Comments | jryson: Writer's Block

jryson

Writer's Block

Dec 14, 2009 01:01

Writer's block isn't always about word constipation. Sometimes, the words flow like too much chocolate. They just don't take the story anywhere. You reach the point where you know that if you write anything, you're gonna have to take it out. My writers' group is already complaining ( Read more... )

Comments 4

marycatelli December 14 2009, 15:16:39 UTC

I don't think those words are writer's block. I think they're vacuuming the cat -- anything to avoid writing that part.

Then I outline because my characters would otherwise throw their hands up in the middle of the story and announce they have no clue what they're doing next.

jryson December 16 2009, 19:15:15 UTC

Yeah, that. I have to figure out what Holds-Two-Moons needs to do with the McGuffin. That has to come even before the outline.

I had an outline for my '08 NaNo project. My characters proceeded to kick it apart.

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!!! gaiasong December 16 2009, 15:05:57 UTC

CAVEAT: As long as those words don't keep you from moving forward then,

I think we need to "verbalize" some things before we realize that brilliant scene or dialogue has no real place in the current, CURRENT, story. The point is not to let it lead you down the proverbial path. Just go ahead and purge yourself and then move on.

BUT, keep 'em somewhere! Remove 'em from the true current story and KEEP 'em in a separate place for later mining. One never knows when you'll need that precious snippet of backstory - either in full or in part.

That's MY story and I'm stickin' with it!

Re: Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!!! jryson December 16 2009, 19:26:05 UTC

First, congrats on you '09 NaNo win. i didn't try it this year because I was banging like fury on my present WIP, plus cleaning up two other projects, one of which was my '08 NaNo.

I do intend to keep the stuff I have written already. These are scenes that show the situation, characters, and mood of the story, along with some "candy" for readers who like to see the furniture.

I find it every bit as hard not to write a scene that sticks in my head as it is to remove one I have written. But so far, none of these scenes show the MC what she is supposed to do with the McGuffin, or even what the McGuffin is.