Writer's block? Heck, I wish--I've hit a Writer's WALL! (Please help me)

3/23/2011

I would like to take this opportunity to present a response to a blog post titled “Endings Schmendings” by a dear friend and critique partner of mine, Diana at My Life in Writing. In her blog post, she describes how one of her critique partners is struggling to write the ending of her latest WIP. This particular partner of hers (though completely awesome and is absolutely HILARIOUS) has a bad Diet Pepsi habit, blogs a little too much, and has lost her creative edge (or mojo) when it comes to completing her nearly finished manuscript.

What Diana has failed to mention, is that while this particular critique partner of hers (again, super awesome) struggles to write the “perfect” ending, this critique partner does think about it ALL THE TIME—while showering, while twittering, while eating ice cream, right before falling asleep, and, yes, even while blogging.

The problem, the creative muse (if one believes in such things) has slipped away. The voices that lead, direct, and bring life to the written word, have vanished. Painfully, all she hears is silence.

Terrifying. Crippling. Silence.

*insert tumbleweed for dramatic effect*

And it scares her to be left on her own. She fears she’s just not creative enough without her fictional guides to well, guide her (see?).

Did this happen by her own doing? Probably. Did blogging get in the way? Most likely. Has Twitter become an evil pass time? Yes, yes, a million times yes.

BUT, regardless of her mismanagement of affairs, what really should be addressed is this: How do we help this poor soul to get her mojo back? Especially when, with only a click away, a writer can get sucked into twittering and blogging? (And please don’t suggest she unplug the internet—that’s just wrong).

Because isn’t THAT what’s most important—helping her to find her creative muse? Let’s not judge her for her excessive blogging and tweeting habits. Let’s not condemn her for drinking far too much Pepsi, which she knows is unhealthy and wrong, shall we?

Yes, she dug her hole, but why not come together and gather around this dear writer and help her to form a plan—a reasonable, easy to follow step-by-step program—that she can put into place and help her to complete her WIP, so that her foils will not be put on public display for all to see and comment on?

What advice would you offer? What has worked for you? Help a fellow writer, won’t you? Share your tips on overcoming writer’s block. Please, oh, please, oh please.

Oh, and check out my poem: I've Hit a Writer's WALL, and it Stings a Lot.

7 Comments

Ara link

3/24/2011 03:04:11 am

I'm in a similar situation right now. It doesn't help the winter makes me depressed, and of course Twitter distracts me constantly. But I have begun one exercise that has helped me begin writing again.

A PAPER journal. Not a blog, but a notebook I carry around with me that I have set up the following rules for: 1. Write something in it every day, no matter if it's 2 pages or 2 sentences. 2. From now on, all notes about my WIP will be entered in said journal, so they will be easier to find and catalogue.
3. Anything going on in my life while I'm writing this WIP is relevant, because later, I will want to know what was distracting me through the writing process. This includes the music I'm listening to, the place I'm currently writing, or if I'm out of town.
4. Any findings from interesting research should be noted in this journal. This keeps my collection in one place, and me always thinking about how I'm going to work on my story.

I don't have anyone to talk to about my WIP, so it helps feeling like I have an outlet to help me work out the kinks and get my thoughts together in one place. Making lists and asking myself questions about what happens next truly helps, too.

I wish your friend luck! I completely empathize with her situation.

Sarvenaz link

3/24/2011 05:24:13 am

I am also in an eerily similar situation (though I'm nowhere near an ending. I wish!).

I freaked out for a couple of weeks. And then, this week, I decided NOT to write. I'm taking a writing-free week and I'm spending all my free time reading instead. It's too early to say whether this will ultimately work, but I'm definitely seeing some signs that a creative spark might be on the horizon. It's the best I've felt about the WIP in weeks so I'm hoping it IS the right thing to do.

Or do you have something else you can work on? I think the answer may be to just stop focusing on it so much and maybe your subconscious will have had the answer for you all along!

Ashley link

3/24/2011 05:28:07 am

I recently just blogged about this very problem myself! Twitter, and blogging, and just plain life get in the way of my writing all the time too.

Here's a few things that helped me get to the end of my WIP:

- I forced myself to sit down and start writing. I told myself it's a first draft so if it sucks I can go back and fix it.
- Music- music definitely gets those creative juices flowing and the voices talking
- Taking a walk- getting outside and moving really help me to work out plot points in the WIP. A car ride is always an option too, although gas prices in my neck of the woods are HORRIBLE.

Hope that helps! :)

Kari Marie link

3/24/2011 11:00:23 am

i echo the other comments. Take a break from writing entirely. Come back to it slowly with exercises and journal entries. The Muse will come back.

Nancy Lauzon link

3/26/2011 10:10:57 am

It happens to all of us. What a block means for me is there is something off in my WIP, a character, a plot issue, something ... and until I figure that out, I stay blocked. So I walk away, clear my head and think about the story. After a few days the answer usually comes to me, and the block disappears. Maybe this will work for you. Good luck and happy writing!

Diana link

3/27/2011 05:33:37 am

No excuses, sister! Get 'er done!

No, I'm kidding. You'll get it. I think it is the consequences of Nano and not sticking to a daily goal. we stalled. you are so talented that I know when you do get it, it'll be great (stop rolling your eyes).

BTW, I just got jacked by a tumble weed. ;)

Alison M

3/27/2011 08:42:04 pm

I'm with Sarvenaz on this one. I know it goes against the gospel of you must write something every day, but sometimes if it ain't happening, it ain't happening. Don't freak out!

I think there's two sorts of writers "block". There's the sort you just have to power through and keep going. The distracted by twitter, sunshine, cute doggies, pretty shoes that you can order online etc. type of block falls into that category, as does the x thousand words in and starting to feel like hard work sort of block.

But I think there is another kind, which is when you've forced it as far as you can and you do just need a break. Everyone needs a break now and then - why should writers be any different? I had an experience very similiar to what you describe when working on 2nd draft of a script a couple of years ago. It felt, just as you describe, like a wall had dropped down in front of me which was not going to shift. In the end I took a break (not through choice - there just didn't seem to be any other way). About 4 weeks later I was walking home from somewhere and the end of the story popped pretty much fully formed into my head (an ending which was completely different to the first draft version I'd stalled trying to "fix").

So I'd say, if you've proved to your own satisfaction that it's not one you can just write through, then take a break. Don't write at all for a week or two, and then if necessary write something else short to ease you back in.

It will pass - good luck x

Writer's block? Heck, I wish--I've hit a Writer's WALL! (Please help me)

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