Writers Block, how do you deal?

POSTED BY: SerenitysGirl
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 22:12
VIEWED: 7442
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SERENITYVALLEY

Monday, December 19, 2005 10:20 PM

I've recently found the cure for writers block, and it kind of goes along with what phaedra and the others have been saying about letting your thoughts flow. But more specifically, write down what the problem is exactly. Where do you want to go.

For example, "This character needs to be scarier. But I want her to contrast with my other character who is already scary. So what's the difference between them? Obviously one is good and one is bad, but personality-wise, what separates them? Well, my good character talks a lot and gets angry and defensive. Maybe this character should not talk so much. That's kind of scary." etc.

http://www.simple-assault.com/Firefly.htm

SERENYTY

Monday, December 19, 2005 11:37 PM

I think about my story when I'm about to go to bed. Seriously. I'm just lying awake, and I try and come up with something.

Do what you're doing now: watch the episodes, read the Serenity books (novel/visual companion) and try and brainstorm.

Writer's block is tough!

~A message from Serenyty~

COSMICFUGITIVE

Tuesday, December 27, 2005 1:27 PM

Writer's block can be a real pain. A lot of the suggestions stated above really do work:

* Be distracted. Take your mind off writing for a while.

* Here's a great tip from the writer's of Buffy. Whenever they wanted to write a new episode they procrastinated a lot. The ideas flowed, whether they were having a bath or just sitting around.

* Also, a great tip for writing can be found in the extras of the Firefly DvD.

Here's a step by step guide to creating stories, in relation to Firefly, from Joss Whedon himself!:

* What is the most important thing I need to feel?

* What is the most primal story?

* What is the thing that is going to show hoe great this crew is? (How funny they are, how brave, how disjointed etc.)

WHAT DO I NEED?

GET PRIMAL

^ Those guidelines from Joss have really helped me to write fan fic.

I usually go on a DvD marathon too. I watch different stuff (movies, tv shows), and take my mind off all things Firefly.

Then, I watch an episode of Firefly and write down any ideas afterwards.

Designing wallpaper or pencil drawing is helpful. Listening to music and watching fan vids is a great suggestion too.

Whenever I'm bogged down in story telling, I kinda forget the reason why I'm telling it. Creating/finding a theme can make things easier, and it can be fun too!

Don't restrict your ideas. Write down everything!

GYPSYLIFE

Tuesday, December 27, 2005 7:58 PM

I totally agree CF..That is the exact advice I remind myself of repeatedly..I have found that mayhap a work in progress fic, is both an awesome choice and a terrible choice for a first time fic writer. Terrible because of the pressure and the drive to post asap...ergo forgeting to check it over 15 million times....BUT awesome because I have never been so motivated as by everyones comments. I think that my fic has been better because I read how others are excited about it and then I get really excited and hyped up and IMHO it really adds to the drama and energy of the piece. But that's just MO.

"See this is another sign of your tragic space dementia, all paranoid and crochety. Breaks the heart." -Mal

NUCLEARDAY

Monday, January 23, 2006 11:56 PM

I've been there myself many a time, trust me. :)

You say the story is there, but you can't get it down... so keep in mind that at least you have something to work with then.

Lot of really good ideas before me, and anyone following Joss's lead can't be going too far from wrong. Alot of that is just generally good to keep in mind as well.

I'm often helped by some stuff I learned in art school. Most of it applies to drawing, but it helps me alot when it comes to writing out a story, too.

In visual art, you're encouraged to sketch the whole picture before worrying about the little details, make thumbnails, etc. This works in writing as well, and helps keep me focused on the main story elements of what I want to stay.

My advice: try writing an outline first, if you haven't already done so. This doesn't have to be terribly formal, either. I tend to write mine more like a journal entry, very stream-of consciousness. Write a letter to yourself, as if you were describing the story to someone else.

Remember, you don't have to write the whole thing from beginning to end. Skip segments and come back to them later if you get stuck at any certain point. (I find the first few paragraphs are the hardest parts to write, myself.)

I like to leave myself a few notes here or there, to remind myself of what I'd skipped over: "this guy and this other guy have a conversation, where such and such is revealed," etc...

Like the previous poster said, it doesn't have to be perfect the first dozen times through. :) You can always go back and fix things later on.

ELOISA

Monday, January 30, 2006 8:25 PM

I write a later scene, or (given that I'm primarily an original fic writer; use the link in my sig) I write fan fiction shortfics. I'll do housework or, like someone else said, have a nice cup of tea and a sit down. The one thing I try not to do is to go a day without writing anything at all, because for me a day becomes weeks or months. It's important to me to keep the engine chugging so that when it fills up again it's ready to go straightaway.

***
http://forums.ffonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19
Creative Writing

BOOKSWORD

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:56 PM

Thats a tough one.

I hear that some people just hear some relaxing music. Try not to focus on it too much.

To be honest Ive never had writers block before. I have creative ideas popping out of a highly overactive imagination.

Unfortunately I have the attention span of a horny cocker spaniel so it balances itself out.

BIGDAMNNOBODY

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 10:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SerenitysGirl:
How do you deal? I must of watched almost all the episodes today and the story I want to write is there I just cant get it down.

Serenity's Girl
YIM: Danitg31
AIM: fanoffirefly
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/luvfirefly/

I forsaw potential future moments of writer's block so I chose not to become a writer in the first place. It may not be helpful to all but it sure has steered me clear of the dreaded block.

De-lurking to stir stuff up

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