I couldent find another thread like this so I apologise if there is.
Lets face it..everyone has it (more frequently then I would like), So I was wondering if anyone does anything to try and get passed it? Recently Ive started to write scenes as they come to me, rather then working on stringing everything together in order and getting stuck. Then I go back and work on how to get to those scenes. Does anyone else do anything to try and combat the dreaded WRITERS BLOCK!!! :O
I abandoned everything I had been working on and wrote a story where a character had writer's block in order to get myself over it. It's Ginny/Draco, on ff.net, called (appropriately enough) "Writer's Block".
Same. I have had Writers Block for months. I abandoned half my stories the 1st time and only update every now and again on my new ones. I have too many! Lol
@Kylara Kistune I did the exact same thing for Invader Zim. D: Weird...
When I have writer's block, I write something else and then sit and think about the thing I'm blocked on and come back to it
Marijuana.
@ Harbinger Of Doom.
HAHAHAHA ;)
xD
i do pretty much the same as MyButterfly364
Yay, glad Im not alone (Y)
i have written three stories on my page.
Two of them were written so that i could get over my writers block for the first and main one.
For me i've found that to be the best way :)
ciao
~E~
xxx
Music. I say that music is the best thing.
I'm currently suffering from an unwanted bonding period with my writers block so i'm searching for any kind of music that suddenly makes my mind spark. It's brilliant and has worked every time, you just have to be patient if you don't hear that one song after a while.
Writers block is evil!
I agree sometimes it's best to just go and write another story.
That or go back to the original fandom.
i.e. re read the book, watch the film again etc.
Hide in a corner. Run away.
I'm not very good at this at all.
I find reading/playing/watching etc the source of your insperation helps get things going. For example, if I'm struggling with an Ace Combat story, I play the games. Also, re-reading what I've written previously helps as well, gets me back in the flow as it were. Finally, there's compulsory writing. Simply put, forcing a story out.
I now it's not so much of a good idea... but id say just wait it out, you can't have writers block forever.
The longest ive gone without updating a story is at least a month and thats beacuse of writers block, but after a month I just hadden a sudden surge in writing and I updated every one of my current stories.
So yeah it's good to watch/read/play the original source for whatever it is your writing about, but the best thing is time.. fan's will know how difficult it is to keep a story going good and just by waiting it out you get new ideas and the resuls are promising :)
Just try it, but try and keep focused on the story as well as not writing about it, durings the days you'll get new ideas as you let your mind slip and that way you'll be able to write the story easier.
checking other writers ideas see if they spark a fic plot or just watch the show, film etc to see if you get anything.
Worked several times with me
I agree with fezakyuu. I usually just wait it out. My writers block is usually not that bad; the most I've went without feeling a surge of inspiration and updating is two months.
That was pretty bad.
But going back to the original source seems like a very good idea as well. I've done that as well. It does actually work, but I usually get too caught up in it and then don't have the time to go and write >.<
Waiting seems to be best for me. I never force myself to write. I've done that before and I ended up having permanent writers block on that story. I had to force the entire second half out. It was very dissatisfying. Definitely think it's better not to do that.
Xx..xX
I agree with fezakyuu. I usually just wait it out. My writers block is usually not that bad; the most I've went without feeling a surge of inspiration and updating is two months.
That was pretty bad.
But going back to the original source seems like a very good idea as well. I've done that as well. It does actually work, but I usually get too caught up in it and then don't have the time to go and write >.<
Waiting seems to be best for me. I never force myself to write. I've done that before and I ended up having permanent writers block on that story. I had to force the entire second half out. It was very dissatisfying. Definitely think it's better not to do that.
Xx..xX
I know its easy to say this, but having some sort of plan/structure to your story to begin with helps because a) if you have to force it, at least you know where its going in general and b) if you're completely stuck on one part, you may be able to skip and go on to another, then come back.
Other than that, doing whatever usually inspires you (listening to music, playing the game, reading book) could help. Personally I find the worse thing is if I'm writing to a (self) imposed deadline, and the lines just won't come or come out wrong. Maybe just be a little bit flexible with that deadline but don't put off writing altogether for too long, because that can become an excuse. Again, easily said.
i read a chapter of A Little Princess. strange, but it always get me out of whatever writing funk i am in.
()___()
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Watching really bad horror films usually gets me over my writer's block.
>>13 I suggest some Bonobo. It really frees me up.
I tend to write anything. A crackfic, a song, a rant or coursework. If i can get typing, I'll keep typing. I've fallen asleep at my desk a few too many times.
If I have writer's block, I'll either watch a movie, listen to whatever music inspired the current fic, or do some roleplaying online with my friends. Its all good =)
Failing that, I just sit and type whatever nonsense comes into my head, talking to myself the whole tme, trying to visualise conversations/arguments that I need to happen;which I have to build up to.
It normally works. And once in the random writing, I actually managed to come up with an idea for a sequel.
It was fun!.
If I have writer's block, I'll either watch a movie, listen to whatever music inspired the current fic, or do some roleplaying online with my friends. Its all good =)
Failing that, I just sit and type whatever nonsense comes into my head, talking to myself the whole tme, trying to visualise conversations/arguments that I need to happen;which I have to build up to.
It normally works. And once in the random writing, I actually managed to come up with an idea for a sequel.
It was fun!.
What's with the double entries?
A good thing to do is to try typing out several different fics so that if you're stuck on one you can work on the other(s) until you get more inspiration for the one you're stuck on.
I don't understand what Writers Block actually is. Anyone like to answer/help?
@Daniel
Writers block is when you're working on a story/chapter w/e and you get stuck.
You can't think of anythign to come next and sometimes it can end up ending a story because you had a good idea in the beginning and then when you get stuck and you can't string anything together anymore.
As for me I like to go back and read the things I've already published (I write on quizilla and fanfiction.net for anyone who's interested) and then write down ideas as they come to me, it's hard just staring at a blank piece of paper and having nothing come to you.
Take some time out, relax, watch some tv, do anything then go back to writting. That's what I do anyway
Hope this helps
I've recently found that watcing a couple episodes of the series you're working on/reading the book/watching the movie, etc often helps start thinking about the fandom you're working with, and then you can rationalize what's got you stuck.... :)
a beer. doesn't work but at least you're not as annoyed as before the beer!
At least you ain't doing it on purpose.
What Paddysnuffles & Lolo said is good advice. Stories should not be rushed, letting them come to you on their own is the best way to make a good fic.
The tricky part is ignoring those that want you to hurry up
I'm in a major writer's block for my fanfiction account... I have like six fics that I need to update DX
I read over my fic, listen to music, read the manga/book/whatever that I'm writing the fic for. If it's my original work... well, there's not actually much I can do. Music... I draw my characters... if you have a friend that's also a writer it's good to talk to them about it.
Hope this helps =)
-xLH
I'm in a major writer's block for my fanfiction account... I have like six fics that I need to update DX
I read over my fic, listen to music, read the manga/book/whatever that I'm writing the fic for. If it's my original work... well, there's not actually much I can do. Music... I draw my characters... if you have a friend that's also a writer it's good to talk to them about it.
Hope this helps =)
-xLH
I've found watching episodes of the fandom I'm writing for or rereading the books or even my own works usually helps. Finding someone that can act as a sounding board to bounce ideas off of it supremely helpful, too. DeviantART is also a great source of inspiration if visual aids will kick your mind into gear.
Those are all really good points and something that normally works for me is to grab a friend and do a sort of roleplay about your story. I find that helps a lot!!!
Those are all really good points and something that normally works for me is to grab a friend and do a sort of roleplay about your story. I find that helps a lot!!!
Something's amiss with this thread for sure! Medic!
stop writing and go out somewhere
put iPod on shuffle
smoke
find some glass and break it (I don't know why but it helps)
go back and write epic story
???
profit
Someone once told me to stick one's head in cold water. I've tried it once before, and it actually worked. Instantly. ^^ The longterm method is to wait it out and work on another story or something of a different subject altogether.
Cold water, that's an interesting idea. I might have to try that sometime.
LOL XD
And I have no idea how to combat my writers block. I just wait for inspiration to strike me \:
I have 4 methods for any kind of fiction;
- Usually I abandon writing for a few days. I draw, go out, play video games...sometimes I even do homework! Writer's block is that evil! This gets my mind off it and then, normally, a random thought will pop up and spark something.
- Other times, I look around for prompts and challenges to get some ideas, even if they're complete rubbish! Just so long as it gets my cogs moving. The same with putting your iPod on shuffle or turning on a radio.
- I keep a lot of my really old, really cliche, Mary-Sue fics that should not and never will see the light of day on my computer, I read through those, become horrified that I'd written it and start writing something better.
- Go to the source. If I'm writing about a movie, I watch the movie. If I'm writing about a book or a manga, I'll re-read the book/manga. An anime/tv show? I'll watch some episodes again.
These actually work, but that cold water idea sounds good, too. A lot faster than my methods.
Little Miss B
...I don't know if that link thing worked but owell...
I thought writers block was just when you were stuck for inspiration in your stories, because I get that sometimes and I thought it was writers block.
If it's not then ignore what I said before and just try to plan your story out before you write - I can't start a story if I don't know the beginning middle and end...it's just getting through it that can pose difficult at times, especially when ideas for other stories pester me...=[
Xx..xX
Ahh, yeah I hate writer's block just about as much as anybody else here but I just sit in a quiet room (preferably my bedroom) and I just think of possible ideas...
...It's either that or I close my eyes and put myself in my characters position and think about what that character would do about their current situation.
For a possible example:
You have a cliffhanger at the end of a story and you don't know what would happen. Lets just say they're in a burning building (lol @ L4D2 referance), your characters friend is stuck in a room and they have to get them out. But time's running out quickly for that person, lets say you left it there...Then you can't decided what happens next then you get a little block.
I put myself in that characters postion then list the possible outcomes of the situation, I could make the person in that closet die, coughing from smoke or get crushed or set alight, that would lead to grief, and maybe some depression. OR I could make them save that character ands they can rejoice for a little and get out alive, OR I could make them get out then die near the end blah blah blah ect...
See what I mean? But it all depends on that characters personality as such...If you, catch my drift...
Rant over. :3
And whether the muse will come out to play;D
I write poetry. That's simple enough, and gets the creative juices flowing, making the rest of the writing easier.
Writer's block is just an excuse to not write anything. It's more like procrastination. So it's not writer's block. writer's block does not exist, stop thinking about it, then you'll feel better.
if you can't seem to get any ideas on what to write, write something else, like a little random story to get your creative juices flowing. an advice I was given was to read a newspaper or a magazine, anything, take a section of it that interests you and then write a story out of it; create a background, make up some characters, expand the story, etc. as a writing exercise. Afterwards, go back to your own story and see if you can come up with anything.
Also, maybe the reason why you can't write is because either you're thinking too hard or thinking too much about plot when you should just get on with it.
>>50 yeah...now I've got writers block and it's just not me thinking it. No matter how many little things I write, no matter how much I write down notes about it...
...Nothing's working for me.
I can't even Imagining what my character's'll do next and it's driving me crazy. Haiko can't even help me and he was designed for these kinda things x.X
hehe, oh great that doesn't sound good. I don't know if this will help you, and others, but if I don't have inspiration to write a story I just don't try and do it or else I would come out with something worse than nothing. If I don't feel like doing it I focus on doing something else that interests me, until I feel like writing again. Reading helps too. As a writing student, I'm taught that reading is the best way to train your writing. Plus it gets things off my mind, including 'writer's block'.
I never get writer's block- I get the opposite (writer's overload? maybe.)
I have so many ideas and concept and ways to go and I want to get it all over with at once, I can't seem to work on anything! It's a miracle I've managed to crank out one story and supply a sequel and a spin-off!
I look for interesting fanart and listen to music.
Or watch Vocaloid videos. I can always get inspired by those and I don't even write for the fandom; it's just the combination of robot music/trippy imagery/pseudo-double meanings that get the brain juices flowing.
I just got an insanely bad bout of Writers Block - mainly brought on by the fact that I broke up with my man of two and a half years - and I just lost all creativity (better that than the will to live eh!?)
I dunno how it came back, it was just there again one day, I just suddenly felt inspired to write again, and I managed to write almost 1500 words in about an hour, and I honestly like all of it. Which is never the case, I normally want to change everything I write first time.
So yeah. Maybe I'm just healing - or maybe it was the late nights that did it.
Sleep now, its 5am =\
I have 2 solutions to writers block.
1) Go for a walk
or
2) Sit in a single spot for as long as it takes. It works for me!
Character art helps me a lot. If you can't work it with one medium, just move onto another!
I do that. Doesn't always help, though.
I tend to listen to music with really inspiring lyrics. Or I just go for a walk and take a notebook and pen with me so that if something springs to mind, I note it down and write it up later.
I wouldn't know because I don't really get writers block. I just start up several stories and write more for them whenever I get a surge of ideas. I usually can't get them all out onto the page fast enough and they hang around in my head for weeks. Also, I write out the condenced plot first and just refer to it if I need to.
I got this from a website years ago and it really works. When suffering from writers block go to a public place like a restrant, bowling alley, park, beach, cinema, school, collage, university etc.
Sit with a nootbook and watch the people who are there.
Watch:-
What are they doing?
How do they interact with the people around them?
Any interesting physcial features?
What is the weather like?
Note down anything interesting and may you can use it in your story.
I got an idea from being out when it was snowing and got an idea for a sence from wacthing people making snow angels and having snowball fights.
I have this journal I have with me at all times that I write down anything story related that comes to mind. If I'm suffering from Writer's Block (which, I am right now) I go back and read through all my ideas to see if anything gets sparked.
When I go to school, I have this big blue notebook that I use to doodle and write in when i am supposed to be learning things. When I get an idea, I jot it down and close the book. Nobosy has ever seen inside it. I find that I get my best ideas when I am around a lot of people with noise in the background. I can rarely write on my own, I get distracted. I am currently in a writers block, and the only writing I am doing is for a chapter, that I'm not even up to in the story yet. I'm stuck! HELP!!!!