I’ve noticed recently that quite a few of us are in a bit of a writing slump, including me. As a writer my muse is fueled by inspiration. I can only assume the same applies to all of us who undertake endeavours of a creative nature. But what happens when such inspirational triggers fail? What happens when the well seems to have dried up?
There are a lot of writers who never have to worry about something like this. They are the ones who are constantly scribbling in notebooks, each page outlining another innovative idea that will eventually find a home in one of their stories. There are also writers who struggle over every word, pore over every line because it takes that long to figure out the next one.
Where do I fit in? Depending on the day—probably somewhere in between. For me, inspiration is very dependant on the level of stress in my life, the condition of my desk at the day job, the number of personal crises affecting my family. When these seem overwhelming, inspiration takes a bit of a holiday.
Even so, I try to never stop writing completely, which means I need to have a way to kick-start the muse back into action whenever it begins to stutter. What to do?
1) Of course, one of the first things I do is pick up a book. Sometimes it’s a new one, but often I’ll go for a book I’ve read many times before. Something I know I’ll enjoy, something I know will appeal to the state of mind I’m trying to achieve.
2) Once I’ve had a chance to relax with a good book, I turn to film and do the same with a movie. For example, I’ve recently been feeling Romeo and Juliet—the DiCaprio/Danes version because of the old-style gunslinger feel and the music.
3) Then I’m ready to pick up my wip again. I go back to a place where the writing was running smoothly and I was really in the groove with the characters. I’ll re-read, perhaps tweak things a little, and make my way forward again.
(I know what you're saying. That none of this seems all that earth-shatteringly original, right? Good thing I haven't promised miracles. I can’t say that it will work for anyone but me—actually it doesn’t always work, even for me.)
Usually by this point, I can feel the tension creeping back as I stare at those last lines once again. What is it that stumped me? Why have I frozen? Once I figure this out I can almost always move forward, but the answer can be tricky, elusive.
Is it a major plot hole that my subconscious is picking up on even though I have not consciously tripped over it yet?
4) Now it will be time to contact my fabulous CPs and writing partners for help in the form of a brainstorming session. I usually get a great burst of energy by going through this exercise, as it helps me to fix the holes, figure out a new angle of the plot that I may not have worked out before, or refine some of the conflict between the hero and heroine and make it stronger.
Even with this new focus, sometimes I can still look at that screen and nothing will move me. This is when I realize that as long as I get the next paragraph down I’ll be in the clear.
Is that it?
After all of that, can I really only need to write 100 words or so to get out of this and move on? Can it really be so simple? I mean, anyone can write a paragraph. It doesn’t even have to be good. Remember, everything is fixable later. So just write it. Move on.
What do you think? Can it be that simple, or do you talk yourself into thinking you need some sort of routine to put yourself in the mood to write?
There are a lot of writers who never have to worry about something like this. They are the ones who are constantly scribbling in notebooks, each page outlining another innovative idea that will eventually find a home in one of their stories. There are also writers who struggle over every word, pore over every line because it takes that long to figure out the next one.
Where do I fit in? Depending on the day—probably somewhere in between. For me, inspiration is very dependant on the level of stress in my life, the condition of my desk at the day job, the number of personal crises affecting my family. When these seem overwhelming, inspiration takes a bit of a holiday.
Even so, I try to never stop writing completely, which means I need to have a way to kick-start the muse back into action whenever it begins to stutter. What to do?
1) Of course, one of the first things I do is pick up a book. Sometimes it’s a new one, but often I’ll go for a book I’ve read many times before. Something I know I’ll enjoy, something I know will appeal to the state of mind I’m trying to achieve.
2) Once I’ve had a chance to relax with a good book, I turn to film and do the same with a movie. For example, I’ve recently been feeling Romeo and Juliet—the DiCaprio/Danes version because of the old-style gunslinger feel and the music.
3) Then I’m ready to pick up my wip again. I go back to a place where the writing was running smoothly and I was really in the groove with the characters. I’ll re-read, perhaps tweak things a little, and make my way forward again.
(I know what you're saying. That none of this seems all that earth-shatteringly original, right? Good thing I haven't promised miracles. I can’t say that it will work for anyone but me—actually it doesn’t always work, even for me.)
Usually by this point, I can feel the tension creeping back as I stare at those last lines once again. What is it that stumped me? Why have I frozen? Once I figure this out I can almost always move forward, but the answer can be tricky, elusive.
Is it a major plot hole that my subconscious is picking up on even though I have not consciously tripped over it yet?
4) Now it will be time to contact my fabulous CPs and writing partners for help in the form of a brainstorming session. I usually get a great burst of energy by going through this exercise, as it helps me to fix the holes, figure out a new angle of the plot that I may not have worked out before, or refine some of the conflict between the hero and heroine and make it stronger.
Even with this new focus, sometimes I can still look at that screen and nothing will move me. This is when I realize that as long as I get the next paragraph down I’ll be in the clear.
Is that it?
After all of that, can I really only need to write 100 words or so to get out of this and move on? Can it really be so simple? I mean, anyone can write a paragraph. It doesn’t even have to be good. Remember, everything is fixable later. So just write it. Move on.
What do you think? Can it be that simple, or do you talk yourself into thinking you need some sort of routine to put yourself in the mood to write?
12 comments:
I usually just talk myself into writing a set number of words. I go through bursts of writing too. Lately I think I'm just so busy in RL and in the day job that I'm too tired to write on the off hours (except on weekends) That's where my prob stems from.
I blame my quasi-lack of writing on sleeping in. For some reason over the past 2 weeks I haven't woken up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 5 AM. Maybe I should set the alarm! But I think that tinkering is always a substitute for full-bore writing, and it keeps/gets your head back in the game. Even when I write nothing 'new', I can improve what's already there.
But now I'm having a reading slump again.There's always something!
I sure hope it's this easy. I've had this *excuse* of school and a crazy life for why I haven't written for so long, now I'm worried what will happen when the excuse is gone. I'm pretty sure I'll start out well, since I have all this stuff stuck up in my head dying to get out, but what happens when that's all out?
One thing I've noticed is hunting up something brand new helps. A poem someone points out, a song with a different take (usually from a soundtrack), or something as simple as a quote. I guess it's forcing yourself to focus on something outside the box that brings the new ideas back.
Tiff, I used to force myself to get a minimum 1000 words per day, and I think I might have to go back to that. But you're right. The day job and family life has just been so busy and complicated lately that I don't have the energy
Maggie, I remember last year while you were off on summer vacation and did SO MUCH writing. I think you're going to find your groove again as soon as school finishes.
Terri, you too. You've got so much in your head, when you finally have the time you'll be writing like gangbusters. The trick though is going to be putting yourself back into the writer's mindset. You'd be surprised what a distraction all this blogging stuff is :)
I sure hope you're right. And that blogging thing is such a distraction, but the good thing for me is, I usually do it during the day while I'm at the real job. LOL! By the time I get home, I'm all blogged out and I'll be ready to write!
Great blog! If I become stymied, I usually read the WIP from page one to recenter myself. It usually works.
It's just...damn. This happens to me at least once every book, and with this book it seems to be neverending. I don't know if it's because I'm starting a new series, so I'm still worldbuilding as I go, or if I'm just THAT tired.
I've been in a slump, too. I've tried all my usual stuff and nothing is working. It's driving me crazy. I can't even blog, that's how big a slump I'm in. Stopped twittering for a while, too. I'm hoping it will fix itself if I just force it and try everyday.
Honoria, it's an epidemic I tell you! So many people are telling me the same thing! Maybe we need to put together a support group and challenge each other to make daily wordcount goals?
Lol, yes, that and the flu seems to be going around. Everyone I talk to on Twitter has the flu. That sounds like a good idea. I had one of those groups but no one has posted in like a month. Maybe they all have writer's block, too.
Post a Comment