Nox Vulpes
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- Posted: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:02:22 +0000
(Please forgive me if there is already a topic like this on the Writers forum. I tried searching for one just in case, but came up with no results. I know there are a few links in the sticky for writer's block tips, but I wanted to write up something a bit different... I also know that writer's block is one of the overdone topics on the WF, but I'm hoping that people with this problem (and who don't read the stickies) will find this first. So here we go!)
Introduction
I'm pretty sure all writers eventually get a taste of a thing called "writer's block". Writer's block, for those you haven't experienced it yet (or are interested in a definition), is "a usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing."
So, while you may be itching to get your story out, your brain just seems to melt whenever you attempt to write it out--leaving you staring at that piece of paper or computer screen. But what is the real cause of writer's block?
Except for a few truly psychologically disturbed cases, there's no such thing as writer's block. There are only disorganized writers--writers who don't know where their next sentence is going. If you don't know where your writing is going--if, like Columbus's sailors, for all you know, the next instant may take you off the edge of the world--it's no wonder you're fearful of writing. In that case, writer's block is only a logical defense system. It may even be your mind's quite rational effort to save you from yourself, to keep you from writing until you know what the heck you're doing.
The above excerpt makes sense, doesn't it? If it is indeed true, then how may we begin to get over our writer's block...?
Solution 1: Don't do anything!
Yes, I know this option is quite obvious. Especially since you may still be staring at that piece of paper or computer screen, essentially doing nothing.
But put away that piece of paper or MS Word document! Allow for a gestation period, go do something else. Forcing out sentences isn't going to help in this case. The reason for this is that your brain and subconscious are always at work! Have you ever just had the answer to a difficult problem just pop into your head? That's what I'm talking about. Even while you're taking a shower, or mowing the lawn, or doing some other mundane/boring task, it's in the background sorting things out for you. The gestation period for you may be a day, a week, a month--it all depends on the writer, but eventually, everything will click into place and you'll be writing as if your hands were on fire. (Perhaps until you get writer's block again... but you can prevent that with Step 2. smile )
For example, I've been in this stage for writing my novel for about... a month or so. Now I've moved onto the next step, because all this time my subconscious has been "sending" me daydreams of scenes in my story, and everything is coming together. Even characters have become clearer to me.
Solution 2: Draw a Blueprint.
An outline's greatest benefit is allowing the writer to keep on track. You'll know where and how to begin, what the middle's gonna look like, and what the ending will entail. I know some writers don't use/make an outline AT ALL, and hey, you can do whatever works for you. In situations like this, however, it's better to just make a general outline. I mean, if you get a spontaneous idea that you want to add in, you CAN--the outline's not written in stone.
Your outline could be as messy as scrawls on fast food napkins or as fancy-schmancy as being typed up on your computer. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that your outline goes from the general to the particular. An example of that would be an outline utilizing Roman numerals and such, but again, you can have it as messy as you want.
A method I like to use to help build my outline is one described in Shoujo Manga Techniques: Writing Stories (yeah, I know, it's for manga... but manga is another way of storytelling, no?). It's called the Hakogaki, or "Box Writing" technique.
First off (and you probably already know this), a story is made up of scenes. You can easily build scenes by using the 5W1H rule:
Who? (Which character is the main focus of the scene?)
When? (Self-explanatory.)
Where? (Also self-explanatory.)
(Did) What? (What is the character doing?)
Why? (Why did the character do the above?)
How did it go? (What happens due to the character's actions.)
You can make as many or as few scenes as your story requires using that method. Write them all down on index cards, or small pieces of paper, etc., then just mix 'em up until the scenes are in the correct order (or "feel right" to you). Add in some transitions and tidy it up a bit, and you'll have a basic outline for your story.
Conclusion
By following either or both solutions mentioned above, you can easily defeat writer's block by getting yourself (and your story) organized! biggrin
In addition, please discuss in this topic:
1. Cases you've had of writer's block
2. Cases of current writer's block
3. Things you've done to successfully "cure" writer's block, tips, etc.
4. Writer's block in general
*Goes back to semi-lurking.* ninja
Introduction
I'm pretty sure all writers eventually get a taste of a thing called "writer's block". Writer's block, for those you haven't experienced it yet (or are interested in a definition), is "a usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing."
So, while you may be itching to get your story out, your brain just seems to melt whenever you attempt to write it out--leaving you staring at that piece of paper or computer screen. But what is the real cause of writer's block?
David Fryxell, "How to Write Fast (While Writing Well)"
Except for a few truly psychologically disturbed cases, there's no such thing as writer's block. There are only disorganized writers--writers who don't know where their next sentence is going. If you don't know where your writing is going--if, like Columbus's sailors, for all you know, the next instant may take you off the edge of the world--it's no wonder you're fearful of writing. In that case, writer's block is only a logical defense system. It may even be your mind's quite rational effort to save you from yourself, to keep you from writing until you know what the heck you're doing.
The above excerpt makes sense, doesn't it? If it is indeed true, then how may we begin to get over our writer's block...?
Solution 1: Don't do anything!
Yes, I know this option is quite obvious. Especially since you may still be staring at that piece of paper or computer screen, essentially doing nothing.
But put away that piece of paper or MS Word document! Allow for a gestation period, go do something else. Forcing out sentences isn't going to help in this case. The reason for this is that your brain and subconscious are always at work! Have you ever just had the answer to a difficult problem just pop into your head? That's what I'm talking about. Even while you're taking a shower, or mowing the lawn, or doing some other mundane/boring task, it's in the background sorting things out for you. The gestation period for you may be a day, a week, a month--it all depends on the writer, but eventually, everything will click into place and you'll be writing as if your hands were on fire. (Perhaps until you get writer's block again... but you can prevent that with Step 2. smile )
For example, I've been in this stage for writing my novel for about... a month or so. Now I've moved onto the next step, because all this time my subconscious has been "sending" me daydreams of scenes in my story, and everything is coming together. Even characters have become clearer to me.
Solution 2: Draw a Blueprint.
An outline's greatest benefit is allowing the writer to keep on track. You'll know where and how to begin, what the middle's gonna look like, and what the ending will entail. I know some writers don't use/make an outline AT ALL, and hey, you can do whatever works for you. In situations like this, however, it's better to just make a general outline. I mean, if you get a spontaneous idea that you want to add in, you CAN--the outline's not written in stone.
Your outline could be as messy as scrawls on fast food napkins or as fancy-schmancy as being typed up on your computer. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that your outline goes from the general to the particular. An example of that would be an outline utilizing Roman numerals and such, but again, you can have it as messy as you want.
A method I like to use to help build my outline is one described in Shoujo Manga Techniques: Writing Stories (yeah, I know, it's for manga... but manga is another way of storytelling, no?). It's called the Hakogaki, or "Box Writing" technique.
First off (and you probably already know this), a story is made up of scenes. You can easily build scenes by using the 5W1H rule:
Who? (Which character is the main focus of the scene?)
When? (Self-explanatory.)
Where? (Also self-explanatory.)
(Did) What? (What is the character doing?)
Why? (Why did the character do the above?)
How did it go? (What happens due to the character's actions.)
You can make as many or as few scenes as your story requires using that method. Write them all down on index cards, or small pieces of paper, etc., then just mix 'em up until the scenes are in the correct order (or "feel right" to you). Add in some transitions and tidy it up a bit, and you'll have a basic outline for your story.
Conclusion
By following either or both solutions mentioned above, you can easily defeat writer's block by getting yourself (and your story) organized! biggrin
In addition, please discuss in this topic:
1. Cases you've had of writer's block
2. Cases of current writer's block
3. Things you've done to successfully "cure" writer's block, tips, etc.
4. Writer's block in general
*Goes back to semi-lurking.* ninja
