I was wondering how other authors handle writer's block? It is something I am experiencing a bit of a problem with now. I'm using the old trick of skipping ahead to another scene that is easier to write and hoping that after I have my creative juices flowing I can find a way through the part that was giving me trouble. Of course some times the writer's block is a bit more unwieldy and it is blocking any kind of writing. I usually resort to either just powering through it or taking a bit of a break from writing to see if time can take care of it.
So how about it, what do you do?
Comments
When that hits.
I generally let things rest for awhile then go back to the story later. Just because you're blocked doesn't mean part of your mind isn't working at and worrying the thing.
Maggie
I just keep
writing. I don't believe there is anything called writer's block, it's more a case of tiredness or you simply don't want to do it. Get some rest and try again, or just power through it. Writing is a skill, the more you do, generally the better you get.
Angharad
I tend to ...
I tend to agree.
In my case, I've let "Real Life" get in my way. Some of the time, I actually COULD write - other times I might be able to write - but when I don't know how long I'd have, I decide to not start. (Having been away from one story over a month, it takes a while to get back into it.)
But, when I was actively writing, I never experienced a time where I couldn't. I did help a few others work through what they felt were blocks. Generally, they knew where they were in a story and where they wanted to be but couldn't figure any way to get from here to there... If that's your problem, a good editor should be able to help you - by asking a lot of questions. (Worst case, you end up backing up (& tossing out some stuff you've written) and then resuming.
On the other hand, sometimes the problem is a scene you KNOW you need, but is very difficult One approach I've helped some use is the following. 1) Describe what needs to happen in the scene/chapter/whatever. 2) Describe what leads up to it. 3) Describe the results of it. 4) outline the course of the scene/chapter/whatever. Usually by step 4, most have been able to write the scene. In one case it was still hard, as the scene brought up memories of a bad time in their lives. There, we just talked over the time for a while, and the next day, when we chatted, she'd worked past that point.
Good luck.
Annette
Start a new story
I've run into the same problem with the Assassin sequel so I started a new story not even related to Assassin. It helps relax my mind, but now I love the story so much I can't stop writing it, oh well ho hum, Arecee
Writers Block
Normally, I take a break from the story. Works most of the time. If it continues I will more than likely start outlining and see where I am lost, usually working backwards from the end of the story.
However, starting a new story also seems to help a lot as well.
-Elsbeth
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
Broken Irish is better than clever English.
not freaking out about it
is the first step. Putting it aside by working on another story or by editing what you already have written can work sometimes. You just have to give your mind some time to work out whatever stopped you. That why I tend to have several stories ready all at once instead of a more regular schedule. Darn muses!
hugs
Grover
Landing, why not try
relaxing and simply reading a few stories to let you mind rest?
May Your Light Forever Shine
Why do you write?
Your answer depends on why you write.
If you're writing mostly for fun and your own entertainment then write when inspiration strikes, take a break, go do something else, try to come at it with clear eyes later or as you suggest skip to some other scene.
If you're writing professionally or trying to write professionally, keep at it. Write another part of the story or work on revisit some of what you already wrote. Try picking another character and writing it from their PoV (even if that means rewriting later). Or just try to slog through the scene even though its painfully slow. Sometimes you find that if you can plod through and then your creative juices click in and flow. This is still a skill I'm trying to master myself. I get painfully stuck at times when a scene I'm trying to work out just won't flow.
Another thing to ask yourself is why are you stuck? If the reason you're stuck is that the scene is boring, ask yourself if it is even necessary. Can you skip past the scene and summarize it? Alternately if the character doesn't want to play in that scene, maybe you're trying to force the character to do something they wouldn't do for the sake of plot. Sometimes I have an idea for where the story is going but when I get there, my character is like nuh-uh Do you think I'm stupid or something?
I usually
Get hung up on wording, or dialog, sometimes even a whole scene. Often times, my mind it thinking heavily about the part immediately following the part I am stuck on, so I skip and write that part, get it out while it's fresh. Most of the time, the following scene creates new ideas that help me bridge the gap that I skipped over. There is always something to write, I say, write what ever you think up, and draw it out before it fades. You can always tweak it and make it fit somewhere else. Don't forget, try passing ideas off of people you trust with your story. Sometimes I will bounce an idea off my editors and see what they think.
Other times, just conceded you are tired and take a break and do something that will allow your brain to rest.
Mega Hugs,
Megan
People say, "You don't know what you had until it's gone." Very true, but also equally true is, "You don't know what you've been missing until is arrives."
It's something else
There are a few things you can look at. For instance, did you stop writing because you'd have to face something that's uncomfortable for you? If that's the case, you need to take a step back emotionally and realize that the story isn't you.
At other times if you're stuck, it helps to ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that could possibly happen in this story?" and then make that happen.
A third thing that's often useful is to read your whole story and make notes: jot down loose ends, questions, notes about where you meant the story to go. Often people get stuck because they're confused about where the story's supposed to go. No matter how much you plan, a story can still surprise you. Lawrence Durrell said that writing was more like divination than anything else.
But above all, don't take "writers' block" seriously. It isn't real.
It depends
I get blocked for different reasons, and depending on which kind of block it is different tricks work. If I'm blocked because I'm depressed or if I'm in the wrong mood for the story I'm trying to write (like if I'm feeling sad and it's a happy story) I go work on something else, so that I don't corrupt the tone. If I'm blocked because I can't figure out how to work a scene I'll either try that trick you mention or I'll look at finding a way around writing that scene, by having my narrator summarize it instead of giving all the details, or by letting it happen offpage without a witness, or by making my narrator forgetful. "The next thing Sally knew she was in Bloomingdales, not sure how she got there." If I'm blocked because I just don't like what I've written, I'll go back and reread a part of the story I like and consider sharpening that part.
What's Writer's Block?
Seriously. I have the opposite problem. I have so many story ideas that I'll never have time to write them all. And I have a never-ending supply of scenes for all of my stories. It's hard for me to focus on a series of scenes that makes sense. I sometimes envy writers their writer's block. Seriously.
Good luck breaking through your writer's block!
- Terry
Write something. Anything.
I'm not a proper writer as as my most developed book died at about page 3. :-)
But I write regularly for some magazines and just today had block starting article I was asked to submit early this week.
At last I just sat down and started to write down my thoughts about the subject that is interesting to me but has nothing to do with my article. Written something around 500 words and somehow I have the article ready to be written down. But it will wait till tomorrows night as I need some sleep to be useful at my day job :-)
Sometimes it helps to answer couple of questions in some technical support forum. Or write a blog entry here.
As I understand a mental process, writing anything restarts writing module in our firmware ( ;-) ) and then it's much easier to write anything else.