8 answers
carmen
Student
Redford Charter Township, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
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How do i continue writing with writers block ?
I don’t know how to flow with writing if every few weeks i get the worst writer’s block. I love writing but i don’t know how to continue with the profession i wanna pursue if i continue to have writers block.
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8 answers
Roger Maxwell
Freelance Writer
15
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Roger’s Answer
Hi Carmen,
There's been a lot of great suggestions given so far. Try them all. At least one should help you.
As for me, I don't believe in writer's block. When I've gotten stuck, whether in the middle of a story, at the beginning or end, or just getting started, I just start writing - about anything.
If I'm within a story, I'll grab a character and send them somewhere, at random, whether it's in the story or not. But I'll keep it within the realm of the story. I won't have my character, who lives in 10 B.C. going to a movie, but I might have him burn down his house for no reason, then crumble to the ground holding his head and weeping.
If I'm beginning a story I usually have an idea of what it's going to be about, or at least who it's about and when. I'll just start writing, "Once upon a time William, the chief councelman of Bonehead City, woke up in his mother's bed. His mother has been dead for ten years, and her house was destroyed two years later during a thunderstorm."
I find that as long as I write about "something", I'm writing. I'm creating. It may not be exactly what I had intended, or even wanted. Sometimes it turns into another project.
And the more outrageous it is the better. I was driving onto an onramp when I saw a couch on the side of the freeway. It stuck with me. Later that day, while writing a story, I got stuck. I remembered that couch on the freeway. So I started a new paragraph and started writing about that couch. In my story a man was sitting on the couch, and continued writing about another man being late for work and frustrated, and was focused on the oncoming traffic as he merged onto the freeway, and slammed into the couch, killing the man instantly.
I wasn't stuck after that. I started another paragraph and was able to eek out another line in my story. Then another. Then another. Until I was moving forward again.
Remember to have fun with your writing. It doesn't have to be perfect, or make sense, until it needs to - and that's up to you when that happens.
I also agree that taking a walk, or fifteen minutes of exercise, has helped me as well. But to sit there in front of the page with pen in hand doing nothing is not the cure. Like someone else answered, work on a character backstory's or the outline (niether of which I do anyway), will at least keep you in the story, and the creativity flowing.
I hope this helps. It's helped me. If you have any questions let me know.
Roger
There's been a lot of great suggestions given so far. Try them all. At least one should help you.
As for me, I don't believe in writer's block. When I've gotten stuck, whether in the middle of a story, at the beginning or end, or just getting started, I just start writing - about anything.
If I'm within a story, I'll grab a character and send them somewhere, at random, whether it's in the story or not. But I'll keep it within the realm of the story. I won't have my character, who lives in 10 B.C. going to a movie, but I might have him burn down his house for no reason, then crumble to the ground holding his head and weeping.
If I'm beginning a story I usually have an idea of what it's going to be about, or at least who it's about and when. I'll just start writing, "Once upon a time William, the chief councelman of Bonehead City, woke up in his mother's bed. His mother has been dead for ten years, and her house was destroyed two years later during a thunderstorm."
I find that as long as I write about "something", I'm writing. I'm creating. It may not be exactly what I had intended, or even wanted. Sometimes it turns into another project.
And the more outrageous it is the better. I was driving onto an onramp when I saw a couch on the side of the freeway. It stuck with me. Later that day, while writing a story, I got stuck. I remembered that couch on the freeway. So I started a new paragraph and started writing about that couch. In my story a man was sitting on the couch, and continued writing about another man being late for work and frustrated, and was focused on the oncoming traffic as he merged onto the freeway, and slammed into the couch, killing the man instantly.
I wasn't stuck after that. I started another paragraph and was able to eek out another line in my story. Then another. Then another. Until I was moving forward again.
Remember to have fun with your writing. It doesn't have to be perfect, or make sense, until it needs to - and that's up to you when that happens.
I also agree that taking a walk, or fifteen minutes of exercise, has helped me as well. But to sit there in front of the page with pen in hand doing nothing is not the cure. Like someone else answered, work on a character backstory's or the outline (niether of which I do anyway), will at least keep you in the story, and the creativity flowing.
I hope this helps. It's helped me. If you have any questions let me know.
Roger
Caitlyn Johnston
Senior Technical Writer
44
Answers
Odin, IL
Updated
Caitlyn’s Answer
Good question. Some of the things I do are
- Working on the outline of the story -
- Working on the characters' backstories
- Reseach technical aspects of the stories. For example, if there's a murder, and the body is found over time, research the decomposition process of the body. Research forensic science. Etc.
- Work on your marketing campaign like trying to get a literary agent.
- Working on the outline of the story -
- Working on the characters' backstories
- Reseach technical aspects of the stories. For example, if there's a murder, and the body is found over time, research the decomposition process of the body. Research forensic science. Etc.
- Work on your marketing campaign like trying to get a literary agent.
Candace Egan
Screenwriting and corporate media
11
Answers
O'Neals, CA
Updated
Candace’s Answer
I am always in various stages on multiple screenplays. So when I'm not sure what to do on one story I have several others to pick from. I might go search for images of locations, props and characters for a new story idea. Maybe a scene comes to me for one of the other stories I'm working on so I write that. Sometimes I just read the latest draft of one of my scripts. I also sometimes skip to a later scene or even the end sequence and come back to the part I'm unclear on later. The bottom line is when I don't know what to write next I move on to something else where I can be productive.
Try any of the techniques mentioned so far so you are not dwelling on what you can't figure out. A solution will come later, often when you aren't even thinking about it.
Candace recommends the following next steps:
Talia Roepel
Author / Article Writer/ Professor
32
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Talia’s Answer
Writer's block happens to everyone! If no one pursued this career because of writer's block, we wouldn't have any writers! I'm an award-winning published author, narrative writer for video games, and article writer for a variety of websites and I always get writer's block.
I find it helpful to have instrumental music on while I write as it keeps my mind working. If I'm really stuck, getting up and walking around helps.
I also am a big believer in outlining. I outline everything first before I write it. This allows me to always know what my next point is.
This article may be helpful to you: https://threadofsouls.com/2022/08/21/how-to-overcome-writers-block/
I find it helpful to have instrumental music on while I write as it keeps my mind working. If I'm really stuck, getting up and walking around helps.
I also am a big believer in outlining. I outline everything first before I write it. This allows me to always know what my next point is.
This article may be helpful to you: https://threadofsouls.com/2022/08/21/how-to-overcome-writers-block/
Lucy McKernan
Legal Assistant
5
Answers
Updated
Lucy’s Answer
Read a lot! Read eclectically. And you will feel something stirring in you to motivate you to write.
In my opinion, writer's block results from habit. If you get up every morning, and write just a page or two, you can forget about writer's block. Do it when your mind is clear, when you first wake up.
I try to write about things that affect me personally. Things that I really care about. It's easier that way.
In my opinion, writer's block results from habit. If you get up every morning, and write just a page or two, you can forget about writer's block. Do it when your mind is clear, when you first wake up.
I try to write about things that affect me personally. Things that I really care about. It's easier that way.
Karen Kitchel
Community Volunteer
355
Answers
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Updated
Karen’s Answer
The less you can focus on your writer's block probably the better. It's ok to take a break and not think about writing at all for awhile. Then try to think about something you enjoy writing about and start there. Writing for fun might inspire you to continue writing about other topics.
With every good wish.
With every good wish.
Audrey A. Bates
N/A
4
Answers
Corvallis, Oregon
Updated
Audrey A.’s Answer
Hi Carmen,
My first piece of advice would be to write down whatever comes to mind and not stress about making mistakes. That way you will give yourself more time to go back and edit. I have been doing that in my writing. Another thing would be to not even worry about writer's block at all. Take a break to clear head a bit. Don't get stressed. Search for inspiration!
Good luck!
My first piece of advice would be to write down whatever comes to mind and not stress about making mistakes. That way you will give yourself more time to go back and edit. I have been doing that in my writing. Another thing would be to not even worry about writer's block at all. Take a break to clear head a bit. Don't get stressed. Search for inspiration!
Good luck!
Christina Bishop
Journalist, Comic Artist, and Tuba Player
5
Answers
Waterford Township, Michigan
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Hallo!
I am the writer and creator of the Reddit Comic r/Struwwelkinder and yes writer's block can come in many forms. Right now I am working on my first color comic which has a different writing style from a pencil comic. Think of your writing like your favorite movie and that you're creating the world your characters are in. In a color comic, you have to write a script first because then you have both dialog and visuals lined up for you. However, some people like Hayo Mysasaki create the world, the characters, and then the story they inhabit which is both the human and spirit world of Spirited Away. The Dark Crystal came about when Jim Henson and Brian Froud were trapped in an airport during a snowstorm and made it a small book for Jim's daughter Lisa who later worked on the prequel Age of Resistance. When Dr. Hindrich Hoffman could not find a Christmas gift for his two sons he found a blank book and wrote the book that became Der Struwwelpeter which is what Struwwelkinder is loosely based on. After publishing Der Struwwelpeter he risked almost losing his practice as a doctor and a psychologist and even got into the first copywriting battle with Mark Twain! Many comic circles call the book the first mass-printed comic book in Western History aside from Superman and Spiderman...
I discovered the book as with many things on the internet and knew that a lot of children's media does not depict German Language or Culture in a positive light so I did something, something to honor my Grandmother Lill who died before my parents divorced. I not only do it for her I do it for all German American kids who need to have their culture seen and address mental health, gender, and neurodiversity.
I am the writer and creator of the Reddit Comic r/Struwwelkinder and yes writer's block can come in many forms. Right now I am working on my first color comic which has a different writing style from a pencil comic. Think of your writing like your favorite movie and that you're creating the world your characters are in. In a color comic, you have to write a script first because then you have both dialog and visuals lined up for you. However, some people like Hayo Mysasaki create the world, the characters, and then the story they inhabit which is both the human and spirit world of Spirited Away. The Dark Crystal came about when Jim Henson and Brian Froud were trapped in an airport during a snowstorm and made it a small book for Jim's daughter Lisa who later worked on the prequel Age of Resistance. When Dr. Hindrich Hoffman could not find a Christmas gift for his two sons he found a blank book and wrote the book that became Der Struwwelpeter which is what Struwwelkinder is loosely based on. After publishing Der Struwwelpeter he risked almost losing his practice as a doctor and a psychologist and even got into the first copywriting battle with Mark Twain! Many comic circles call the book the first mass-printed comic book in Western History aside from Superman and Spiderman...
I discovered the book as with many things on the internet and knew that a lot of children's media does not depict German Language or Culture in a positive light so I did something, something to honor my Grandmother Lill who died before my parents divorced. I not only do it for her I do it for all German American kids who need to have their culture seen and address mental health, gender, and neurodiversity.