Writing Problems

[kaelaaw]

Okay here's my problem. I have storie ideas and continuation chapters of my current works spinning around in my head. I picture them at work when there's nothing to do and I dream about them at night. But when I sit down to write them out my mind goes completely blank and I find myself staring at blank screen or blank piece of paper. Anyone have

Comments

[berthablue]

Some things that work for me:

Dream journal. Keep next to bed and write in it for a minute or two whenever you first wake up, whether that's for work or to get a drink or to use the bathroom. Even just a few words can jar your memory, and you'll train yourself to remember your dreams in general.

Write little ideas down at work. I used to love to add things to my "calendar" on my ipod, because nobody questioned me making appointments (I was absolutely writing story ideas in the notes section because I am a terrible employee).

Write out conversations, if you're imagining those, and resist the pressure to write a full story. Just writing the lines back and forth between two characters talking is always helpful to me, even if half of what I wrote ends up getting cut because it's useless.

This is kind of cheesy, but I do it all the time when I get stuck - go take personality quizzes (think blogthings or quizfarm or whatever) as if you were one of your characters. Not only is it amusing to see things like "what kind of dog would you be?" or "what flavor cupcake best suits your personality?" but the the absolutely un-research-supported questions that make up those quizzes are interesting to think about. It might not make words on pages, but it does get you thinking about your character, and I find that the better I get to know them, the easier they tell their stories.