Writerly frustration

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

Question: after multiple false starts, I'm ready to chuck my laptop at the wall. I faithfully...religiously...sit down to write for a minimum of 8 hours a day (only 4 of which are spent puttering around on boards--gimme a break, wouldcha???) and for the life of me I can't get a story past the beginning phase to save my mother-effing life.

Dadburnit.

For years I've relied upon writing exercises, prompts, my big, fat story file with outlines and synopses and interesting characters and ALREADY BUILT FANTASY WORLDS and I cannot, cannot dig myself out of the EDITING mode and back into the WRITING mode.

Tell me I'm not alone? Anyone have any suggestions?

dolores haze · Oct 16, 2007

Hmmm. Tough one. Here's some suggestions that you may or may not have tried.

1. Back to basics. Turn off the computer, and take up pen and paper.
2. Isolate yourself. Go to a cabin in the woods or something. No other people (including internet).
3. Writer's colony. Surround yourself (physically) with people who are writing.
4. What was the book/poem/ etc that made you dream of being a writer? Find it, and re-read. Or find something else that inspires you the way that first one did.

Good luck.

windyrdg · Oct 16, 2007

I'm not writing today...well, at least not yet. Things have really been hectic for the last two weeks, finishing one novel, making a final recheck of another to get a manuscript off to an agent, etc.

I gave myself permission to take a day off. I'm confident tomorrow I'll return to the keyboard missing it like an old friend. A healthy discipline is nice, even necessary, but an occasional day off is too. (As I'm opening mail I've been thinking about the next chapter I want to write. I also find myself making little notes on the back of envelopes.)

Try it. Maybe breaking the routine will put you back on track.

Good Luck.

tjwriter · Oct 16, 2007

mscelina said:
I'm ready to chuck my laptop at the wall.

Don't chuck your laptop. Mail to me instead!

Seriously, do the pen and paper thing. It usually helps me when I'm having difficulties.

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

I usually do the pen and paper thing at work (where I'm heading tonight...on my birthday, grumble grumble) and that's where I get most of my story file stuff. I think I might have to take off for a couple of days...just as soon as I get this rewrite turned into my editor...just as soon as I get this done or that done...

I guess my point is that writing used to be my business. Now it seems that the business of being a writer has become my business. I'm lucky in a way--I'm ten books ahead.

My online crit group has its weekly writer's prompt night tonight. Maybe I'll give it a whirl.

As for the reading thing--when I give myself free time that's exactly what I do. I read. Lots. Maybe too much. Anyone have a brain for hire?

Prawn · Oct 16, 2007

If I get stuck, I usually jump ahead and write the end. With a goal I am working towards, it is easier to fill in scenes, and I can always change the end later. Somehow it takes the pressure off for me.

Red-Green · Oct 16, 2007

My technique is:
1. Back away from the computer.
2. Go somewhere I can't access any of my computer files--typically a coffee shop for a few hours.
3. Take only outline of scenes that need to be written.
4. Open journal, put pen to paper and begin writing first scene on the list.

I do this about once a week to produce new material.

Stew21 · Oct 16, 2007

don't try to write with a story in mind, don't try to write with a character or anything in mind.
Just find a prompt - the simpler the better - and go.

it's what I do. the more I try to force it, the worse it gets.

MidnightMuse · Oct 16, 2007

mscelina said:
-- writing used to be my business. Now it seems that the business of being a writer has become my business. I'm lucky in a way--

Perhaps you should back away from the 'net? I find too much talk about writing can stall one's writing. The worms of doubt/show/tell/passive/aggressive/structure/plotting/word count can eat into that part of your brain you need to be creative and writerly.

I've cut way back on the innerwebbies (save some blogging and a tea debacle war thingie) so I can better focus on the real business: Writing.

ETA: a small stash of vicodine helps, too

blacbird · Oct 16, 2007

Prawn is correct. You absolutely do not need to write anything steadily from start to finish. If you're stuck at some place, skip it, move to another scene or idea, and work on that. Connect the dots later.

caw

CaroGirl · Oct 16, 2007

The only thing that prevents me from finishing what I start is working on something else. If your problem is that you're distracted by other projects, you have to work at having only one thing going at a time. Or be very disciplined in allocating enough time to each project to make sure they get finished.

You can't publish unfinished work. Get in there, roll up yer sleeves, and get workin'!

dolores haze · Oct 16, 2007

At this point writing is your job. How long since you took a vacation?

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

yes....I know. That what's so sad. *sigh* I realize in some dark, hidden corner of my dusty mind that I'm trying to force myself...but it's becoming an addiction, durnit.

Must take break. yes. that's the ticket. must take break.

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

MidnightMuse said:
Perhaps you should back away from the 'net? I find too much talk about writing can stall one's writing. The worms of doubt/show/tell/passive/aggressive/structure/plotting/word count can eat into that part of your brain you need to be creative and writerly.

I've cut way back on the innerwebbies (save some blogging and a tea debacle war thingie) so I can better focus on the real business: Writing.

ETA: a small stash of vicodine helps, too

LOL--I actually don't spend that much time online. Only if I'm good and truly stuck or if I'm purposely taking the day off--like today.

blacbird said:
Prawn is correct. You absolutely do not need to write anything steadily from start to finish. If you're stuck at some place, skip it, move to another scene or idea, and work on that. Connect the dots later.

caw

very true. Eventually though I'd like to be able to finish SOMETHING

dolores haze said:
At this point writing is your job. How long since you took a vacation?

vacation? *looks puzzled* what is this vay-cay-tion thing of which you speak? I was going to take a trip to the mountains this week, but then the repo man showed up for my daughter's car last night. Nice kid. Thanks for telling mom that you hadn't paid on it in two months. brat.

CaroGirl said:
The only thing that prevents me from finishing what I start is working on something else. If your problem is that you're distracted by other projects, you have to work at having only one thing going at a time. Or be very disciplined in allocating enough time to each project to make sure they get finished.

You can't publish unfinished work. Get in there, roll up yer sleeves, and get workin'!

very true point. I have way too many projects going on that require my attention.

Thanks for all the help guys. Now just shoot me.

Stormhawk · Oct 16, 2007

Take a couple of weeks off, then do NaNo. ^_^

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

oh my god....then I can have another uncompleted story to add to the dismal tally....

ORION · Oct 16, 2007

The first sign of addiction is denial..."I don't spend THAT much time on the net..."
I am well and truly addicted and it wastes MUCH time that is better spent writing but...I...can't...stop...

Ava Jarvis · Oct 16, 2007

AbsoluteWrite addiction? Come take a pledge!

I have done it twice for 5000 words a pop! Granted, the second go took much longer than the first, and both took a while all things considered, but it was great motivation and cut down on web surfing time. Especially web surfing time spent reading about writing which, as MidnightMuse said, can really eat at the writing will.

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

most of my web time is spent in doing tedious little things like answering emails. getting into pointless arguments and being a smartalec. Really...not more than four hours a day.

*grin*

I do my writing on the laptop. I do my surfing on the desktop. They are at opposite ends of the house. So, if I'm on here I'm across the house form my study.

But it is hard sometimes to pry my butt up off the chair and go to the study, I will admit. Meh. I'm just getting burned out. I'll probably feel better once this #$*(&%( rewrite is done.

NicoleMD · Oct 16, 2007

I gave myself a well-deserved break from writing this past Sunday, watched a couple movies even. I loafed around the whole day, no writing, no pressure...and right before I was about to go to bed, three pages just poured out of me and it was so awesome.

Nicole

Azraelsbane · Oct 16, 2007

tjwriter said:
Don't chuck your laptop. Mail to me instead!

Seriously, do the pen and paper thing. It usually helps me when I'm having difficulties.

I'll second this. Though sometimes there's no helping it.

I've been dry the past three or four days, and being desperate, I decided to try something new today. So I wrote in present tense. *gasp* 1,100+ words in present tense for the SF/F challenge this month. I felt so...unclean. And yes, I know Shady will jump all over me for this, but she writes in present tense and I don't. It's supremely weird for me. So maybe try something like that? It worked for me.

Gray Rose · Oct 16, 2007

Wow, you have 8 hours to write! Wow.

Perhaps you need to allocate less time to writing. Seriously. Don't force yourself. Go for a long walk.

Just my 2c.

amber_grosjean · Oct 16, 2007

Before I was published, I had no pressure of getting a book written so it was done probably more often. Then when that first book was accepted, I wrote a second book to it very quickly. I was inspired. The excitement of being published came over me and I was high on it lol. I didn't want the feeling to end so I wrote like I needed it to stay alive. Then finished another book. Now I am stuggling, not because I'm coming down from the high but because now there's marketing involved and I haven't learned how to balance the two together.

Now I will write for a few hours, take a day or two break, and then write again for a few more hours. Some days I will write all day with breaks in there to make errands, fix meals, work, etc. It seems writer's block finds me more now because of all the things on my mind plus AW keeps haunting me (go read the posts, Amber, come on. Go read 'em and post lol). This forum is very addicting but I'm learning so it goes with the territory.

I think its only human to procrastinate though. Its something I've always done with other things but writing always seemed to pull me together when everything else pulled me apart. Find something that will inspire you to keep writing which is something I like to do. That seems to do the trick. If not, tell yourself, "I will not get published if I don't get in there and write!"

Amber

mscelina · Oct 16, 2007

after partially surviving through an absolutely hellish night at work, I find I have to agre with you.

My solution, you ask?

*grin*

Tomorrow I'm rearranging rooms. I'm moving my study into the spare bedroom. Let's see how I do without all my plot and character posters on the walls.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I REALLY appreciate it.

blacbird · Oct 16, 2007

amber_grosjean said:
Before I was published,

Gee, it must be sweet to be able to start a sentence with that phrase.

caw

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