I'm going to throw my freaking laptop!!!

Heh, I have a great middle and end for a certain short story. It's just creating the right opening situation that's got me stymied, and so the story remains in the bunny hutch.

If I were you, I'd start in the middle and see if writing through to the end doesn't give you a beginning.

It's never good to axe a laptop. Kick some puppies instead.

Phaeal said:

If I were you, I'd start in the middle and see if writing through to the end doesn't give you a beginning.

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This.

It's never good to axe a laptop.

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I disagree here. When the laptop is a POS that's made you suffer and you have the new one up and working, it's axe time, baby!

Aw, what did the laptop ever do to you?

Maybe you need to step back from the story. If you're that obsessed with it, that very obsession may be blinding you to possibilities, and also interrupting the "flow" in your head.

Step away from the harmless laptop.

For me, it's better to spew it out badly, even with notes like [***Put witty dialogue here that shows he doesn't love her***] or [***Invent a crisis and let her over-react, ending up at the pier***], than to let anything stop me altogether.

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Maryn, I concur with ChristyP. I like this advice. I like it a lot. It's so simple and yet such a good way to muddle through the tougher parts of your story that haven't quite gelled in your head yet.

Maryn said:

Did you do the all important permission slip? You know, the one that gives you the green light to write early drafts that are utter shit? For me, it's better to spew it out badly, even with notes like [***Put witty dialogue here that shows he doesn't love her***] or [***Invent a crisis and let her over-react, ending up at the pier***], than to let anything stop me altogether.

Maryn, who works in strange ways

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This is exactly how I work, except I also start somewhere near the end of my story, usually at the climax or first romantic scene between MC and love interest. Then I skip around all over the place until I catch up to myself. Then I finish it all. I work in strange ways too

Maryn said:

Did you do the all important permission slip? You know, the one that gives you the green light to write early drafts that are utter shit? For me, it's better to spew it out badly, even with notes like [***Put witty dialogue here that shows he doesn't love her***] or [***Invent a crisis and let her over-react, ending up at the pier***], than to let anything stop me altogether.

Maryn, who works in strange ways

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Half of my document is little notes like that.

I try not to think too much about the end of my stories just for that reason. Often I will have a general idea but by the time I get to the end of the story the characters have taken over and messed up the entire storyline. My publishing partner thinks I'm crazy because she outlines her entire book before she starts and I normally just have one or two paragraphs and by the time I'm done it's not even close to what is actually in the book.

Maryn speaks the truth. All of my ms have notes like that at the end of first draft. I can never remember what chapter I'm on either. So all my chapters just say CHAPTER. Then I go back and number after I'm done.

When I have that problem it's usually because I'm too focused on form (the best way to say something) rather than function (what the heck is the story?) I solve it by sitting down and dispensing with form altogether, writing the story stream of consciousness style. It's often lacking in paragraphs, some punctuation, and has vague sections that later end up being expanded or rewritten like "They argue" or "Man looks tired" but it helps me get out of my own way and focus solely on the story. When I go back to do the revisions after that the right words tend to be easy, probably because I'm much clearer on exactly what it is I'm trying to accomplish with them.

I've also found that timed writing works wonders when I feel stuck. Telling yourself "I'm sitting down for 15 minutes and writing this thing, even if I delete it all 16 minutes from now" can help you stop stressing and just get it down. Usually it turns out better than you thought.

Soccer Mom said:

I can never remember what chapter I'm on either. So all my chapters just say CHAPTER.

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Mine's one big chapter 1 until the first draft is finished.

Namatu said:

Mine's one big chapter 1 until the first draft is finished.

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This too. I frequently have to go back and change where the breaks are. Plus I can never remember what I've named characters. I have lots and lots of ***AUNT WHATSHERFACE*** in my rough drafts.

Soccer Mom said:

Plus I can never remember what I've named characters. I have lots and lots of ***AUNT WHATSHERFACE*** in my rough drafts.

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This is just plain awesome. Consider this method thefted!

Soccer Mom said:

I have lots and lots of ***AUNT WHATSHERFACE*** in my rough drafts.

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I like to use DUDE, and for events or items it's SOMETHING. "Something" is not that original, but SOMETHING, SOMETHING, and SOMETHING is quite something. The more you write "something" the stranger a word it appears. Something. So-me-thing. Strange, I tell you. (Just me?)

I once did that, Maryn. I changed the character Ian's name to Harry. Just did a quick search and replace. Boy, did I learn my lesson with that one.

I'm thinking I should rename this thread "Stupid writer tricks for survival"

Maryn said:

Did you do the all important permission slip? You know, the one that gives you the green light to write early drafts that are utter shit? For me, it's better to spew it out badly, even with notes like [***Put witty dialogue here that shows he doesn't love her***] or [***Invent a crisis and let her over-react, ending up at the pier***], than to let anything stop me altogether.

Maryn, who works in strange ways

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This is a pretty good idea I think. But it's because I do the same. And once I've written the bs, I read it over and go, "hang on a minute, this isn't right..we need to fix that". And suddenly, every damn person in the story gets their act together and collectively yell at me for making them act like medicated monkies.

Soccer Mom said:

I'm thinking I should rename this thread "Stupid writer tricks for survival"

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I like it!

Sometimes when I'm stuck I set two characters down in a bar and make them talk to one another. They eventually work out whatever problem it is I'm having and then I can go back to the actual storyline.