The problem of writers' block has been mentioned a handful of times in the comments over the past several months, and I recall at one point being asked (via Twitter, if memory serves) to offer possible remedies/solutions, rather than simply saying that writers can't afford to suffer from it. So: here goes.
First, I'm not sure I believe in writers' block. I certainly believe in writers' laziness, since I've suffered from it a number of times, but I don't think I've ever had any dry spells that I couldn't write my way out of with a little discipline and a few tricks. My favorite trick is automatic writing.
Now, the Wikipedia article on the topic makes the whole thing sound a little mystical and—well, crazy—so let me clarify: when I say "automatic writing," I mean writing without any interruption or editing. No pausing to think, no re-reading what you wrote, no need to pay attention to anything except the next word. (No trances, &c, at least not for me.) Sometimes you end up writing things that don't make any sense. Sometimes you end up writing "I can't think of anything to write" twenty times in a row. The point is, however, that you're writing—and while the product itself generally isn't even close to first-draft quality, I've found that there are usually a few brilliant nuggets that jump-start the more usual, conscious, craft- and plot-oriented writing.
So, if you find yourself stuck in your writing, set aside twenty minutes a day to write without your internal editor looking over your shoulder. Will it be good? Probably not—at least, not most of it. But you'll be writing, you'll be reinforcing good habits and providing structure for your writing life, and you'll almost certainly discover one or two great ideas buried in your subconscious that you might not have had any clue you'd produced.
Sometimes reading something else that is related to what you are writing helps as well. I like to think good writing is contagious. ;)
ReplyDeleteAs for the automatic writing, if nothing else you might give yourself a good laugh, right?
That does sound like the cure for the times I get writers block. I've noticed I get it when I've been revising a lot.
ReplyDeleteI've learned not to try to revise and then write, it doesn't work that well.
Nein! There is NO SUCH THING as writer's block.
ReplyDeleteWrite Or Die can help make sure you don't get distracted for those 10-20 minutes, too.
ReplyDeleteEspecially on kamikaze mode.
"writer's laziness," LOL. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. I keep a list of things to jump-start the writing should I get stuck. I'm adding automatic writing to the list (though I think that, in a sense, I already do it).
ReplyDeleteAnd see, nothing could make me freeze up faster than turning my internal editor off and putting myself on autopilot. Then again, I've been under pressure to produce content at the day jobs for over 20 years now, so writer's block isn't -- can't be -- an issue.
ReplyDeleteDemotivation, though, can be. But I guess that's another post ;o)
Automatic writing is the reason I love NaNoWriMo!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Suzan I was going to say, we have an entire month of automatic writing coming up soon! As Sean Lindsay said, it's all "the challenge of an arbitrary target and deadline without the burden of any expectation of quality."
ReplyDeleteI dunno, I'm hoping for quality.
~Tara
All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
ReplyDeleteAll work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
Clearly, Stephen King agrees with Eric.
I like the part about paying attention to nothing except the next word. I'll have to try that.
ReplyDeleteNatalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" suggests this, along with journaling. I've never had the problem and agree with the laziness theory, but if I couldn't think of a subject to write about, I think going out into the world, to a new or unusual environment would kick-start the idea mill. Still, how can one run out of ideas? Surely they don't all have to be brilliant to deserve a few paragraphs - that in itself usually will get things going.
ReplyDeleteIt is in fact a mystical process that unlocks the secrets in our subconscious through automatic writing, if you want to call it that. I'll call it mystical because I can't explain this state a writer can fall into where the words are pouring out in a steady stream unearthing things she/he did not know they knew. I love it. I agree there is no such thing as writer's block. Could it be but an excuse to hide a lazy constitution?
ReplyDeleteI was offered this tip from a creative writer teacher and it works; prior to the automatic writing (that wonderful trance) - take the first line from a story, paragraph or headline and start with that to see where it takes you. Seems to work along with all the other great posted ideas..
ReplyDelete