Clearing out those writerly sinuses

[jongibbs]

Lately, I haven’t been able to get excited about doing revision work on Waking up Jack Thunder or the rewrite of A Union of Snakes.

This surprised me, because I rarely find myself uninspired.

I decided the best thing I could do to unblock my writerly sinuses was to write something completely new, and that’s when I realized I haven’t started any new

Comments

[martyn44]

Keep on trying ideas until something works. Nothing is ever wasted and sometimes the imagining muscles just need a rest, or maybe a little formal exercise.

[jongibbs]

I don't often have unintentional breaks from writing but this latest stall crept up on me. Still, I know to watch out for it in the future.

All revision and no new fiction makes Jon a dull boy.

Hey, that's catchy! maybe I should use it in a horror story :)

[martyn44]

I'm not actually putting words one after the other at the moment - as you say, not something that often happens. What I am doing is jotting down notes (like everyone who isn't Quinn the Eskimo) in preparation for a determined assault. Whether this will commence before Eastercon and a long conversation with my agent or after said conversation is open to question. I rather think I will essay some shorts even if I don't start anything major.

Whatever, I refuse to panic.

[jongibbs]

'I refuse to panic'

Hehe, I just had a sudden image of Corporal Jones from Dad's Army :)

[nathreee]

Roleplay does it for me. First time I tried to make a story into a novel and I got stuck, I released a bad of five unsuspecting players into the premise of my story, to see what they would do and what they thought about it. It really opened my eyes.

Second time was when I got really stuck on a story with a lot of secrets and intrige. I got three players together and I gave them only the information their characters would know, just to see what they would or wouldn't say to each other. A great learning experience for me.

Third time was much the same, only even more helpful. I got stuck on the ending of my novel, knowing exactly what my characters would do, but not exactly how they would react at the reactions of others. So I had four people play it out for me. I loved every second of it. But I had really good players.
http://nathreee.livejournal.com/270034.html
http://nathreee.livejournal.com/270102.html

[jongibbs]

Interesting. Were any of these folks writers too?

[nathreee]

nope, they were just people who like to roleplay a lot. Two of them dabble a bit with writing, but in this case I was just happy they were willing to play those characters with conviction.

[jongibbs]

That sounds like a great idea.

[lunalila]

Like you, I don't really get stalled in a normal way.
But my longer novels tend to agonize over time and I need a little sense of accomplishment. So, I write a picture books or short story just for the sake of finishing something.
And then on to my novels :)

[jongibbs]

'...just for the sake of finishing something.'

I know what you mean. When I've read about other people getting stuck, I usually suggest writing a 100-word drabble or two to get things going again.

[asakiyume]

I need a little sense of accomplishment.

I feel the same way, and take the same approach.

[ex_naomi_ja]

Problem in a similar way to you - try working on something different. One trick that usually works is to reread whatever I last wrote on the current WIP, which gets me back in that mindset.

And heck, sometimes you just have to sit and write, even if you're writing crap. You can revise anything but a blank page!

[jongibbs]

'You can revise anything but a blank page!'

Hehe, very true :)

[tracy_d74]

I had the same issue . . . not interested in revisions (which was a first). In the past listening to playlists helped or talking about scenes or talking about ideas with betas. This time, I had to start a new project.

BTW, I really like your opening line and title. Nice. Very Nice.

[jongibbs]

Thin Lizzy's Johnny the Fox usually gets my brain pumping :)