his head. Morgan Stormrider isn't a hero, and he isn't an idiot.

motormind · Sep 4, 2009

lucidzfl said:
What kind of whack stuff do you guys do to make yourself start writing again when you freeze?

I simply stop taking myself seriously. Chances are, no matter how hard I try, that my novel will still wind up in the 99% of the slushpile that sucks. I find that strangely relieving.

Still fighting the slump... An idea to get back at it..

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

Freelancer

cwfgal

On the rocks

The Grump

Hates Marketing. Loves Writing.

S.J.

Addict? I can quit whenever I want!

Rarri

Ardent Kat

Kill your television

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

erin_michelle

Foreshadowing Queen

Tracey Bentley

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

aadams73

A Work in Progress

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

ellisnation

Rhiannon Ellis

MGraybosch

Lunch Break Novelist

motormind