Writing Inspiration

[maeve_of_winter]

 Combating writer's block at the moment. When you're trying to write a certain scene but it's just not working, what do you do?

Comments

[alisanne]

I take a break and do something else.
Usually I'll have a breakthrough when my hands are busy so I can't write anything down *rolls eyes a muse*
But seriously, just walk away for a while and it'll come to you.
Good luck!

[maeve_of_winter]

Usually I'll have a breakthrough when my hands are busy so I can't write anything down *rolls eyes a muse*

I've noticed the same thing! I'm always hit with inspiration whenever I either have a bunch of essay due dates coming up or exams the next day, LOL.

Thank you for the advice!

[lbilover]

I set it aside and give it time. Usually my brain is good at resolving things while I'm sleeping and I wake up with the solution.

[ladyofleithian]

Usually I move onto another scene that seems more interesting. That's usually my problem personally -- I get distracted by other scenes. Or the mood music I'm using isn't working (I'm kind of addicted to writing to music).

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Write something else for a while.

[elwinfortuna]

Try and approach it from a different angle or a different POV. Even just thinking it through can sometimes help. Remember what your reason is for writing the scene, and try to get that accomplished.

[malurette]

Try do something else for a while and come back to it later. Try writing a different scene. Try different writing background musics and see if one works better?

[hitokage]

Depends on how it's not working. If I keep dumping words for being just wrong, I'll take a break and go do something else for awhile (video games usually, but anything that gets me away from writing). If I'm not getting any words to come out at all, I'll start fiddling with my BGM or else read for a bit. If the scene's not working because it keeps wanting to veer off in a direction other than the one I want, it's time to sit down with the background material and figure why the muses are so hellbent on going in direction Y instead of X.

[nanslice]

I power through it, try and get the key lines in the right order, then work on something else/do something else for a while. I have to get something down or else I just feel like the scene beat me, hahaha.

[wendelah1]

Honestly? I give up and come back to it when I have fresh eyes.

[prillalar]

If I have it more or less outlined already, I tell myself "just write what happens". I don't know why, but that helps me get into more of a drafting mindset. Sometimes I even close my eyes while I type, though if you get off home row that can be an issue. :D

If I don't even know what happens, I take a walk or a shower, which often helps. And probably complain about it on twitter.

[deifire]

For me, it sometimes depends on why it's not working, and if I know what the reason is. Some things I've tried that have worked:

-Work on another part of the outline
-Work on another piece of writing entirely
-Do some chores or take a long walk
-If it's something where I'm having trouble getting a sense of the action, blocking it out
-Ask myself if it's my subconscious trying to tell me the scene doesn't need to be there
-Try writing it from another angle
-Sleep on it

[shopfront]

Depends on why it's not working - if I'm just not feeling it, I'll try re-examining the scene to see whether there's something that needs fixing for it to flow better, or if it's fanwork I might go back to the canon to try and get a better feel for the character voices I need. If I'm feeling it but the words aren't coming together right I'll try writing it differently (brain dump detailed outline, writing it from a different POV than originally planned, dialogue only, etc. - or for a non-writing approach, I might try to gather a soundtrack for it, go for a walk or do something else while thinking the scene over, or something else to give me space to create without sitting in front of a blank word doc) to try and get a better handle. Or sometimes I just need to take a total break and try again later more refreshed.

[dhampyresa]

Either I go work on something else or I open square brackets and start brainstorming powwible things that could happen until I find one that fits.

[raze]

When I'm having writer's block of the variety where I'm capable of producing words, but they're crap, I simply write the crap. I write the crappiest version of the scene, just to get the ideas out and onto the page, then come back and edit heavily when I am feeling more inspired.

When I'm having writer's block of the variety where I just straight up can't write at all, I try to do some kind of activity where I am using my body, but not my mind - taking a walk, showering, doodling, etc. - with the hopes that my brain will start "writing."

Good luck with whichever variety you're having!

[fosfomifira]

I write something else. I'll write down a few notes as to how I think the scene should go, but otherwise I'll leave it alone.

Sometimes, when I'm really blocked, I'll write mindless porn. I have this ridiculous super porny WIP that I don't ever intend on posting. For some reason writing porn comes easily to me, so if I'm getting angry with myself because I can't write I'll type some more pointless porn until my brain is back in the writing mood and I can move on to the actual story I want to tell.

[batman]

I plot out what's going to happen with brackets so my stories tend to be littered with [THIS GOES HERE] and then [AND THEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN IT IS AWESOME] and then I go and fill in each square bracket with prose once I work out what's going there. I also don't write sequentially, so I can jump from scene to scene if necessary. That said, if it's the last scene I either do something else or I power through on the basis that even if it's terrible, it's easier to fix terrible than it is to fix non-existent.

[meridian_rose]

Yes, that's good advice. I'm also a non linear writer and I often have scenes I have to write last :) I've heard the [BRACKETS] method before and I've found when I'm in full flow and can't think of the right word/phrase it does help to write the "wrong" word in ALL CAPS or mark a phrase in bold to fix later.

[maeve_of_winter]

I admire people who can make the brackets method work for them! I've tried it a few times, but having the brackets there distracts me so much that I really can't concentrate on writing.

Writing sequentially ends up boxing me in sometimes. I get stuck in this mindset that I "have to" write scenes in order, and it's always miraculous revelation for me to realize that actually, no I don't. I think sequence might be what's causing my problem at the moment; I'm finding myself bogged down by introductory exposition, and I want to get away from it for a while.

Thanks for the great advice! :)

[meridian_rose]

Write something else. Leave the scene for later. It might come easier later, or things in the story might change how that scene needs to be written.

Brainstorm with someone. If you don't want to/can't brainstorm with someone, maybe write a letter as if you're outlining the scene in order to brainstorm. Sometimes that can shake something loose :)

[kaleidodope]

I leave it alone entirely and just head back to existing. Without fail after a couple of days the missing piece just pops into my head.

[forestgreen]

If you don't know what needs to happen, let it simmer in your back of your mind for a while.

Or if you don't write in a linear way, jump ahead to another scene or a different story all together.

Alternative 3, if you know what needs to happen in the scene (as far as plot goes): give yourself permission to write it wrong.

Sometimes, I know what needs to happen in scene, but it just won't come out how I want it, so I end up writing and erasing the same sentence/paragraph again and again. When that happens and I'm stuck for too long, I just allow myself to write what I want to happen as badly/terrible as it will come out. I do not erase or rewrite, just write it out. And when your inner critic goes, "This isn't working. It's horrible." You counter, "Yes, I know. That's the point. Today is write as bad as you can day. Shut up."

Then, I move on to the next thing and after a couple of days go back and edit/revise. That usually works: editing something that exists, even if you overhaul most of it, is easier than staring at a blank page. Also after reading it with fresh eyes, you can detect better the parts are not working, so you can fix those and save the rest.

[shuufleur93]

It depends on what I'm looking for: sometimes, switching the pov helps, or changing the beginning/outcome. Sometimes I change my writing style if it stays logical... or sometimes, I just write another scene while I think about this one a little more. :)