Okay, I've heard about writer's block for ages. I honestly don't think there's an author out there who hasn't :) It's not something I have had a whole lot of struggles with, though it hits from time to time. That whole staring at a blank page and going "ugh, why is this so hard?" Or my personal favorite "ugh, everything on this page sucks, why am I bothering?" I seem to get that last one a lot...So, yeah, I'm curious about those writers who follow this blog: what gives you writer's block? And what do you do about it? I try and tell myself that if I can just get through ten minutes, I can quit, but I have to put in the ten minutes. Of course, by the end of the ten, I'm usually feeling some energy and willing to keep going. Sometimes at least :)
Though, lately, finding even a spare ten minutes is a struggle. But, yeah, won't go there...
Anyhow, I always love hearing about other's writing process, so let me know what you think and how you deal. I'm curious! And if you're not a writer, I think writer's block hits in other forms, like procrastinating a big project (because, really, in some ways that's what writer's block is, in some instances at least).
I'm all ears! (Or eyes, since I'm reading this...yeah, welcome to random this Wednesday!)
Loving the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon :D
ReplyDeleteI think my blocks happen when I have a lot going on with school, work, sorority stuff, etc. My day is go, go, go from the minute I wake up. When I finally do get a chance to breathe I usually want to sleep or just do nothing for a second.
The way I'm starting to overcome it is by working writing into my morning routine. I'm more alert when I first wake up than I am at night.
It's going okay so far!
Writing Through College
I'm glad you're finding a solution! I wish I could do mornings, but I'm definitely a night owl...and have 9am lectures (not so happy about being assigned the early ones...). It would be nice to get some time in before work!
DeleteI tend to get writer's block either on the first chapter or the last chapter. Sometimes in the beginning, it's hard to get going, and sometimes you don't want the book to end. I feel your pain. I recently wrote a first chapter and canned the whole thing because I didn't like it at all after rereading it. But it cleared the cobwebs for a second attempt that was much better. Sometimes you just have to get out the gobbly gook before you can hit your stride and get in the flow.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand about the gobbly gook! Sometimes I wonder if I ever get it all "out" though :)
DeleteIt's always fear that paralyzes my writing. Fear that what I'm writing sucks (as you mentioned); fear that even if my writing is good, it won't ever get published; fear that even if it does get published, no one will read it (which is somehow worse than people reading it and hating it)... Once the fear starts it's hard not to fear-spiral. Sometimes a break from writing helps and other times just writing through the fear is the best way out of it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hear you on these! Especially the no one buying the book...that's been a big one lately!
DeleteHa! Great cartoon. Good idea, just setting yourself down and giving yourself a time limit--often that's enough to power through. I'm blocked a bit at times (not a lot) but I keep at it. OR if that doesn't work, I take a break. Take a walk. Do some chores. Usually my subconscious keeps working, and then I'm racing back to the computer. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I seriously love my subconscious...other times, I wish I could give it a kick in the pants :)
DeleteIf I'm taking too long to write something(trying to get it perfect the first time around- yeah, right!) then I start getting tired of being 'there' and find I'm less than enthusiastic about plowing my way through so that I can go on to the next scene. I guess I could just jump around in the manuscript, but then having holes drives me crazy. =)
ReplyDeleteTotally! I have to write in order, or it makes me nuts! :)
DeleteOh, and I just go TED in the mail today! And you might get Dianne's tattoos first, as I think she sent them on Tues.
DeleteYay!! You have no idea how much I love getting mail :) BTW--your office is total perfection!! Can you come decorate mine??
DeleteCalvin's unique world view always did appeal to me.
ReplyDeleteI've tended to deal with it by putting aside whatever I was working on and doing something else for awhile, letting my mind work on the block subconciously before coming back later.
That is a good plan. I think I worry some about never actually making it back!
DeleteWriters' block sometimes happens when I have a new idea, but the plot is taking me a long time to figure out. I don't like to call it writers' block, though. I simply have to work on the threads until the plot is a tight weave, and then start writing.
ReplyDeleteSounds good! I'm glad that works for you!
DeleteAlthough I work with a chapter by chapter outline, sometimes I get stuck between scenes. Or sometimes the outline needs tweaking, and I need time to think about the changes. I do have those days when I'm reluctant to write because of these reasons.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense! :)
DeleteSometimes after working on project after project, I feel exhausted. So when I take a break, then try to get back on the writing horse..haha.. I can't type anything (for some weird reason) Even though I have the full story mapped out. So I end up doing free writing. Sit in front of my laptop and just write.. sometimes it helps. When it doesn't I read books in the genre I'm writing in. :)
ReplyDeleteFreewriting is an excellent idea! :)
DeleteGreat Calvin and Hobbes image! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I have writer's block I try to write through it and most of the times it works. When it doesn't I try to talk to someone about what I am writing and what has been happening in the story and then usually that gets me thinking and going. I am lucky to have a co-author to talk to, but I also talk to my husband (even if he just listens it gets me started- so maybe just talking aloud would help too). :) Happy writing.
I like the speaking aloud idea--that sounds like something I'll have to try! :)
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