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For Those With Writers Block
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All writers get them. And we hate them. They are evil and should die a painful death. I have about three 100 page novels sitting in my desk and on the computer that I have yet to finish. Some are more than two years old.

But, here's my suggestions for those with the dreaded "BLOCK." Feel free to post your suggestions about it as well.

1: Let your mind fall free. Often, we get so wrapped up in one basic plot that when we get the block, we fail to see that it could be our brain telling us to try a different approach.

2: Don't give up. Don't edit it the first time. Don't even touch the damn editing button until you've finished it...That way half-way through you don't stop and start rewriting it again because you think it sucks.

3: Move on. If you're having a big block, take a break. That doesn't mean abandon it...nessesarily, but do take a breath. Come back a little while later and see what you can do.

4: Be a sponge. Be one with the sponginess. Often I get my best ideas when I'm in the car, or at school...and sometimes they are pretty weird. Soak up anything that looks observant to you. Be observant. A good writer keeps an eye around them.

5: If you really think it sucks, it either: a: seriously does, b: you're too harsh on yourself, or c: you need to take a breather. Don't give up unless even yo' momma's telling you to kill it.

Well. There are mine. Does anyone else have ideas that help them?
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moonysgirl
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got three
OWNED. 1.Show your friends what you already have and ask for their ideas.
2.When your friends have no ideas talk to your pet. (The talking to pet may seem weird but it works for me.)
3.Take a nap or two some of our greatest ideas can come when the mind is able to roam free as we dream.And if you think you'll forget your dreams write sentences about them in a notebook/writing journel.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I talk to pets, and it generally works. But if i'm really stuck and say i'm writing a sciene-fiction story but i'm at writers block, i'll go and find a movie/game of that genre, and watch it. And it works.
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VincentValentine13
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In my personal expirience, I have found that the best thing for writer's block is to... Banghead ! That'll get rid of those pesky blocks! Laughing

Laughing Seriously, though, I find that if your are stuck on a particular part, think about what the general plot is. Not which character likes whom or some such nonsense, no think about where you want the story to end.

Now that you have that in mind, what are your characters going to do to get there? It also helps to prevent writer's block if you have a sort of plan or outline to start with. I've read over several books about writing novels, and they all have great ideas on planning characters and such!
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Usually when I have writer's block, I just try to think, "What does (insert character name here) do next?" It's kind of like, by focusing just on the immediate reaction of a character, I can get a feel for what's happening next. If you just focus on one line at a time, it can sometimes help you get rolling.

Sometimes that doesn't work, though...and when that happens, it usually helps me to put the story down and listen to random songs for a while. You can get some weirdly good ideas from songs that seem to have nothing to do with what you're doing...
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LexLuthorsVictimNJustAFriend
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Usually when I have writer's block, I listen to my surroundings. I take phrases that I hear people say and use that as my starting line. What I write about may not have a thing to do with my main story, but it gets the ides flowing, leaving plen of room for my main story to evolve. Try it sometime.
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That one is definetely something I do. I often get my best ideas when I'm staring out the window. I think that being observant is one of the most important things of writing.

And it's fun just to have some random idea pop into your head. ^_^
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Dark_Soul676
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I usually listen to music to be honest.

When it's an action story, I listen to Hard type music.

When it's love or tragedy, I listen to sad/romantic type music

and so on....
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

W00t! Same here! Music really, really makes my day. It aids the emotional part of what you're doing, methinks. Though I'm almost always listening to the same soundtrack. Have had it for two years.

And am not sick of it.
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Dark_Soul676
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bah, it sucks though, I have writers block on what to write...

I deleted my two pieces because I didn't like how they were going...now I've got nothing. Uneasy
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VincentValentine13
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Music does help! I've often listened to battle music from games when planning out or writing a fight, or using something that suits a character when they are talking a lot in one entry! That helps set the mood. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't make a playlist or tracj list to accompany my stories Laughing !
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Honjetan
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For some strange reason, I just enjoy listening to this
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LexLuthorsVictimNJustAFriend
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm probably a nerd for doing this, but I actually did make soundtracks for my story. I have three different Cd's for it and I'm working on a fourth. It really works if you rely heavily on music when writing. I use music when drawing to, I'll probably make Cd's that go with Chad.
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smile That's cool. What instruments did you use to make the tracks? Or did I misinterpret the question?

My best stuff comes out when I'm listening to one of the following:

Techno-Specifically Paul Oakenfold
Soundtracks--Bourne Supremacy and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Classical

Strange, I know, but I think that the music and writing go hand in hand. You can't do one well if you don't have the other. Whenever I'm writing, I ALWAYS listen to music; it makes the time fly by faster.

The downside is, because I become so good at multitasking--listening to music AND writing at the same time, in class when I zone out, I ZONE OUT.

Eh. It's a double edged sword, isn't it?
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Nilitac_Tesgrah
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^Agreed. I now think I found the reason my math grade plummeted this semester...

I usually just go over and re-read what I've written to see if I can get another idea, like a plot twist or something. I do have a series written, but it's kind of childish in form and needs a LOT of improvement, but the plot itself was actually well developed because two songs, a dream, and this painting I saw (can't remember what it is now though...) inspired it. I was in fifth grade when I started writing it. I finished the first book by June of 2003; I finished the third book in early 2005 I think. I started writing an epilogue, then I lost inspiration.

Bah... happy stories don't mix with me. ^^;
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote]Bah... happy stories don't mix with me. ^^; [/quote]
Happy stories mix with no one, methinks. I mean, if you really consider it...

All books have an inciting incident that usually is something violent.

Little Red Riding Hood?

Her grandma got eaten.

Three pigs?

A wolf threatened to eat them.

Everything is kicked off by violence and unhappiness. Funny, isn't it?
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Nilitac_Tesgrah
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, it all involved the main character's true love getting killed by him/her while they were out of whack. :\ It was fun to write, but very gross... I love the gross. ^^
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can tell.

...And I'm not quite sure whether to be afriad or just...accept it.

I'm not really a gross writer...I don't quite know what I am. I love screwed up people. I love remorse, I love psychological issues--amnesia, multiple personalities...ect. I don't know why, but when I write those are the characters I gravitiate towards. The one I was working on recently was about a girl who had conversion hysteria* and when she was seven (she's been blind for ten years) her brother, who was nine, got kidnapped while they were swimming at a pool and she almost drowned. When she woke up, she was blind and her brother was gone. Now seventeen, she's trying to find out what really happened.

*A memory block. Where the body, undergoing severe physical or mental stress, flips off one of the five senses--usually sight or hearing, occaisonally speech--and blocks a traumatic memory both physically and mentally.

When I was writing this, I was undergoing my soundtrack fiesta. Right now I have about forty, and it only keeps on growing. :ph34r:
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LexLuthorsVictimNJustAFriend
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Megan, you did misunderstand it. By soundtracks, I mean the generic way of finding already made songs that fit my characters personality and putting them into a playlist. I usually burn them onto a CD so I can listen to them in the privacy of my room, but there are times that I don't.

Right now I'm in a rut. I can't seem to find songs that fit with Chad's personality....maybe he isn't the song-type.
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theWriter
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry, Naomi. I had a blonde moment.
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