Overcoming writer's block?

HalloweenJack

Any tips?

Livvie

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Any tips?

In order to keep the momentum going, I tend to script some dialogue, as if it was a play. And I might add asides, to say what I intend to happen, or to describe the situation.

Then I go back and flesh it out after.

Insect Overlord

On two occasions in order to get over cases of writer's block I've used it as a topic on which to write. I've written close to 90 poems over the last three years, but only 12 of those were within the past 12 months, so I know how you feel about being unable to write sometimes. However, one of my favourites from my own writing is a sonnet called "Writer's Block:Part Two". While it isn't a fool-proof solution to overcoming writer's block, I've found that thinking about it in a positive light or just thinking outside the box in general is an effective stimulus.

KingLoser

I think a good way to overcome writer's block is to place yourself in the scene of whatever it is you're blocked at.

That sounds odd. But try to picture it. You get writers block while your characters are in a forest (I tend toward high fantasy.. apolly-ogies) then take a visit to a nearby forest (or wooded area if you're urbanly inclined), bring your notes, picture the dialogue, look around you and think what could happen to advance the scene.

It works for any locations, town centres, train stations, bridges etc. But is a little confined to scene progression rather than actual storyline...

Brimmy

Get drunk.

dylan1969

This white page stares at me white with rage!

Frost

KingLoser

Brimmy wrote: »

Get drunk.

This.

And several other variations of mind alteration.. but that's not everyone's cuppa cha.

skateing dragon

Well one solution is of course just to write. If you're writing a story set it aside for a while and just write. Describe something around you, your job, your life at the moment. Just anything to get words out kinda.

Also reading helps a bit because it kind of opens up your imagination and it always puts me in the mood to write. If that dosnt work, try listening to some really lyrical music.

Hope that helps.

Skadi

I agree, to get rid of writer's block you must write. Either just write about what is in your mind to get rid of the garbage that is stopping your creativity. Or else move to something new in order to to bring renewed enthusiasm. Or maybe just read a book by an author you like and remember what you want to be and how you want to write.

jtsuited

logged in under wrong username

pookie82

Write a little bit every day. The morning is best. Keeping a blog or a journal is a good idea as it forces you to write something, no matter how mundane or trite, every day.

A great tip is to finish each session of writing before you've written all that's in your head. That way you can make quick notes on where you plan to begin again, and sitting down to the page the next morning isn't as much of a task. Once you get into a flow it should keep coming.

JangoFett

I was writing furiously for about a week. I had an urge to start writing, started on a bus journey from North Australia back down to Perth, I was reflecting on my own life over the last year and I decided to write about it but change some things so it wasn't a lame ass journal and then one day I stopped writing.

I've been thinking quite a bit about it and I want to take it in a very dark and violent direction, not like me at all, but I just have to find the right mood to start it. So yeah, kinda blocked a bit. A friend read what I wrote so far and really liked it so I have to finish it

~Rebel~

OP I agree with a few of the suggestions already mentioned, in particular having your laptop at the ready when you get home from the pub, and changing topic for a while and writing on anything random that grabs your attention, just to get the creative juices flowing.

Also I would suggest writing something that is similar in topic to what you're trying to write. Depends on what works for you, if something very similer only gives you the ideas which that author has already used, you could try something a little different but which connects by a tangent to your topic and which might spark ideas. eg for a healthcare scene/story you could read a piece of an autobiography with someone's spell in hospital, or for a scene taking place in a woods you could even just look at a wildlife book, check out the illustrations etc and see if anything pops into your head. I find doing the same thing with movies also helps me. Was writing a kind of gumshoe type scenario when i got stuck and watched 'Brick'. Helped me no end. Hope this helps you in some way. Very frustrating place to be.