BlueFire
Dreamer
I've found that when I have writer's block, if I decide what the first word will be, about 2 paragraphs follow. Does anyone else have this experience?
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First word to unlock writer's block
- Thread starter BlueFire
- Start date
Naruzeldamaster
Auror
Sometimes I've found the only method for writer's block is to bite a piece of wood (metaphorically ) and get past it.
At least if the kind of writer's block you have is the kind I tend to have, where I spend far too much time hrmming and harur ing over the smallest details and nearly pointless ones.
At least if the kind of writer's block you have is the kind I tend to have, where I spend far too much time hrmming and harur ing over the smallest details and nearly pointless ones.
Mad Swede
Auror
I've never had writer's block. Not ever. But then I think my stories all the way through before I start writing, so I know what I'm going to put down on paper.
Karlin
Inkling
Neither do I, and I usually have only a vague idea of where the story is going.
Prince of Spires
Istar
I find writer's block an interesting concept. It's not like IT-project manager block is a thing. Or Guitar player's block. I realize it's not 100% apples to apples, since creating something out of nothing is always harder than just continuing onward. But it sort of still stands.
There's a few kinds of writer's block, each of which requires its own approach.
The big one probably is when you're got a huge emotional event happen in your life, like the death of a loved one. In this case, don't stress it and heal first. Worry about writing later. Maybe write something different or just your emotions if you must write something.
That's rare though (fortunately). I think the three more common issues are you don't know what to write next, something's wrong with your story which gets you stuck, or you just don't feel like writing.
The last one is probably the most common. Writing, being a solitary mental activity, takes effort to get started. That's hard. You're basically telling your brain you're going to punish it for however long you're going to write without any reward at the end or companions along the way. It's also relatively easy to fix. Make a routine out of it (like always write at the same time, only sit in that chair when you write, that sort of thing).
Going the pomodoro route is another option. Write in 10 minute (or 15 or 20) chunks. Set a timer for 10 minutes, write for that time, then take a short break. Sitting down to do something for an hour or even 2 is hard. But it's reasonably easy to convince your brain to do something for 10 minutes. It's only 10 minutes after all. That's not that hard. That's pretty much just 2 commercial breaks back to back. Of course, if you feel like it, you can just keep writing afterwards or take a short break and then sit down for another 10 minutes.
Lastly, promissing yourself a small reward at the end can work. Maybe you get a cup of tea once you've written. I think Brandon Sanderson promissed himself he could open a pack of Magic Cards after finishing a chapter. That sort of thing.
If you don't know what to write next, then the easy solution is to sit down and figure out what to write next. It's always easier for me to write when I know exactly what I want to write (not the precise words but the story beats). Which is probably part of the reason Mad Swede has never had writing block. Just take 5 or 10 minutes and think through the next chapter or scene. Write down what you want to happen or what should happen. After that, sit down and write that.
Being stuck because something's wrong with the story is probably the hardest one because it's probably your subconcious telling you something's wrong. There's no clear indication that stuff doesn't work or what exactly doesn't work. Sit down and try to figure out what's happening in your tale. Talking it over with a writer friend or someone just willing to listen can also work.
There's a few kinds of writer's block, each of which requires its own approach.
The big one probably is when you're got a huge emotional event happen in your life, like the death of a loved one. In this case, don't stress it and heal first. Worry about writing later. Maybe write something different or just your emotions if you must write something.
That's rare though (fortunately). I think the three more common issues are you don't know what to write next, something's wrong with your story which gets you stuck, or you just don't feel like writing.
The last one is probably the most common. Writing, being a solitary mental activity, takes effort to get started. That's hard. You're basically telling your brain you're going to punish it for however long you're going to write without any reward at the end or companions along the way. It's also relatively easy to fix. Make a routine out of it (like always write at the same time, only sit in that chair when you write, that sort of thing).
Going the pomodoro route is another option. Write in 10 minute (or 15 or 20) chunks. Set a timer for 10 minutes, write for that time, then take a short break. Sitting down to do something for an hour or even 2 is hard. But it's reasonably easy to convince your brain to do something for 10 minutes. It's only 10 minutes after all. That's not that hard. That's pretty much just 2 commercial breaks back to back. Of course, if you feel like it, you can just keep writing afterwards or take a short break and then sit down for another 10 minutes.
Lastly, promissing yourself a small reward at the end can work. Maybe you get a cup of tea once you've written. I think Brandon Sanderson promissed himself he could open a pack of Magic Cards after finishing a chapter. That sort of thing.
If you don't know what to write next, then the easy solution is to sit down and figure out what to write next. It's always easier for me to write when I know exactly what I want to write (not the precise words but the story beats). Which is probably part of the reason Mad Swede has never had writing block. Just take 5 or 10 minutes and think through the next chapter or scene. Write down what you want to happen or what should happen. After that, sit down and write that.
Being stuck because something's wrong with the story is probably the hardest one because it's probably your subconcious telling you something's wrong. There's no clear indication that stuff doesn't work or what exactly doesn't work. Sit down and try to figure out what's happening in your tale. Talking it over with a writer friend or someone just willing to listen can also work.
Karlin
Inkling
If you " don't feel like writing ", then why are you writing? I had this issue at work, where I had to do a task that I hated. And it took effort to sit down and do what I had to do. I don't get that feeling when writing. Maybe I would if it was my income or job.
Naruzeldamaster
Auror
I write the same way as you. Vague Plan but pantser otherwise. Usually what happens with me is I get 'stuck' on 'exactly how should this scene go' and I keep spinning in circles (not literally, though your welcome for the mental image) figuring it out.
Most of the time I just have to give up on 'planning' it and go 'F* it' and write the scene, usually that cures it for some reason. Until I hit the next roadblock scene lol but I've been getting better.
pmmg
Myth Weaver
This would fall along the advice I often give of just promise to write one sentence a day. The rest is just a bonus.
I ignore it. I keep writing, and it goes away.
A lot of times what gets called writer's block is just being stuck on part of a story and not knowing how to proceed. For me, if I don't know what direction I want to go, I simply try all the directions I don't want to go. Eventually, the only thing left will be the right direction.
A lot of times what gets called writer's block is just being stuck on part of a story and not knowing how to proceed. For me, if I don't know what direction I want to go, I simply try all the directions I don't want to go. Eventually, the only thing left will be the right direction.
Prince of Spires
Istar
You can like something and still have it take effort to sit down and do it. Humans are strange in that way. For me, there's very often a hump I have to get over to get started. An initial resistance to actually sitting down and writing. But once I get going, I immensely enjoy the process and can keep going forward. But it still takes effort to start moving.
Which is where telling your brain it's only 10 minutes works. Or why pmmg's 1 sentence per day works. It's a small commitment and my brain can't really object to it. And once I've gotten the ball rolling, I can usually keep moving.
It's not that different from other activities that take effort. I enjoy running. However, it takes some effort to get out of my chair and start. Especially if it's a bit cold and windy and rainy. But once I get going I can just keep running for an hour or more. But that getting out of the chair and starting to move is hard.
Which reminds me of another approach, and that is to get some kind of external motivation or commitment. With running, I follow a training schedule that sends me out of my door three times a week. Now, that's just an external commitment I made to myself, and there's nothing stopping me from not following it. But it's enough for me to get going.
So tell someone you're writing a book and that you want to finish it by date X. or join Nanowrimo (or what's left of it...). Or some similar commitment.
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