Brain dead for ideas

jedimaster107 · Aug 6, 2007

All my ideas for new stories i get while at work. I sit here (I'm at work typing this up) and write on the back of my telephone message pads, and jot down idea or write a story. But i noticed the past week i've been having trouble coming up with ideas.

i don't know if i have writer's block or i fried my brain. How do you handle writer's block or fried brains?

well, back to work. I'm just gonna stare at the Ewan McGregor picture i have handling up on my wall.

Britchik · Aug 6, 2007

Usually I just wait for an idea to hit me. More often than not these are the ideas that end up sticking with me long enough to become stories. But when I really want to write something, and am absolutely completely stuck with nothing to write, I usually look here:

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=storygen

Even if it's only used as a jumping point, I've found it useful from time to time simply by adapting it to something I really like.

Ravenlocks · Aug 6, 2007

I'd stop stressing and just do some fun stuff, preferably stuff you don't normally do. I find that for me story ideas are often sparked when I try something new.

Shady Lane · Aug 6, 2007

Listen to a lot of music.

Or buy a new head.

reenkam · Aug 6, 2007

Read some not-so-great books. Then you'll start thinking, "Wow, if they'd written it this way, it would have been so much better." And then the ideas will start flowing.

farfromfearless · Aug 6, 2007

Sounds like you're restless -- I've gone through periods where I just can't seem to make up my mind on what I want to do or write about. I try to force an idea and it just comes out like crap. That's usually when I know I'm restless. To get it out of my system, I maintain a blog where I write about any old thing that has my interest at the moment, and even things that I think I might have an interest in. Sometimes it really helps to step away from what you're doing.

ZannaPerry · Aug 6, 2007

I'm brain dead for the moment on how to introduce my male character...I have ideas, just nothing that is sticking... :/

Scrawler · Aug 6, 2007

I mess around with the Story Idea Generator
Example: The story is about a rat-catcher with a false identity. It takes place in a world-spanning nation on a storm-torn planet. The story begins with an intimidation, climaxes with a slip of the tongue, and ends with a reconciliation.

or...
This is a tale about how life is a tragedy. The story is about a linguist, a fire fighter, a video game addict, and a movie producer. It takes place in a warehouse. The story begins with a death, climaxes with a spiritual experience, and ends with a holiday celebration.

Esopha · Aug 6, 2007

I play the 'What if...?' game. In a notebook, write down 'What if..' and fill in the rest of the sentence. Use something ridiculous like 'What if MC and antag got together and had a kegger?' On the next line, write 'What if...' and fill it in again, relating this statement to the previous one. If this generates smaller questions, put them in bullet points underneath, but do not make it a 'What if...' question. For example:

What if MC and antag got together and had a kegger?
What if they got drunk and professed their undying love to each other?
-How would they do this? Would it be in public? How drunk are they?
What if MC's love interest over heard them and was suddenly frought with self-doubt?
-Would she take it out on herself/MC? To what extent?

Etc, etc. Eventually, you have to hit something that gets the juices going again.

HourglassMemory · Aug 6, 2007

Just look at someone in your place of work. then imagine something extreme and pretty unusual happening to them.
I dont' mean someone dying in their family....imagine a small meteorite hitting them in the head.
Then say something like "Mr. Johnson was not having a good day. But this is not his story."

Jamesaritchie · Aug 6, 2007

Ideas

Have you already written the stories to go with the ideas you have? If not, then stop worrying about ideas, they're a dime a dozen. Just write the stories you already have ideas for.

job · Aug 6, 2007

I always start with characters myself.

I get to thinking about the character and who he is, what he's been doing with his life. Coming up with backstory for my guy.

Then I see what his worst problem is, what he abslutely has to have.
I figure out how to keep him from solving the problem or getting what he wants.
I use another character to do this. To stand between him and what he wants or must do.

That's my story.

jedimaster107 · Aug 6, 2007

Thanks for the advice. I get board at work and sometimes there isn't much to do, i try to strech out i'm working on and that's when i write. I got plenty to work on with all the ideas i came up with. The only thing i wish my brain would let me do is to get my sci-fi serise more develope so i can start working on it.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 6, 2007

jedimaster107 said:
A
i don't know if i have writer's block or i fried my brain. How do you handle writer's block or fried brains?

First, don't stress it. Stress doesn't help anything.

But ideas can come from anywhere without notice.

Read more novels in and out of your genre.

Read newspapers. Sometimes the strange things that happen in the news trigger things.

Watch various programs on the learning channels, like History, Discovery, and etc. Often these will spark an idea like, "Wow. I didn't know Seattle had an underground city. That would make for a neat plot. Or a lousy Scooby-Do episode."

Go to the library and take out a bunch of books on a topic you find interesting or want to learn more about.

Will Lavender · Aug 6, 2007

ME TOO!

I've been feeling the same way, jedimaster. Notice: my last WIP has been on 0 for two weeks.

I'm CONVINCED that there's something in the atmosphere that makes us go through these slumps. Sometimes I can write like a demon. Words appear, plots appear, entire worlds appear. Other times it's like everything's a struggle.

I don't mean to go L. Ron Hubbard on you all, but I noticed that when I was sluggish the students I taught were as well. The bad work and the depression and the dropping out would all happen at the same time of the month. The good work and the inspiration and the good spirits would all happen at the same time as well.

I swear to God it's something gravitational. I think I'm just going to wait on the moon to shift a little bit and it'll all be fine.

ZannaPerry · Aug 6, 2007

My brain is fried about how to introduce my male character. I have ideas, I know who he is, but the ideas JUST want to stay in my thoughts not be put down on paper. It's aggrevating. I'm going to start a new book. Maybe that will help.

Brain dead for ideas

jedimaster107

Britchik

Ravenlocks

How novel.

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

reenkam

aka cupcake

farfromfearless

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

Esopha

bam pow zap.

HourglassMemory

Jamesaritchie

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

jedimaster107

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie