#Eden Lit Club Meeting - Writer's Block! February 11, 2013 at 4pm EST

Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
OK, people, I'm out of here. I have to go out for a while, but I'll be back in plenty of time for the workshop.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Oh the series is utter crap but it's like junk food for the eyes....
I'm ridiculously picky, too. The only good "erotica" I've read (that's been professionally published) is a book titled Venus in India. Mostly because it is written like a diary.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
And this is where I'm also obligated to admit that I'm a huge fan of V.C. Andrews novels.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
So we know that about 90% of writer's block is procrastination brought on by either the fear that what we are saying is crap, how we are saying it is crap or the task seems so very enormous.

We also know, intimately, the knotted stomach, tense shoulders and headaches of the blocked feeling.

What advice would we offer someone who is in the throws of the agony of block?
02/11/2013
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence."
~Octavia ... more
I tend to ramble. A lot. And I used to be really bad about it in my writing.

I started asking friends to read my stuff, and editors to be brutally honest. After a few complete rewrites (and a couple meltdowns), I started looking for the things they pointed out before sending my stuff to them. Really putting some effort into correcting the things people were pointing out to me repeatedly.

In the case of your friend, I'd probably do more reading in the area I enjoy. Stuff by authors who are considered good at what they do. Then I'd work on reframing my imagery so that it was more mature, but still sounded like me.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
So we know that about 90% of writer's block is procrastination brought on by either the fear that what we are saying is crap, how we are saying it is crap or the task seems so very enormous.

We also know, intimately, the knotted stomach, ... more
Stop staring out of windows. That is the biggest killer of creativity (for me). It's like "whoops, where'd that thought go?".
02/11/2013
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
So we know that about 90% of writer's block is procrastination brought on by either the fear that what we are saying is crap, how we are saying it is crap or the task seems so very enormous.

We also know, intimately, the knotted stomach, ... more
Sit down, shut up and write.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
OK, people, I'm out of here. I have to go out for a while, but I'll be back in plenty of time for the workshop.
See ya then! Looking forward to it
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
And this is where I'm also obligated to admit that I'm a huge fan of V.C. Andrews novels.
I still love you....
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
I still love you....
Again, it's all about timing.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Rayne Millaray
I tend to ramble. A lot. And I used to be really bad about it in my writing.

I started asking friends to read my stuff, and editors to be brutally honest. After a few complete rewrites (and a couple meltdowns), I started looking for the ... more
~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for many years. I had to start to believe in myself and what I had to say, and how I said it. I have a tendency to get into too much back story and detail so that was the area I focus on when I begin to feel that panic feeling setting in.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for ... more
I too ramp up insane amounts of backstory. I feel like I have to reinvent the wheel because there's no way I could convey the importance of each event leading up to the "now moment".
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Stop staring out of windows. That is the biggest killer of creativity (for me). It's like "whoops, where'd that thought go?".
I call it, "Look! A butterfly!" Syndrome. Then again if you are truly stumped you can always begin by describing what it outside the window. What your neighbors are doing behind those closed drapes....what that cat is really thinking as it wanders around during the day....and so on and so forth!
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I think words are a tool, or they are a weapon. It takes a talented writer to understand, know and believe in the differences while skillfully and properly wielding them. If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, ... more
If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, pushed aside or discredited.

^ describes me ^
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Rayne Millaray
Sit down, shut up and write.
Excellent advice!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Lickable Lollie Lickable Lollie
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for ... more
For a second, I thought you were talking about ME! lol... Or were you... hmm...
02/11/2013
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
OK, people, I'm out of here. I have to go out for a while, but I'll be back in plenty of time for the workshop.
See ya this evening.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I too ramp up insane amounts of backstory. I feel like I have to reinvent the wheel because there's no way I could convey the importance of each event leading up to the "now moment".
BINGO! I get lost in all the minute details leading up to the main event and then get tired of writing...it drives Arch absolutely insane.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by *Ashley*
If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, pushed aside or discredited.

^ describes me ^
The thing to remember is that while YOU may not see it as perfect I would be willing to bet that SOMEONE will. The object is to get it out of your head on paper and then let it live for someone else. There will be things you didn't say that will be strong as well as the things you ARE saying.

Let go of the fear and the words will fly for themselves. What someone else thinks is never as soul destroying as having a story ready to be told living inside of you and having it die from starvation....I believe that every story feeds off the energy of the reader. Deep huh?
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Lollie and Stormy have hit the issue on the head. The real cause of writer's block isn't truly loss of creativity but fear of being less than brilliant. It's often the first paragraph that gives writer's fits....the first words....the ... more
All of the above. I fear my mishaps: spelling, wording and such. Then not coming together the way I may have wanted. Sometimes it's just getting started and getting into the flow.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Lickable Lollie
For a second, I thought you were talking about ME! lol... Or were you... hmm...
Naw, but then again if it helps you to just sit down and let those words take shape on paper (or comp screen) then sure it was you all along!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
BINGO! I get lost in all the minute details leading up to the main event and then get tired of writing...it drives Arch absolutely insane.
Exactly...it's also hard to write an ending for a story that hasn't ended yet. I've got one hell of a story to tell but I feel like any ending I try to create to close the novel will be an "art imitating life/life imitating art" scenario and that could get messy. (i.e. kill off the main protagonist, i.e. me...etc.)

I could leave it open ended but I hate books that do that and then there's never a sequel.

There's also an abject fear of success. Say I did write that NYT best seller, do I want to be one of those writers forced to work under contract churning out formulaic novel after novel?
02/11/2013
Contributor: Lickable Lollie Lickable Lollie
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Naw, but then again if it helps you to just sit down and let those words take shape on paper (or comp screen) then sure it was you all along!
Lol! Love you guys!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Lickable Lollie
Lol! Love you guys!
And we love you!!! (I can't find you on FB, by the way...)
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by *Ashley*
All of the above. I fear my mishaps: spelling, wording and such. Then not coming together the way I may have wanted. Sometimes it's just getting started and getting into the flow.
These are the most common fears writer's have. Sometimes the only way to confront them is to just sit down and continue writing. Even if it's crap. If it is crap then PROUDLY write your crap, lots of authors think their work is crap and then it's suddenly a classic piece of literature!
The Christmas Carol was just a twiddle to make some money after the novel Martin Chuzzlewit failed miserably!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Lickable Lollie Lickable Lollie
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
And we love you!!! (I can't find you on FB, by the way...)
Oh shoot, that's cuz I have it super private...lemme fix that
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Exactly...it's also hard to write an ending for a story that hasn't ended yet. I've got one hell of a story to tell but I feel like any ending I try to create to close the novel will be an "art imitating life/life imitating ... more
The weird and wonderful ways we stop ourselves, no? Sit down, shut up and write to coin a phrase!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Lickable Lollie Lickable Lollie
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
And we love you!!! (I can't find you on FB, by the way...)
link try that
02/11/2013
Contributor: Lickable Lollie Lickable Lollie
Quote:
Originally posted by Lickable Lollie
link try that
Airen Wolf, you can add me too Everyone can add me!! ADD ME!!! lol
02/11/2013
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
I will be adding some writing exercises aimed at helping people who are suffering from writer's block a chance to just be creative, silly and totally crappy. In fact some of the freaky friday exercises will be aimed at writing total crap....seeing who can make the biggest stinky pile of refuse out there.

Maybe if we can learn to laugh at ourselves we can get the fear out of the way so creativity can flow.
02/11/2013