Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2017 0:22:46 GMT
Got a nasty case of writer’s block?
In a fight with your muse?
Struggling to find inspiration in a world that seems determined to do nothing but empty your wallet and leech your soul at every opportunity?
Whether you are writing fanfiction or original work, these struggles are very real. They’ve kept all of us down at some point. Here are a few tactics I’ve developed to combat these afflictions, and to shake off the rust.
1. Always Be Prepared
There’s something to that old Boy Scout saying. If you have your heart set on writing anything, Stay Ready. Have a small notebook (or modern, digital equivalent) with you at all times, because you never know when you’ll be struck by creative lightning. It could be a song lyric at the grocery store, a faded image on the backside of a billboard, or even part of an overheard conversation – whatever it is, take note of it. It will come in handy later.
2. Seek and Ye Shall Find
We fear to write what we don’t understand. As an author, you’re unfairly expected to understand the intricate workings of multiple different sciences, have memorized vast amounts of lore, and to depict All The Details.
‘The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to be credible.’
-Mark Twain
This is one of the crosses we bear, just or not. So if you find yourself hesitant to write a particular chapter, or a plot point due to lack of knowledge, take some time out to learn. Open all the wiki tabs ever. Spend hours over procedural documents. If you have the option, talk to someone with experience. Once you have a grasp of the subject matter, your confidence will return and you can Get It Done.
3. Be Willing to ‘Go There’
Your mood is not always going to match what you need to write. If you’re feeling happy as a clam, it’s going to be very difficult to write a scene with a character experiencing something very unhappy. You need to be willing to manipulate yourself a little in these instances to get the results you want. Dim your lighting. Play some melancholy music. Step away from yourself, and into the character’s head. Draw on your own past memories, if they’re in any way connected to the scene you’re writing.
Be authentic. Even if it’s uncomfortable.
4. Know When to Step Away
Sometimes there’s just nothing in the ‘verse that will make the words come out the way you need. Whatever you do, don’t force it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing, but it’s exactly what you need to do.
5. Consult a Confidante
Whether it be some of the good folks at House Danarya, or an offline friend(s), make sure you have a place to spitball and brainstorm when you need to. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to get back on track, or to reassure you that you’ve been on track the whole time, and you just need to keep moving forward.
6. Be a Packrat
Keep everything you write, whether you publish it or not. The world at large may not be interested in your unpublished notes and drafts, but they can become invaluable during times of need. A single line from an unpublished chapter can become the catalyst/plot bunny for a whole new piece of work down the line, or it could help out a fellow writer. You just never know.
7. Know Thyself
Whenever possible, document your own emotional reactions to events. There is no better way to express a feeling to a reader than by giving your own heart on a platter via your character, for better or worse. This is how readers will become truly invested in your work – they will be able to relate to your honesty.
8. Appreciate the Work of Others
Read. Read something every single day, even if only for a few minutes. When you like something you’ve read, take a moment to think about why. This is part of getting to know your own inner wordsmith.
Also, don’t be afraid to jot down a sentence or description you read that you really like. While I would never advocate plagiarism, there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing something up so it’s uniquely your own down the line. Everything is inspired by something.
If anyone else has their own tricks of the trade they'd be willing to share, you have a captive audience here
In a fight with your muse?
Struggling to find inspiration in a world that seems determined to do nothing but empty your wallet and leech your soul at every opportunity?
Whether you are writing fanfiction or original work, these struggles are very real. They’ve kept all of us down at some point. Here are a few tactics I’ve developed to combat these afflictions, and to shake off the rust.
1. Always Be Prepared
There’s something to that old Boy Scout saying. If you have your heart set on writing anything, Stay Ready. Have a small notebook (or modern, digital equivalent) with you at all times, because you never know when you’ll be struck by creative lightning. It could be a song lyric at the grocery store, a faded image on the backside of a billboard, or even part of an overheard conversation – whatever it is, take note of it. It will come in handy later.
2. Seek and Ye Shall Find
We fear to write what we don’t understand. As an author, you’re unfairly expected to understand the intricate workings of multiple different sciences, have memorized vast amounts of lore, and to depict All The Details.
‘The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to be credible.’
-Mark Twain
This is one of the crosses we bear, just or not. So if you find yourself hesitant to write a particular chapter, or a plot point due to lack of knowledge, take some time out to learn. Open all the wiki tabs ever. Spend hours over procedural documents. If you have the option, talk to someone with experience. Once you have a grasp of the subject matter, your confidence will return and you can Get It Done.
3. Be Willing to ‘Go There’
Your mood is not always going to match what you need to write. If you’re feeling happy as a clam, it’s going to be very difficult to write a scene with a character experiencing something very unhappy. You need to be willing to manipulate yourself a little in these instances to get the results you want. Dim your lighting. Play some melancholy music. Step away from yourself, and into the character’s head. Draw on your own past memories, if they’re in any way connected to the scene you’re writing.
Be authentic. Even if it’s uncomfortable.
4. Know When to Step Away
Sometimes there’s just nothing in the ‘verse that will make the words come out the way you need. Whatever you do, don’t force it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing, but it’s exactly what you need to do.
5. Consult a Confidante
Whether it be some of the good folks at House Danarya, or an offline friend(s), make sure you have a place to spitball and brainstorm when you need to. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to get back on track, or to reassure you that you’ve been on track the whole time, and you just need to keep moving forward.
6. Be a Packrat
Keep everything you write, whether you publish it or not. The world at large may not be interested in your unpublished notes and drafts, but they can become invaluable during times of need. A single line from an unpublished chapter can become the catalyst/plot bunny for a whole new piece of work down the line, or it could help out a fellow writer. You just never know.
7. Know Thyself
Whenever possible, document your own emotional reactions to events. There is no better way to express a feeling to a reader than by giving your own heart on a platter via your character, for better or worse. This is how readers will become truly invested in your work – they will be able to relate to your honesty.
8. Appreciate the Work of Others
Read. Read something every single day, even if only for a few minutes. When you like something you’ve read, take a moment to think about why. This is part of getting to know your own inner wordsmith.
Also, don’t be afraid to jot down a sentence or description you read that you really like. While I would never advocate plagiarism, there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing something up so it’s uniquely your own down the line. Everything is inspired by something.
If anyone else has their own tricks of the trade they'd be willing to share, you have a captive audience here
