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Post by Headphone Actor on Oct 13, 2017 0:43:22 GMT -5
Hey there, WCFF! I'm currently facing the greatest enemy known to man. Writer's block.
Seeing as I'm trying to challenge myself by either writing a chapter of my fic, or respond to a prompt a day in the villain contest, this is a problem, and I'm seeking a solution.
How do all of you guys try to inspire yourselves? I've been doing all of my usual methods, and none of them seem to be working. The process kind of varies depending on how I feel, so tonight I've been doing a calm exercise, like tai chi, to move a little and think. I've tried meditating, which usually works too, and just kind of thinking of fire since the next prompt involves burning.
I've considered trying the other approach - faster paced exercises and loud, aggressive music, just to see what happens, you know? But I've also gotten pretty chilled out, and I kind of don't want to ruin the feeling, lol.
So while I try to puzzle over what the heck I should do, what do you guys do when inspiration is...less than cooperative?
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Post by Dingoleap on Oct 13, 2017 1:00:52 GMT -5
Aside from the stuff you've mentioned, I usually listen to the playlist I've created for that particular story or character, in order to try and recapture the original feelings of inspiration. Alternatively, I try to add to that mood by finding new songs for them. For some reason, I find it most effective when writing about angsty scenes or characters - probably because they're the most fun to write about.
My preferred method of getting rid of writers block at the moment is just leaving the house and wandering around. I try to get out for at least an hour every day. I find that when I'm out and walking, my mind just wanders. I try not to think, and instead, by mind tackles problems subconsciously. By the time I get home, I've hashed out the plot points for a chapter, or worked out how to describe that particular character. Honestly, not thinking and letting your mind wander is so good for writers block. I find myself looking at characters and scenes from an angle I hadn't previously considered. Alternatively, when you're in the shower/bath or in bed are good times to let your mind wander.
While its not always that helpful, I almost always come back with some tidbit of something, whether it be a particularly interesting concept or sentence that I can't let go of , or a particularly unique way to describe that weird tree I passed when I decided to turn left instead of right.
As for fast paced exercises... I've never been fond of them, but stream of consciousness writing is excellent for just getting words down on paper. Set yourself a timer for two minutes, take a random prompt (summer, crowd, an abandoned house - it works better if the prompt is a tangible thing rather than a concept) and just write whatever comes to mind. While you mightn't punch any holes in the wall of writers block, its a good way to just write, and is a good way to describe settings. I find it works best when you use all five senses.
Uuuhhh, thats all I got :/
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Post by prophet on Oct 13, 2017 1:10:34 GMT -5
@ - Trying to say something different than Dingo but also my own experience here...
If I get stuck, I let myself take a break from thinking about it. There are several ways I do it. Think of a new character, you can always use those. Or do some mindless task like laundry, watching TV or reading *gasp*. If I really want to sit there until I get out something, I try and think of myself in the situation. How would I act? What would I do? It can give you some interesting ideas. I like drawing, so sometimes I just draw what I think the character looks like. It may not look good, but it helps me get creativity out in some way. Hope that helps ^^
Please check out my fanfic, Listen
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Post by Headphone Actor on Oct 13, 2017 1:35:05 GMT -5
Aside from the stuff you've mentioned, I usually listen to the playlist I've created for that particular story or character, in order to try and recapture the original feelings of inspiration. Alternatively, I try to add to that mood by finding new songs for them. For some reason, I find it most effective when writing about angsty scenes or characters - probably because they're the most fun to write about.
My preferred method of getting rid of writers block at the moment is just leaving the house and wandering around. I try to get out for at least an hour every day. I find that when I'm out and walking, my mind just wanders. I try not to think, and instead, by mind tackles problems subconsciously. By the time I get home, I've hashed out the plot points for a chapter, or worked out how to describe that particular character. Honestly, not thinking and letting your mind wander is so good for writers block. I find myself looking at characters and scenes from an angle I hadn't previously considered. Alternatively, when you're in the shower/bath or in bed are good times to let your mind wander.
While its not always that helpful, I almost always come back with some tidbit of something, whether it be a particularly interesting concept or sentence that I can't let go of , or a particularly unique way to describe that weird tree I passed when I decided to turn left instead of right.
As for fast paced exercises... I've never been fond of them, but stream of consciousness writing is excellent for just getting words down on paper. Set yourself a timer for two minutes, take a random prompt (summer, crowd, an abandoned house - it works better if the prompt is a tangible thing rather than a concept) and just write whatever comes to mind. While you mightn't punch any holes in the wall of writers block, its a good way to just write, and is a good way to describe settings. I find it works best when you use all five senses.
Uuuhhh, thats all I got :/ I'm definitely a big fan of walking and wandering while I'm thinking about stories, but it's 2:30 in the morning lol, so I'm only able to do that at work when I'm on a round. So on days off, I just kind of sit on my stationary bike and pedal as hard as I can, with music blaring in my ears, or I do pushups or crunches. Some mindless, repetitive exercise that gets my blood pumping, you know? I'm also a fan of playing wall-ball if I'm feeling like something a little less mindless. Knitting, even though I'm awful at it, works for me too. And now I sound like an old woman. I find that writing while I'm trying to write just sort of...complicates my thoughts as it is. Something that finally punched through my wall was cycling, blasting Fall Out Boy, and messaging a friend on Hangouts to try to hash out my thoughts on the subject. |
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Post by Headphone Actor on Oct 13, 2017 1:36:31 GMT -5
@ - Trying to say something different than Dingo but also my own experience here...
If I get stuck, I let myself take a break from thinking about it. There are several ways I do it. Think of a new character, you can always use those. Or do some mindless task like laundry, watching TV or reading *gasp*. If I really want to sit there until I get out something, I try and think of myself in the situation. How would I act? What would I do? It can give you some interesting ideas. I like drawing, so sometimes I just draw what I think the character looks like. It may not look good, but it helps me get creativity out in some way. Hope that helps ^^
Please check out my fanfic, Listen I'm an awful artist, so trying to draw out the block usually ends with me screaming and throwing balled up paper at a wall, haha. Which honestly isn't different from me trying to get through writer's block in the first place, save for the balled up papers being replaced by an impressive list of swear words. |
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Post by Rainstar on Oct 13, 2017 6:59:12 GMT -5
Ideas just come to me in school, tbh.
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Post by Headphone Actor on Oct 13, 2017 7:11:20 GMT -5
Ideas just come to me in school, tbh. I mean, ideas just come out of the blue for me at work and home, of course, but specifically in the case of writers block. I'm curious to see how everyone else gets around it, since everyone on these forums can write so well. |
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Post by prophet on Oct 13, 2017 11:35:10 GMT -5
I'm an awful artist, so trying to draw out the block usually ends with me screaming and throwing balled up paper at a wall, haha. Which honestly isn't different from me trying to get through writer's block in the first place, save for the balled up papers being replaced by an impressive list of swear words.
Please check out my fanfic, Listen |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2017 13:28:43 GMT -5
Something I do is play the "what if" game.
Come up with a scenario - or google one - and just say, "What if?" Let one scenario build into the next. Don't get rid of any ideas. Write/type them all out and review them. I find this helps me figure out ideas.
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