Writing for two years, not getting anywhere, help please!

I check my bank account and that cures me of block every time.

But just two years and a couple of months doesn't necessarily mean you have writer's block. I've had writer's block for the last 10 years, but still manage to kick out novels and other stuff on a regular basis.

None of the cures or "block breakers," exercises or mind games work for me. I can't trick myself into greasing the gears.

But I do just sit down, focus on what I need to say, then tap it out.

Carve out one hour with no distractions, TV & music off (even if you're used to being plugged in and think you can't write without background noise) just you and the 'puter or pen and paper or chalk on the pavement.

If your home is too noisy or you're distracted by chores there go to the library. Ray Bradbury wrote Faharenheit 451 at the library, or so the story goes.

Think about your characters. You're telling a story about them to yourself--don't mull over what some other person might think. Write a scene that gets you all interested in what's going on.

What causes block? Perhaps you're overwhelmed by the idea of filling up 400 pages. Break it down to one page.

Try breaking up the storyline by putting TV Guide info bites on index cards and taping those to the wall. It's not exactly an outline, but a lot of the time I don't write because I don't know what happens next and I really should.

Hit the 808 section of your library if you've not read it already. Take a few months off and do nothing but guilt-free reading about the craft. Don't worry about working on your book. Be a sponge for awhile and soak up other writers. Books on writing by Orson Scott Card, Laurence Block, and Ray Bradbury can only help you.

You learn writing by doing and by practicing, but also from reading how others get through the process. It's like playing the piano--you learn to play the work of others before trying to compose your own.

Even Mozart had to take music lessons from his dad.

Now...when you're working like mad on your 25th novel, it's overdue by several months, your agent is phoning every hour and your editor is sending guys with names like Guido and Shiv to your door demanding the manuscript and you JUST CAN'T FREAKIN' CONCENTRATE....!!!

Then you can say you have writer's block.

I disagree about the no music part. Nice, classical music can get the gears going on many ocassions. My bit of advice: no lyrics. If a song has lyrics, then it may distract you. Pure instrumentals and you'll do fine.

If nothing else works, just write, even if it's nonsense or pure sh¡t. Just write. That will get the gears moving as well.

Break your writing time into, say, 5 minutes of writing non-stop. And I mean nonstop.

Okay. Mozart. You can listen to Mozart. For some reason my brain--which is mathmatically challenged--responds to those perfectly composed measures.

And start using left hand justification. Centering everything makes one think of a "Disney Princess."

Ever see one of their blogs? Scary. Really scary. I bet King's working on a book on that right now. Some little blond angel finds a wand that colors everything in shades of pink and lavender...

Yeah, the issue of writing with or without music is an interesting one. When told it was bad, by more than a few writers, I stopped writing with music. Nothing significant happened, but then a few months ago, I was in a slump (my writing life consists of frequent spurts and slumps) and did some freewriting to music. It helpled. My block went and I wrote a first draft of a short story listening to Tool.

Yeah, music with lyrics is good, if you don't get easily distracted. If you do, music without lyrics is your choice.

Good music stimulates the brain, which makes me wonder why would anyone advise against it in the first place. Babies who grow up with classical music tend to be more intelligent (well, not intelligent but something like that, don't know the word) than babies who don't. Also, kids who play music are much better at school than kids who don't (but I'm talking about good classical music).

DamaNegra said:

I disagree about the no music part. Nice, classical music can get the gears going on many ocassions. My bit of advice: no lyrics. If a song has lyrics, then it may distract you. Pure instrumentals and you'll do fine.

If nothing else works, just write, even if it's nonsense or pure sh¡t. Just write. That will get the gears moving as well.

Break your writing time into, say, 5 minutes of writing non-stop. And I mean nonstop.

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This is really good advice. Even if it's a completely blank document, 5 minutes of nonstop writing does wonders to break a writer's block. If you're still stumped, move it up to ten, fifteen, whatever it takes to get you moving.

Music helps me write. I hate being in complete silence. Words don't distract me so much, though, Maybe because I've heard my music so much that it's almost like instrumentals.

This sounds like it's a first effort. Just force yourself to write--one page at a time. Don't worry about the quality of the writing. You can revise later. You need to learn how to finish.

There are going to be fits and starts no matter how experienced you are. All you can do is push through it.

Most, if not nearly all first efforts end up in a desk drawer. This first effort is your own internal classroom. This is where you learn what works for you, and what doesn't. There are of course exceptions to First MS Deskitis.

Good luck, AKCC. You've worked hard for over two years. Even if it doesn't get published, (I wish everyone on this board did), your work won't be in vain.




Mike

I can't write to music, either. I need silence, which is seldom found in my House of Six. For writing through blocks, I tend to take the easy route: set something on fire, or kill someone. In the novel, of course.

No music for me, but man i write like gangbusters when a hockey game is on. Of course the season is over so I'll have to muddle through. It'll start again soon enough.

Music

I sometimes write to music, usually classic or Celtic. Most often, however, I write while listening to old time radio dramas, and sometimes to talk radio or CNN. I can write in silence with no problems, but I'd rather not.

Oh, and if you want to stop going back to change things, then you probably just have to stop. Don't read anything you've already written, and you won't be tempted to change it.

Get this novel finished, mail it, and start to work on another immediately.

Jamesaritchie said:

I sometimes write to music, usually classic or Celtic. Most often, however, I write while listening to old time radio dramas, and sometimes to talk radio or CNN. I can write in silence with no problems, but I'd rather not.

Oh, and if you want to stop going back to change things, then you probably just have to stop. Don't read anything you've already written, and you won't be tempted to change it.

Get this novel finished, mail it, and start to work on another immediately.

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Is it ever finished? Seriously. When do you say--I'm done. How do you stop from going back to change things when you get feed back to, well, change things?
I know it needs to be changed because it's the same issue mentioned.
I'm a bit frustrated.

AKillerCanCan said:

I am definitly going to go renew my library card tomorrow while I'm out and I will check out some books, if they have any. My library is very small and they don't have many good books, but I'm sure I'll make due.

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Two words -- Interlibrary loan. You're not limited to what your small library offers on its own shelves. They should be able to get anything you need. And I know there's a thread somewhere around here where folks were listing their favorite and not-so-favorite writing books, so you can get a feel for what's out there.

finsihed

Branwyn said:

Is it ever finished? Seriously. When do you say--I'm done. How do you stop from going back to change things when you get feed back to, well, change things?
I know it needs to be changed because it's the same issue mentioned.
I'm a bit frustrated.

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No, it's never finished. No novel is ever finished. There's a saying, "Stories are never finished, only abandoned — learn to abandon yours."

It's true. We each set purely abitrary measures of when it's time to abandon a story.

My own are pretty simple. I write the first draft witout making any changes along the way. I type "The End."

Then I go back to page one. I fix anything I find wrong in chapter one, be in a clunky sentence, a rough bit of dialogue, a paragraph that needs deleted, etc. When this is done, chapter one is done, and I move to chapter two. I do this right through the novel, and when I type "The End" a second time, I abandon the novel.

library

AKillerCanCan said:

My town is extremely small. Trust me, I've had the library order books for me, but they never come. I've done it probably 10 times. That's why I stopped going. So I'm not going to tell them I want something if I know they won't. I'd actually rather go to Barnes and Nobles and buy the book so I can do what I want to it.

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You need to have a long talk with someone in the library who has some authority. I don't care how tiny a library is, they can still get any book from any other library in the state.

For that matter, many states allow you to get a library card that will let you check out books from any public library in the state.

Jamesaritchie said:

No, it's never finished. No novel is ever finished. There's a saying, "Stories are never finished, only abandoned — learn to abandon yours."

It's true. We each set purely abitrary measures of when it's time to abandon a story.

My own are pretty simple. I write the first draft witout making any changes along the way. I type "The End."

Then I go back to page one. I fix anything I find wrong in chapter one, be in a clunky sentence, a rough bit of dialogue, a paragraph that needs deleted, etc. When this is done, chapter one is done, and I move to chapter two. I do this right through the novel, and when I type "The End" a second time, I abandon the novel.

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I like that. I may have to adopt that work ethic. I swear, this is my last edit and when I type 'The End'...I'll mean it. Seriously. Because I'm really starting to despise the whole thing. Maybe anger will work better for me, I'll slice the thing apart so it would make White & Strunk proud!

I can't write in silence. I need music or some kind of background noise like CNN or ESPN. I don't know why, but the extra noise helps me focus on the writing.

If you get bogged down in revising, that can block the ol' creative flow. Make yourself a promise that you will resist revising unitl the first draft is completely done. Then revise your heart out.

Writers block can also be your characters' way of saying that you are pushing them in the wrong direction. Think about what is happening in your story at the point you are stuck, then consider what would happen if the characters did the total opposite. This might open doors you haven't yet imagined. Sometimes the characters in my novels take on a life of their own--don't be afraid to listen to their ideas!

Oh, and drink AirForce Nutrisoda "Focus" potion. It is a mighty tasty drink and snaps your brain to attention. They only sell it on-line here in Jersey, but it's well worth the shipping costs!

AnnMB said:

If you get bogged down in revising, that can block the ol' creative flow. Make yourself a promise that you will resist revising unitl the first draft is completely done. Then revise your heart out.

Writers block can also be your characters' way of saying that you are pushing them in the wrong direction. Think about what is happening in your story at the point you are stuck, then consider what would happen if the characters did the total opposite. This might open doors you haven't yet imagined. Sometimes the characters in my novels take on a life of their own--don't be afraid to listen to their ideas!

Oh, and drink AirForce Nutrisoda "Focus" potion. It is a mighty tasty drink and snaps your brain to attention. They only sell it on-line here in Jersey, but it's well worth the shipping costs!

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I need some kinda potion all right! I feel like my characters are sitting and staring at me with their own look of disgust.
I think I'll try what everyone, including George Costanza does, and do the opposite. Bizzaro world here I come!!!