How to... Kill the Big Block

[Fleatopia]

I used to declare, somewhat arrogantly, that writer's block didn't exist. That you just sit down and write something/anything. Even if it's crap, it's still something that you can clean up, use later, or just throw out.

I guess it was decreed from above that I needed a comeuppance. I've had writer's block for a long, long damn time. I'm sick of it. I'm ready to start hurting people if it'll make the words flow again. It's been well over a year since I created anything worth reading that was longer than a forum or IC post.

What I'd like to know is if anyone else out there has had such a prolonged and vicious dry period and if they did, how did they overcome it?

For the record, I've tried:

1. Writing with pen on paper
2. Starting a journal/blog
3. Enlisting the aid of someone I like to write with
4. Just forgetting about it and not worrying
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[Dstorage]

If having a hard time of it, I'll write whatever and then figure out where it goes in my writing. Or sometimes write the beginning, the end, and start filling in the middle, one painful paragraph at a time.

 

[Metal_Monkey]

Re-read a book you really, really like. What usually happens for me is I start to get ideas about alternate scenarios between the characters. I'll even inject myself into the story. Even though it's a base form of fanfiction, jotting down your brief or detailed musings will get you writing again. Hopefully it will get you headed in the direction you're looking for.

Another option is to listen to a song you like and imagine a scene in a movie that it applies to (ie the break-up, the first kiss, the end credits aka riding off into the sunset, etc).

Good luck unblocking yourself.

 

[English Lady]

try something completely different.


try writing a review of a movie you've seen or a book you've read or write a poem if its not your usual thing, write about your favourite meal /snack and how it tastes, write a walking guide or a guide to your town.....you get the picture.

trying to write something completely different which will challenge you might just get you inspiration flowing again

good luck!

 

[zhukov1943]

I had very much the same sort of "block" on my Masters' thesis...

I found that I had to write SOMETHING just to keep from succombing to inertia. Strangely enough - getting a little "buzzed" really seemed to help! The quality of my writing wasn't NEARLY as good - but at least I was writing SOMETHING - and I could clean it up the next day.

Worked for me...

 

[curiousjen]

I'm a recovering blockaholic....

I think there's some really good advice in the above posts, and i can see any of them working. The tip that really worked for me was sitting down and creating complex characters, worlds within worlds. Set aside an evening and "interview" one of your new characters, like you were a journalist/biographer wanting to grapple with the dark secrets of their soul. You'll be amazed how much you discover.

After you get to know your characters so well, then words and phrases will come to you, slowly at first, and then maybe that will progress to storylines and paragraphs and...wait... a whole story! You must not push yourself too hard, but if you ever get that feeling of electricity that inspiration brings, you must never ignore it, stop whatever you are doing, even if its falling asleep or going out on the town...or having sex.... and just write.

drink yourself out of a hangover
write yourself out of writers block

its the only way

hope that helps.

Jx

 

[EJFan]

the guaranteed UNblocker

i've been doing this for years and not only does it work, but it's scientifically PROVEN to work.

you have two sides to your brain... one analytical and one creative. you need to unlock the creative side of your brain. this is how:

sit down and do the "write anything" gig... but WHILE you're doing it, play music... ANY music. play it constantly and just let it exist in the room with you. this will DEFINITELY unblock you. it may not happen in ten minutes, but within a day you should be well on your way. keep the music playing and just get things on paper (or type) and you'll be in a groove before you know it.

if you're not a music person you can have anything "artistic" going on around you. do some crafts, bake/cook or anything like that. it works every time.

 

[Fleatopia]

All of these are wonderful suggestions. I really appreciate them.

That doesn't mean don't keep 'em coming! I haven't had time to try them all and maybe there isn't one here that'll work for me... Besides, what works once may not work if I get this stuck again.

I forgot something on my list of things I've tried up there. I joined Literotica!

 

[dollface007]

Re: the guaranteed UNblocker

sit down and do the "write anything" gig... but WHILE you're doing it, play music... ANY music. play it constantly and just let it exist in the room with you. this will DEFINITELY unblock you. it may not happen in ten minutes, but within a day you should be well on your way. keep the music playing and just get things on paper (or type) and you'll be in a groove before you know it.

I was thinking that same thing, EJFan. When I look back at all the many times i've had to produce writing with sub-optimal inspiration, it's music that got me through. It's the cd's that I can just put on loop for hours and hours that seem to work the best.

You should find what music works for you, but here are some suggestions from my personal library:
Radiohead "Kid A"
Daft Punk "Discovery"
Any classical music...Mozart, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, etc

I think both classical and electronic music are great for this purpose b/c they are complex and stimulating, yet have relatively few discernable lyrics to distract you from your writing.

 

[DirtyJJ]

I posted this on the Author's Hangout, and it might be worth a look:
https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=278606
There is no easy answer, but you've gotten some great suggestions here. Try and expose yourself to something you might find inspiring. There's nothing like a rush of new and exciting feelings for something or someone to get your writing juices flowing. Best of luck to you!
DirtyJJ

 

[EJFan]

Re: Re: the guaranteed UNblocker

You should find what music works for you, but here are some suggestions from my personal library:
Radiohead "Kid A"
Daft Punk "Discovery"
Any classical music...Mozart, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, etc

just for the record, i always find the greatest success with rick wakeman or just about any jazz music. it all works but i found that for me, personally, the more instrumental, the faster the effect.

 

[MagicFingers]

I'm so happy

that this thread is NOT about killing 427's, 454's and old Hemi's!
What a relief! Why would anybody want to kill them?

 

[CoyoteTales]

Fleatopia:

One of the things that helps me is 'switching gears' -- to wit, write something you normally don't write. I've written fiction, non-fiction, kids pieces, adventure, mystery, bio stuff, news, and I started writing erotica after encountering another block.

Sometimes striking out into new territory is just what you need.

-CT