Post by wordy on Sept 1, 2010 0:04:37 GMT 10
Breaking the Block
by Lady Arianne
Writer's Block. The two words that make any author wince and shake their heads in pity, It's never pretty, as it most often causes serious damage to the author's head and a convenient wall as they start hitting it in order to get ideas, but failing and instead knocking a hole in the wall, and causing minor brain damage to said author, but it is a part of life, and we must work around it.
So I have collected and found some tips that will help you recover without the mandatory visit to A & E.
Tip #1:Read over what you've done.
Yes, it's strange - you're an author, you're supposed to be writing not reading, but do it, read what you've done, see if you can find something to fix, whether spellings or grammar or a paragraph in the wrong chapter - keep your mind off the cliff-hanger you've created by reading what you've already written.
Tip #2: Ask others.
We all feel nervous while waiting for people to read over our work, biting our nails nervously wondering if they think it's good, but do it - ask your friends, family and anyone else you can to read over your work and ask them what you should do next, maybe they'll give you some ideas.
Tip #3: Put it aside.
Again, it's strange, but maybe you need some space, maybe you need time to realize how good it is and how much inspiration you have for it, in the meantime work on other things, never let yourself go idle. Write small one-shots or crack-fics that will not take too much time, keep your mind off your inactivity towards your work that's stuck.
Tip #4: Read.
Read anything and everything you can get your hands on, maybe it will make you imagine new endings, and maybe it will help you with your comma problems. Remember: you're vocabulary increases with every book you read.
Tip #5: Research.
Do you know where your story is set? when? Do you know about everything that is going to be added, about the traditions or clothes of a certain period? Do you know about the manners and protocol of the nobility? Do you need to know something? It is better to know too much information, and not need most of it, than know a little and need loads more.
Tip #6: Plan.
Get it written down. Draw pictures and prompts. Make lists. Do something to jog your memory of where your story is supposed to be going, you may throw it out after three chapters because your characters have gone AWOL, but it helps up to that point.
Tip #7: Rest.
When you need to rest, you need to rest. Stay away from the computer / notepad for a week or so, maybe more and think of other things. Have sleep-ins and go to bed at abnormally early hours and if anyone questions you say "I'm recuperating from stress" and when they ask what type of stress say, "Wouldn't you like to know". Be abnormal, go to Disneyland and do things you've never gone before, and stay away from the work!
Tip #8: Try.
Every now and again, sit in front of your computer / notepad and try. Even if you only write one word, which happens to be 'NO' at least you've written something. But don't push yourself, don't force yourself to write a whole chapter that you hate, and go back to destroy later, It will just make you feel worse.
Tip #9: Keep notes.
Keep a note-book with you, whenever you get ideas or plot points write it down. Every time you change a character's name / personality / history / appearance write it down. Draw pictures and mind-maps. Keep your thoughts inside that small book and keep it close to you at all times.
Tip #10: Find a way that works for you.
Don't do what everyone is telling you to do. Find something that works to you, and keep to it. If you work better with music, listen to music. If you work better in total silence with a light in the far right corner of the room, do that. Find a way for you to write and to cope that works for you and be proud of it, every one is different and everyone works in different ways.
Good luck to anyone with The Block!