Writer's block

[crimsonshrouds]

I would like to write a book someday and I'm using fanfiction as a way to practice writing. I do not think of myself as that great of an author and yet I have so many people leaving me reviews demanding and begging me to update one of my fics.

Right now, I have hit a snag in the current chapter I am working on and I am having trouble with ideas on how to get the story moving. I know where the story is going im just having trouble getting there.

Can anybody give me any advice that could help with this?

 

[Fappy]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

 

[likalaruku]

I used to love writing in Jr. High & read & wrote all the time. I've had writers block for 13 years now....

 

[Pimppeter2]

Make a big elaborate post on the Escapist about anything. it gets the writing mind flowing.

 

[Last Bullet]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

This helps, surprisingly. Just go on a bit of a tangent, have a little fun with it, and you might be able to tie the end of the tangent into the bigger picture. May I ask what you're writing the fanfic on? Or a link?

 

[skitzo van]

Don't think about the story. Go mow the lawn. Go to the mall. Do stuff you don't usually do. Inspiration strikes whenever it wants to, it might come about from all the stuff you didn't do before.
Or, if you want to write weird shit don't sleep for a day or two, but be sure to write on a computer and have spellcheck on.

 

[Sonofadiddly]

I had a professor who said that writer's block doesn't really exist. It's just being unwilling to write the bad stuff.

I'm sure you have ideas, but you think they're bad. Write them anyway until you get all the bad writing out, and then the good stuff will come to you.

 

[Fappy]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

This helps, surprisingly. Just go on a bit of a tangent, have a little fun with it, and you might be able to tie the end of the tangent into the bigger picture. May I ask what you're writing the fanfic on? Or a link?

A Creative Writing Minor must be good for something

 

[Gigaguy64]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

That's a great idea.

OT:Whenever i get Writers Block i like to act out my characters, out loud.
Surprisingly it helps get the story moving and can help give you ideas for fleshing out characters.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Go into an elaborate aside that breaks the flow of the story. Then just start of at where ever you want your story to get to next. I always thought this was a bad technique, but I just read Catch-22 and it is now my new favorite novel. It did that a lot and, if done properly, it works.

 

[Blueruler182]

Try writing a draft, just going from where you were to where you want to be. That's usually what I do, connecting events until I hit the mark and then expanding the story I've already made. There's something to be said about ad lib that just helps.

Then there's the possibility of reading a book, watching a movie, or even just looking at photos to try and get your mind working. Those are what my writing teacher recommended. Writing prompts can usually be helpful.

 

[ScarletRider]

I find it helps to take the notebook elsewhere. I got stuck in a recent story of mine, so I took my notebook and fountain pen to the local coffee shop. A cool drink and an excellent view helped immensely.

 

[Rylot]

Read some good books. May get you thinking about how another author goes about writing and may give you ideas of your own.

 

[Last Bullet]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

This helps, surprisingly. Just go on a bit of a tangent, have a little fun with it, and you might be able to tie the end of the tangent into the bigger picture. May I ask what you're writing the fanfic on? Or a link?

A Creative Writing Minor must be good for something

Oh dang, I feel outclassed. I'm-a become a Creative Writing Major to win this, just wait a few years.

As a bonus note to the OP, just screw around. I have trouble sleeping, so I usually just play out crap in my head. I have a crap load of ideas now, I just have to write it down.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

I think this will work. My issue is really trying to get what the characters will do at the beginning of the chapter and how they react to what occurred in the previous chapter. Edit- oh and thanks

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

You could always start from a center point and work your way back.

 

[Fappy]

Focus on the characters involved in your problem spot. Sometimes doing writing exercises with specific characters helps get the juices flowing. For example: X character goes to the grocery store... what would he/she get and why, or write their experience at said grocery store.

I think this will work. My issue is really trying to get what the characters will do at the beginning of the chapter and how they react to what occurred in the previous chapter. Edit- oh and thanks

No problem

 

[Omikron009]

I've had trouble with writer's block as well. For pretty much all of term 3 this year at school I was completely unable to write an essay. Normally, the idea for what I want to say in a piece of writing pops fully formed in to my head, and it's just a matter of coming up with the perfect wording. This time, I would have to wait for up to a month and a half before I was able to get anything down, and the quality of my writing dropped significantly. It passed, but I had to be patient. That's my best advice. Wait, and some day an idea will come.

 

[goldenjester]

Write something else. I'm working on a novel right now, and when I get stuck, I work on a completely different, more difficult project.

Right now, it's emulating the writing and feel of Lovecraft. An hour of that, and my book flows much more freely.

Alternately, try repeated random article searches on Wikipedia. Seriously, even just the title and make some tiny spark in your brain explode into a beautiful idea, with soft details and strong roots to your story.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Make a big elaborate post on the Escapist about anything. it gets the writing mind flowing.

I know his weakness now

John freeman said to him