Entry tags:
Writer's Block
I could do with having this stapled on the inside of my eyelids.
They key to writer's block is to remember:
a) what you're writing might be horrible, but it's never as bad as you think it is
b) always always always write something every day, even if it's just a page or a few paragraphs or a title or an idea. If you feel horrible about it, you can go back later and fix it; very little is good in a rough draft, anyway.
c) never end on a completed scene or sentence. Give yourself a lead in to the next paragraph or scene, just a few words or a half completed paragraph that you know where you want to take it. Hemingway did this, and I find it works well to keep me interested instead of sitting there thinking "Okay, so where does this go? What's a good line to start the scene. Oh God."
d) set goals or challenges, like write a story from a new POV (you're a super masculine manly bro? write a story from a wallflower's POV). Usually, the more challenging something is the more it might hook you or push you to rise to the challenge.
e) tied to b and d, set a word limit. It can even vary by day, based on how you're feeling! 750 Words is also an awesome little site. As is Write or Die.
f) try to have fun or engage yourself. If you start thinking of it like "work" too much, it definitely becomes work.
They key to writer's block is to remember:
a) what you're writing might be horrible, but it's never as bad as you think it is
b) always always always write something every day, even if it's just a page or a few paragraphs or a title or an idea. If you feel horrible about it, you can go back later and fix it; very little is good in a rough draft, anyway.
c) never end on a completed scene or sentence. Give yourself a lead in to the next paragraph or scene, just a few words or a half completed paragraph that you know where you want to take it. Hemingway did this, and I find it works well to keep me interested instead of sitting there thinking "Okay, so where does this go? What's a good line to start the scene. Oh God."
d) set goals or challenges, like write a story from a new POV (you're a super masculine manly bro? write a story from a wallflower's POV). Usually, the more challenging something is the more it might hook you or push you to rise to the challenge.
e) tied to b and d, set a word limit. It can even vary by day, based on how you're feeling! 750 Words is also an awesome little site. As is Write or Die.
f) try to have fun or engage yourself. If you start thinking of it like "work" too much, it definitely becomes work.