KICK ME!

Myrealana · Jan 7, 2013

Ever since Christmas, my brain feels like mush.

I am completely stuck in my writing. I put down words, but I know they're not the RIGHT words.

I can't find my character's voices. I sit and stare at the rough draft for my WIP and I can't find the ten-year-old boy in my head to do my revisions.

ARGH! Writers Block is teh suk!

Ruth2 · Jan 7, 2013

Ah, but even if you put down the wrong words, you can fix it in rewrites.

Manuel Royal · Jan 7, 2013

Wish we had a magic bullet, Myrealana, because I'm feeling the same way. We just have to put words down, even if they're not quite the right ones, and gradually fumble around until we find a good path.

Sonneillon · Jan 7, 2013

Ruth2 said:
Ah, but even if you put down the wrong words, you can fix it in rewrites.

Is that NaNo philosophy I hear? XD

I agree, though. If you don't already have an outline, write a little bit of an outline. Just set down the bare bones of "okay, what exactly happens next? And what then? And what then?" If that doesn't jar anything loose, then just... get your character to the next point and write through that. You can play connect-the-dots now and fix it in edits, the important part is to get things moving again.

Another option is to skip to a scene you DO have interest in and write that, or pick something totally extraneous to the plot and write that. When I'm stuck I usually sit down and write a random conversation or a sex scene or something that I know I can get to flow properly. Even if it doesn't go into the story it helps me unstick.

Myrealana · Jan 7, 2013

Ruth2 said:
Ah, but even if you put down the wrong words, you can fix it in rewrites.

The problem is I'm DOING re-writes.

Re-writing bad prose badly isn't really productive.

Kerosene · Jan 7, 2013

*Kicks you*
*Kicks you*
*Kicks you*

And there's no such thing as writer's block, just a lazy writer.

*Kicks you*

I suggest:
Eating a high protein diet, chicken breast, tuna, lots of vegis.
Go for a walk everyday to mull over what you're going to write about.
Take some vitamin D3 (about 2000UI, 5000ui if you don't get any sun at all. Beware 10K and more is deadly)
Read through your older work as a reader's perspective, not criticizing your writing and try to enjoy it.
And force yourself to either write for an hour, or sit in the darkness until you want to write for that hour.
Revision is the most powerful tool in the writer's life, not the actual act of writing. So keep crap back for revisions.

Also, just a thought: If you wanted to write that story, you'd be writing it. Maybe you don't want to write the story.

lolchemist · Jan 7, 2013

You can only do so many rewrites before your brain goes to mush and your rewrites start looking worse than what you originally had! (My limit seems to be about 12 pages a day with size 11 single spaced font.) You seriously might want to consider starting a new project, not touching or even looking at your old project for at least a week or two AND THEN tackling it all over again. Sometimes a fresh eye and mind is what is needed!

SianaBlackwood · Jan 7, 2013

WillSauger said:
Take some vitamin D3 (about 2000UI, 5000ui if you don't get any sun at all. Beware 10K and more is deadly)

I have no idea if it works for people, but if you were a goat I'd recommend a combined A and D supplement as well as a good trace element mix.

... but as far as I know nobody on this forum is actually a goat, so I'll offer advice instead.

Plan.

All that worldbuilding, character profiling, brainstorming on major plot points and other stuff like that - do it now. Record everything you learnt during the first draft, make notes on what you want to change (or introduce for the first time) in the second draft. Then start writing.

Oh, and *kick*

Layla Nahar · Jan 7, 2013

I'm really struggling on a rewrite. The first version, the story had flaws but the writing was *alive*. I keep planting now on the rewrite - I'm sensing two causes - one I'm trying to write toward story elements from the first version that I really liked, like that scene where they were sitting in the sunny room going over the accounts, and the flow of everything overall. Actually - it's not two causes, it's one. I'm failing to be fully open to my current re-write. It's a rewrite, it's a new story. But I have the ghost and the imprint of the old story that I keep trying to incorporate, and that's what's interfering. So I think the trick is to write this new version based on what I *learned* from writing the original, and be open to the flow that's happening now. Wish me luck, and good luck to you

Geoff Mehl · Jan 7, 2013

No kick, just a trick I find helpful. I know what you mean -- those days when you'll look for just about any excuse for hiding out from that scary wall you're facing and really don't want to climb over.

So, put on a professional attitude. Take a shower, get cleaned up, wear go-to-the-office clothes, and sit down at an imaginary conference table with your cast of characters. This is a business, a commercial venture, and there's a bit of a snag. Hold a meeting, analyze the situation and work out an action plan to get the project back on track. Form a blue-ribbon committee (you, yourself and your inner voice) if necessary to oversee that plan of action.

Then tell all the characters to get back to work and quit goofing off. Kick *their* butts. After all, this is a professional work of art, not some high school term paper.

wampuscat · Jan 7, 2013

If a walk doesn't work to foster ideas, I like to mull ideas in the shower. For some reason I think best when there's absolutely no way to write, like while showering or driving.

Anna Spargo-Ryan · Jan 7, 2013

The brain is a muscle like any other - write until you warm it up, and eventually the less shitty stuff will come out.

Often there are little buds of ideas hidden inside terrible writing, and if you persevere something will spark eventually. Then all you need to do is set fire to the sentences that got you there.

L. Y. · Jan 7, 2013

Are you talking about your writing in general, or your current WIP?

If it's your current WIP, maybe you could put it away for a bit, give yourself some time off from it, and go and write something else?

You can always return later, with fresh eyes and ideas.

Aj Johnson · Feb 5, 2013

WillSauger said:
*Kicks you*
*Kicks you*
*Kicks you*

And there's no such thing as writer's block, just a lazy writer.

*Kicks you*

I suggest:
Eating a high protein diet, chicken breast, tuna, lots of vegis.
Go for a walk everyday to mull over what you're going to write about.
Take some vitamin D3 (about 2000UI, 5000ui if you don't get any sun at all. Beware 10K and more is deadly)
Read through your older work as a reader's perspective, not criticizing your writing and try to enjoy it.
And force yourself to either write for an hour, or sit in the darkness until you want to write for that hour.
Revision is the most powerful tool in the writer's life, not the actual act of writing. So keep crap back for revisions.

Also, just a thought: If you wanted to write that story, you'd be writing it. Maybe you don't want to write the story.

Harsh but man did *I* my self, need to hear this. Great advice.

Wilde_at_heart · Feb 5, 2013

I'm balking at the finish line. Seriously, just half a page is stumping me. Re-writing a critical action-scene and I'm dickering over probably about ten words altogether.

So instead I'm on here. I should really be unplugging my router right about now.

kkbe · Feb 5, 2013

I was recently in the same boat. I don't know what it was--brain freeze or panic or what--but it came back, in fits and starts but it came back.

I couldn't write my own so I critiqued a lot, and I went on some rides by myself, getting physically away from it. I think that gave me a chance to mull things over without it being in my face, all "you ain't writing me so you suck."

I'd go on rides and find myself thinking of my two little mcs and where I could take their story, and ideas slowly started floating in. Don't give up heart, Myrealana. If your story's viable, it'll come back to you. It has to. Where else is it gonna go?

Writelock · Feb 5, 2013

Myrealana said:
The problem is I'm DOING re-writes.

Re-writing bad prose badly isn't really productive.

Get a beta reader, a cruel one, let them go to work. and then soak in their perspective.

calling33 · Feb 13, 2013

Layla Nahar said:
I'm really struggling on a rewrite. The first version, the story had flaws but the writing was *alive*. I keep planting now on the rewrite - I'm sensing two causes - one I'm trying to write toward story elements from the first version that I really liked, like that scene where they were sitting in the sunny room going over the accounts, and the flow of everything overall. Actually - it's not two causes, it's one. I'm failing to be fully open to my current re-write. It's a rewrite, it's a new story. But I have the ghost and the imprint of the old story that I keep trying to incorporate, and that's what's interfering. So I think the trick is to write this new version based on what I *learned* from writing the original, and be open to the flow that's happening now. Wish me luck, and good luck to you

I totally get where you're coming from. I'm trying to re-write (ie edit) my novel and it's proving to be really hard. I've even got somebody I know to read it and tell me their opinion but I just can't seem to put my heart in it. That's good advice you've put at the end.

Ashwood · Feb 14, 2013

WillSauger said:
Eating a high protein diet, chicken breast, tuna, lots of vegis.
Go for a walk everyday to mull over what you're going to write about.
Take some vitamin D3 (about 2000UI, 5000ui if you don't get any sun at all. Beware 10K and more is deadly)

Great advice! I take about 2000-3000ui of D3 daily. Along with fish oil, vitamin C and a multivitamin.
My brain isn't as sharp if I don't take it. Hey, whatever helps to get the words flowing...

J.S.F. · Feb 26, 2013

Myrealana said:
Ever since Christmas, my brain feels like mush.

I am completely stuck in my writing. I put down words, but I know they're not the RIGHT words.

I can't find my character's voices. I sit and stare at the rough draft for my WIP and I can't find the ten-year-old boy in my head to do my revisions.

ARGH! Writers Block is teh suk!

---

"Kick you?"

May I?

No, I won't, of course, but writer's block does suck big time. FWIW, outside of the suggestions previously given, I'd go over your story again from beginning to wherever you left off, and read through your MC. See what he or she sees, and imagine yourself as that person. Sooner or later you'll find the words.

In the meantime, just write something, even if you think it's crap. You can always fix it later. No manuscript is perfect right off the bat, not by the famous writers and not by the wannabes, like me. Just keep at it and you'll get your character's voice.

KICK ME!

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave

Ruth2

Tam, na Koncu Drevoreda

Manuel Royal

Sonneillon

Autophobic Misanthrope

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

lolchemist

Shooting stars.

SianaBlackwood

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

Geoff Mehl

wampuscat

Recovering adjective addict

Anna Spargo-Ryan

Just pokin' about

L. Y.

Thread surfer and virtual bartender

Aj Johnson

Wilde_at_heart

υπείκωphobe

kkbe

Huh.

Writelock

Tribal Wanderer

calling33

Ashwood

supercalifragilisticexpia lidocious

J.S.F.

Red fish, blue fish...

KICK ME!

I aim to misbehave

Tam, na Koncu Drevoreda

Autophobic Misanthrope

I aim to misbehave

Your Pixie Queen

Shooting stars.

Seashell Seller

Recovering adjective addict

Just pokin' about

Thread surfer and virtual bartender

&#965;&#960;&#949;&#943;&#954;&#969;phobe

Huh.

Tribal Wanderer

supercalifragilisticexpia lidocious

Red fish, blue fish...

υπείκωphobe