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I'm not going any further unless i get a jockeyback

draylander

im 9000 words deep into a story that i'v been working on and i'v hit the wall. im not worried about plots or storylines as i have them all worked out. what i am worried about is the fact that i cant seem to sit down and get some work done without an overwhelming urge to do anything else but write (usually this can include chewing my nails, making coffee, staring at blank walls or pondering the o so important qusetion, Is the word multilingual, actually multilingual?)
What i want to know is how do you lot get over this wall and keep at it. any ideas would be appreciated.

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The Mad Hatter

I'm not going to give you my advice, but Neil Gaiman's. Go somewhere where you're absolutely free from distractions, especially anything like the internet, and plan it so that you'll stay there for a few hours. While you're there, you're allowed write or do nothing. Looking out the window is ok too. Eventually, if through nothing other than pure boredom, you'll start writing.

For what it's worth from me, usually I find that when I hit that point with anything it's because I'm nervous either that I'm wasting my time, or that people won't like it once I'm finished it, or that if I decide to go one direction with a story then it instantly closes off all other possible directions that the story can go. If that's what's happening to you, then remember three things: first, that if you want to be a writer, then writing is never a waste of time, because all writing is practise; Second, that no-one has to see it until you're happy for them to see it; Third, that if a story is just resting in your mind, then it doesn't have the potential to be lots of different things - in point of fact it's nothing. Having a completed, bad, story still gives you something you can work to improve.

pickarooney

No, but 'monolingual' is multilingual.

The worst thing is letting the wall become something negative you have to get over. The more you let the task at hand become a chore the easier it is to find reasons not to do it.
Even in an empty room with no internet you'll find something to distract you if you don't just dive in and do it. When it happens me I sort of trick myself into accidentally starting to write again, by remembering a possibly misplaced semi-colon on page 11. When I go to fix that one thing that will onyl take a second I can then often convince myself to write a few words while I'm at it. Once I remember that it's actually enjoyable the problem is solved... until the next time.

Black Heart

I find that experimenting with different parts of the story helps get the enthusiasm going again, especially when working from a plan, since it allows you to jump further along without losing the run of yourself.

I'm working on my third novel, and I also add in various other writings just to keep my mind working.

EileenG

My trick is to go to McDonalds or some other coffee shop where there is nothing to do except drink coffee and write, and tell myself that I'm not leaving until I've written 1000 words. Doesn't matter if they are crap, they just have to be words. It's amazing how often you think you have no ideas at all, but once you start writing, the story flows.

PS. I often pick a coffee shop where they give you a free chocolate. It's my little bribe to get myself there, especially if I have a difficult scene coming up.

draylander

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

For what it's worth from me, usually I find that when I hit that point with anything it's because I'm nervous either that I'm wasting my time, or that people won't like it once I'm finished it, or that if I decide to go one direction with a story then it instantly closes off all other possible directions that the story can go. If that's what's happening to you, then remember three things: first, that if you want to be a writer, then writing is never a waste of time, because all writing is practise; Second, that no-one has to see it until you're happy for them to see it; Third, that if a story is just resting in your mind, then it doesn't have the potential to be lots of different things - in point of fact it's nothing. Having a completed, bad, story still gives you something you can work to improve.

This struck a note with me when i read it. Im constantly wondering if im wasting my time. that is definitly one of the things that postpone my writing.

Good advice so far though so thanks

cobsie

When I stall in a story, it is usually because my subconscious knows it needs to be fixed, that what I spent 3 hours writing, two days previous, is not working. And that's a real pain in the ass. The urge to keep in phrases or somehow salvage a passage is strong...but lately, I've gotten into the 'zen' of really deep editing. I'll take out a thousand words if that's what it needs and I find it's a relief to do it - like pulling a tooth. Takes a long time to work up to, but it's amazing how much better things are afterward

Maybe there is something nagging at you in that way, distracting you?

pickarooney

cobsie wrote: »

When I stall in a story, it is usually because my subconscious knows it needs to be fixed, that what I spent 3 hours writing, two days previous, is not working. And that's a real pain in the ass. The urge to keep in phrases or somehow salvage a passage is strong...but lately, I've gotten into the 'zen' of really deep editing. I'll take out a thousand words if that's what it needs and I find it's a relief to do it - like pulling a tooth. Takes a long time to work up to, but it's amazing how much better things are afterward

Maybe there is something nagging at you in that way, distracting you?

I know I'll sound like a lunatic but I only got ovr this hump by bargaining with myself that I'll take out a paragraph and then put it back in the next day. I've never yet put one back in afterwards and it makes it easier to pull out whole reams of text which was there on a small premise - setting up an elaborate description or pointless joke, usually.

Antilles

pickarooney wrote: »

I know I'll sound like a lunatic but I only got ovr this hump by bargaining with myself that I'll take out a paragraph and then put it back in the next day. I've never yet put one back in afterwards and it makes it easier to pull out whole reams of text which was there on a small premise - setting up an elaborate description or pointless joke, usually.

Just put the cuts together in a seperate document, and after your novel has become an international bestseller, publish a "Special Edition" with the "deleted scenes" restored

draylander

what kills me is taking out really good bits that you have spent some decent time over and even though they are good scenes/descriptions/whathaveyou, its like trying to fit a circle into a square.
acceptence is the first step in my program. well my program and Alcoholics anonomous but you get the point.

Warning:this whole parargraph has been brought to you without the aid of spellcheck and may contain errrors. was going to say AA but was trying to avoid using the dreaded abbreviation which is ruining the english launguage in my opinion. not that im helping with my mis-spelling

cobsie

draylander wrote: »

what kills me is taking out really good bits that you have spent some decent time over and even though they are good scenes/descriptions/whathaveyou,

I hear you - certain writing-seminar types call it 'killing your darlings' which makes it sound like murdering actors...

Antilles

Its hard enough killing them, but getting rid of the remains is a nightmare. I once decided a character wasn't working so too him out of the story. The draft I finally showed to a friend still had two indirect references to him that I'd missed.

EileenG

That's always a stinker. I once had a character called Bill, and decided he'd be sexier as Mike. I did a global Find-and-Replace. Then saw that one of my other characters was expected to pay a restaurant Mike.

pickarooney

Antilles wrote: »

Its hard enough killing them, but getting rid of the remains is a nightmare. I once decided a character wasn't working so too him out of the story. The draft I finally showed to a friend still had two indirect references to him that I'd missed.

I think I started a thread on how best to do this a while back, but I can't remember what it was called.

The Mad Hatter

So, any luck?

draylander

So far I haven't been able to get back to my original story but this thread has got me breaking things down more thoroughly before I start. On new stuff that iv been working at I'm spending longer thinking through scenes before putting pen to paper. too much deviation in the middle of writing was killing me.
It seems to be working for me as im finally getting stories finished