Cure For Writer's Block, Anyone?

[aletes_muse]

I know it doesn't seem it since I've posted stories on this LJ in the past few days but, in all honesty, Come Hell or High Water chapter three has been all typed up for over a month now and, like I said, the prologue has been on my hard drive for about two months. Right now, I'm sitting on chapter thirteen for Come Hell or High Water and ... I

Comments

[khateh]

I usually write on more than one fic at a time (right now I have 4) and if writing for one doesn't work well, I switch to another one. They're usually quite different as far as setting/general mood goes, so the change from one to another is big enough.

If I have a deadline for something and it doesn't work, I read something that would get me in the mood I need writing for the fic and then, hopefully, I'm in the right mindset to write.

If I have problems with the plot development, I discuss it with my betas, tell them what I'd like to do beyond this point or where I'd want it to end and see what ideas they have. Discussing my fics with someone gives me a lot of ideas and helps me write.

[aletes_muse]

First off I have to say this: four fics?! You're working one four fics?! I take my hat of to you (well I would if I was wearing one) because I find it hard enough with two. Then again, I thin what you're saying is probably right. If I actually started writing something that was a bit removed from what I'm currently doing it could help me ... it's interesting, so thank you for mentioning that.

As for discussing things I may just do that -- I have a lovely woman (ravenqueen55) helping me out with this so maybe I should fire off a quick e-mail to her. Thanks for helping me out -- I have been getting very frustrated with it lately.

[khateh]

My big problem is that I have a lot of plot bunnies swimming around in my head, demanding attention ^_^ I have to choose what to write and I've decided four is the limit. I don't think I could focus on just one, becuase I'd keep thinking about the other ones :)
Another thing which might help while writing a long multi-chaptered fic is writing short fics (even drabbles). I've done a few for the weekly prompts at dracoharry100 and it gave me the opportunity to write completely different things. (it helped me work on my phrasing and deciding what's really important to be said because 100 is a very demanding limit :) )

Glad to help :)

[aletes_muse]

The plot bunnies always seem to niggle at my brain when I'm working on something else, so I guess your way is a good way of going about it. Usually I just jot them down but then, by the time I've managed to get 'round to them, I have absolutely no idea what half of my notes mean!

I don't know if I could fit anything in 100 words, in all honesty! I did a few a while back -- like months -- but I didn't like them. I have an awful tendency to get an idea in my head and just run with it. I know, maybe I should have ask people to give me prompts when I get writer's block. Write a fic and get myself out of a slump. Yeah, prompts. Sorry -- I also have a tendency to write what I'm thinking at the moment without it making any discernible sense! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

(Er, I don't suppose you know any other prompt comms?)

[khateh]

I've done the outline-plot-before-writing thing and now I'm reading the notes and re-arranging them to fit what I wrote and insert clues and clues explanations. Too much order is bad for my writing :)

Hmm... I think most fic comms have prompts. There's a list with comms/character here and you can find the comms for the characters/pairings you're ok with. I've written a short fic for a comm which has prompts, called slythindor100 (this week's prompts are pictures, which are a bigger challenge for me ;)) And if you ever decide to ask for prompts, I'd more than happy to give you some :)

It's ok, it is making sense :) I'm a rather talkative person myself and I tend to write and write and write :)

[aletes_muse]

Yeah, too much order has proved a bit weird for my writing too. I keep shying away from what I'm supposed to be building up to because I'm an idiot :). Well, that, and it requires writing fighting -- and I found out a while ago I'm not very good at it. At all.

There is a fic comm. that's supposed to post a prompt today so I'll see if I'll do that one but, just in case, would you mind throwing me out a prompt? And I'll see if I can think of anything at all to write. Be as specific as you want! Or as vague -- it's all relative. (I actually don't think it is I just wanted to type that.)

Thank God! You should see some of the e-mails I send people. My record was seven pages on Word.

[khateh]

I've been quite fascinated by the general principles of magic and everyday magic life. I have two prompts which could be used for one fic ^_^
1. show the cultural differences between muggleborns and pureblooded wizards (bonus points if you have Ron and Draco working together/agreeing)
2. write something centered on a magical object (not from the joke shop) that is essential to wizards. It should be magical by origin/nature, not a charmed spoon. (something like the Remembrall)
(I just received a prompt from slythindor100's Monday prompt exchange and invented a magical object for 'loves me, loves me not' ^_^)

And if these are too strange, I have a more 'normal' one :) Write something with Lucius and Draco, where Lucius is a loving parent.

I once sent an email to my beta explaining things about the future developments in the fic in more words than the chapter to be betaed had ;)

[aletes_muse]

Ah, the joys of sending long e-mails. I haven't yet sent an e-mail explaining things which was longer than the chapter but, now you mention it, I will ensure it's my goal. Oh my, L is going to hate me! *laughs*

Truth be told I would have absolutely no idea what to do with the first two prompts. I'm not very good on showing cultural differences -- I think I slept throught that class -- but I do have an idea, though I have no idea if you'd approve or not -- and that's something I'd be very concerned about. The more 'normal' prompt I have thousands of ideas for because I like writing Lucius as a good parent. Good parent doesn't mean he has to be a good guy, right? :)

Anyway, I was wondering: would it be alright if I fired you off an e-mail with a basic plot for the first prompt you handed me? I just really don't want to post info about a fic in a comment or entry. Feels weird, somehow.

[khateh]

I was about to suggest communicating through emails :) Mine is khateh@gmail.com

And by good parent I meant good for Draco, not a good guy. I've seen too much of him as a cold-hearted guy who sees Draco only as a tool.