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How Does One Defeat Writer's Block?

• Tenebrous

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Alright, Ian/Tenebrous here with another thing that's bugging me. Ever since I've started writing for fun, I've run into a massive hurdle, and one that any author is probably intimately familiar with: the dread foe that is Writer's Block. There's been far too many times where I sit down, ready to write the concept that's in my head... But I can't. The words don't come out, the ideas fade into the darkness, and I'm left staring at my computer screen for an hour before giving up.

  My question is this (and forgive me if it's been asked before): How do you, dear reader, defeat Writer's Block? I've looked it up on the Internet, searching for a solution, and yet I feel that I'd like to hear the opinions of you folk. Who knows, maybe I'll find something that works for me as well by posting this. Any advice is welcome, of course. And hey, thanks for reading!

  Alright, Ian/Tenebrous here with another thing that's bugging me. Ever since I've started writing for fun, I've run into a massive hurdle, and one that any author is probably intimately familiar with: the dread foe that is Writer's Block. There's been far too many times where I sit down, ready to write the concept that's in my head... But I can't. The words don't come out, the ideas fade into the darkness, and I'm left staring at my computer screen for an hour before giving up.

  My question is this (and forgive me if it's been asked before): How do you, dear reader, defeat Writer's Block? I've looked it up on the Internet, searching for a solution, and yet I feel that I'd like to hear the opinions of you folk. Who knows, maybe I'll find something that works for me as well by posting this. Any advice is welcome, of course. And hey, thanks for reading!

• A-Pocky-Hah!

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Ah.. Writer's Block, the very bane of my story which is left on hold. I've tried fixing it by playing Skyrim in order to get back in touch with my character so I could continue Chronicles of the Dovahkendaar. But alas, with shitty frame rates, I can't seem to enjoy a perfect seamless experience on my game. :(

  My other idea to fix my Writer's Block was reading some fantasy books to keep my vocabulary and writing in check as well as get some ideas for my story. Another way I tried was making a simple short story or one-shot, something TES related so I wouldn't get rusty.

  I feel like the only true way I could fix my Writer's Block for my story is to find a way to enjoy a perfectly seamless 30+ fps gameplay of Skyrim. For now, I'm contend on playing it around 15+ fps... *sigh*

  Ah.. Writer's Block, the very bane of my story which is left on hold. I've tried fixing it by playing Skyrim in order to get back in touch with my character so I could continue Chronicles of the Dovahkendaar. But alas, with shitty frame rates, I can't seem to enjoy a perfect seamless experience on my game. :(

  My other idea to fix my Writer's Block was reading some fantasy books to keep my vocabulary and writing in check as well as get some ideas for my story. Another way I tried was making a simple short story or one-shot, something TES related so I wouldn't get rusty.

  I feel like the only true way I could fix my Writer's Block for my story is to find a way to enjoy a perfectly seamless 30+ fps gameplay of Skyrim. For now, I'm contend on playing it around 15+ fps... *sigh*

• Tenebrous

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Yeah, I find playing Elder Scrolls- or actually, any game- is good for firing up creative juices, particularly when you're writing about the game in question. Although it rarely jumpstarts my writing when I'm really blocked (which is quite often), I find that it's a marvelous way to stop fretting about your story for a little bit, which eventually does help. Anyhoo, thanks for weighing in!

  Yeah, I find playing Elder Scrolls- or actually, any game- is good for firing up creative juices, particularly when you're writing about the game in question. Although it rarely jumpstarts my writing when I'm really blocked (which is quite often), I find that it's a marvelous way to stop fretting about your story for a little bit, which eventually does help. Anyhoo, thanks for weighing in!

• SpookyBorn2021

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Apparently I don't :D 

  Honestly I've had so much trouble the past week with writer's block, and it screwed me up with my first story. I suppose what's temporarily gotten me out of my funk so far has just been making art for my Story (or playing the characters).  But I can only make so much art for my story, so it isn't exactly a long-term plan

  Apparently I don't :D 

  Honestly I've had so much trouble the past week with writer's block, and it screwed me up with my first story. I suppose what's temporarily gotten me out of my funk so far has just been making art for my Story (or playing the characters).  But I can only make so much art for my story, so it isn't exactly a long-term plan

• Tenebrous

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  I can see how drawing could be helpful, yeah. Though it's not something I can really use for my own blockage, because I'm utter crap at drawing and it quickly becomes an exercise in frustration. Anyways, thanks for weighing in!

  I can see how drawing could be helpful, yeah. Though it's not something I can really use for my own blockage, because I'm utter crap at drawing and it quickly becomes an exercise in frustration. Anyways, thanks for weighing in!

• Karver the Lorc

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Reading books is good, but I have simple ritual when things go south. Cold shower, then a fag, and bottle of wine. I find few motivational songs I like and while I'm listening to them in my chair, with closed eyes a keep repeating to myself: "If you won't write it, no one else will. It will be stucked in your head and no one will read it." Then I play my long playlist of background music and start writing. Focusing and trying not to stop. As long as I write at least something everyday not to lose momentum...I'm good.

  Reading books is good, but I have simple ritual when things go south. Cold shower, then a fag, and bottle of wine. I find few motivational songs I like and while I'm listening to them in my chair, with closed eyes a keep repeating to myself: "If you won't write it, no one else will. It will be stucked in your head and no one will read it." Then I play my long playlist of background music and start writing. Focusing and trying not to stop. As long as I write at least something everyday not to lose momentum...I'm good.
• Tenebrous

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Not sure what you mean with 'a fag', and I don't really drink wine, but the rest sounds like it could work pretty well. How long do you spend on 'meditating' with the motivational music and the mantra? Might try this at some point.

  Also, when I'm blocked, it's so bad that I can't actually write anything. I try to write at least something every day, like you suggest, but some days it just doesn't work. But as I said, I'll try your technique at some point to see if it works for me. Thanks for weighing in!

  Not sure what you mean with 'a fag', and I don't really drink wine, but the rest sounds like it could work pretty well. How long do you spend on 'meditating' with the motivational music and the mantra? Might try this at some point.

  Also, when I'm blocked, it's so bad that I can't actually write anything. I try to write at least something every day, like you suggest, but some days it just doesn't work. But as I said, I'll try your technique at some point to see if it works for me. Thanks for weighing in!

• The Long-Chapper

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  fag = cigarette 

  fag = cigarette 

• SpookyBorn2021

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  HAHA, oh man, yeah I can't draw either mate. I just do little things like screenshots, which I then fancy up a tad with my free Photoshop app. Either that, or I do some banners, just some quick little things that I could do in 15-30 minutes. Of course, I think I've actually spent more time doing that than I have writing, I was writing the other day because I just couldn't think of what screenshot to take (Artist's Block to fix my Writer's Block with I was fixing with art...Great). 

  One thing I can't do without when writing is music, I have a soundtrack especially for writing, and whenever I've got it on I find the words just flow easier. But really it's all about finding what works for you

  HAHA, oh man, yeah I can't draw either mate. I just do little things like screenshots, which I then fancy up a tad with my free Photoshop app. Either that, or I do some banners, just some quick little things that I could do in 15-30 minutes. Of course, I think I've actually spent more time doing that than I have writing, I was writing the other day because I just couldn't think of what screenshot to take (Artist's Block to fix my Writer's Block with I was fixing with art...Great). 

  One thing I can't do without when writing is music, I have a soundtrack especially for writing, and whenever I've got it on I find the words just flow easier. But really it's all about finding what works for you

• Tenebrous

  

  Member
   

  June 24, 2016

  Oooh, OK. Thanks, Lissette.

  Don't smoke, either, to be honest. I know tobacco or alcohol wouldn't mix well with my treatments (I'm actually mildly autistic, among other things, and I take various medicines).  But I can see how cold showers, mantras and music might help, so I'll be trying this for sure. Thanks again, Karver!

  Oooh, OK. Thanks, Lissette.

  Don't smoke, either, to be honest. I know tobacco or alcohol wouldn't mix well with my treatments (I'm actually mildly autistic, among other things, and I take various medicines).  But I can see how cold showers, mantras and music might help, so I'll be trying this for sure. Thanks again, Karver!