How do you guys get yourself out of writing funk?

[redgarters]

I tend to get a lot of my ideas from music, listening to lyrics, getting a vibe from a song. When I get stuck I usually try to leave it, lay it aside for a few days, a week(s). Getting my head out of it and read something completely different, get my head into another space. The usually I start thinking about it again when I've got some music on that my brain connects with the story, or I'll put on the music I already assoviate with the characters while I go out on a walk or on the bus going to work, and I'll start thinking about it again and get an idea or two, get in that headspace again. Usually helps. Takes fucking time though sometimes.

 

[gunhilltrain]

As the title says. I seem to have this issue with my writing where I'll get to a point in the story that I just cannot figure out how to continue. I'll revisit it several times but nothing ever comes so the project just stays unfinished.

So I was just curious if you guys ever have this issue and I'd love to see your strategies for fighting writers block.

William Goldman, who wrote novels, short stories, and screenplays, had this to say about writer's block. "Then you enter into despair . . . For almost without exception, this happens to every writer."

It happened to me recently when a new chapter of a series got a terrible score. It was near the end of the series (sixth out of eight) and I thought I was in that "ultimate nightmare" that Goldman describes when you feel like you'll never write again.

I decided to rewrite it, following some suggestions in The Story Feedback forum, and submit it as a stand-alone story on another site. I was surprised that it only took a few days and that I was able to salvage much of the original text. That isn't quite your situation because you are in the middle of the story. I think some of the people here have said you should write something else for a while, or just do something else for inspiration.

Goldman's book, Adventures in the Screen Trade, is mostly about his work in Hollywood, but I highly recommend it.

 

[SissyBrandi19]

Masturbation. I'm not saying it solves every problem. I'm saying it's a better than decent first attempt at any problem. So you didn't get out of your funk, at least you tried. Sometimes it's not the solution but the journey TO that solution that counts.

Huh. I'm feeling a bit "funk-a-delic" myself. What to do? What to do? Heyyyyyyyyyy...I gots me...an idea. Gotta Go!