1. I outlined the manuscript with flashcards
2. I wrote two sentence snippets for scenes that would all connect in some way
3. I'm very tempted to write completely out of order and have attempted to
What is it you guys do to get the juices flowing and the ball rolling?
Sometimes if a story just isn't working, maybe it's the darker mood of the piece or your want to write something different. Should you just go with your gut and try something else? This is a piece I put down once before but maybe it's still not quite ready to be written. What do you guys do when faced with this?
~Liz
I write whatever comes to me. Sometimes that means jumping ahead to the climax because that's the most exciting part. Then I go back and help my characters get there.
ReplyDeleteFree writing on a prompt, like a picture, is also a great method that can help open the flow of words.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I've found that trouble focusing on a new project usually stems from a prolonged attachment to an older project (probably because I can't let it go and it still needs work). I have to identify what still needs to be done on the old project (even though I'm not going to work on it right away). Once I know this, I can move to the new project.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I have one that's 40K in and it kinda stalled. Try adding a different/opposite character in there to give it a different perspective. You could always knock him off later. =)
ReplyDeleteSince I'm writing a book that's a follow up to the manuscript I'm currently querying, I have a few critique partners and beta readers who are already familiar with my characters/storyline. I've been stuck lately, too (bogged down in a word swamp 50k in!), and spent some time hashing out what to do with some of the folks who could help me worth through the blockage. It worked marvelously, and now I know how to get the story marching on the road to resolution. Critique partners rock!
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's a right answer to this. Sometimes I go for a walk, hope that the rhythm of walking helps get the ideas playing. Sometimes I sit at the computer, fiddle about on facebook and then berate myself for wasting time ... if anyone has the right answer to what to do when you are struggling with the WIP, please share it!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing :D
ReplyDeleteOn a happy note. I just set it aside and all of a sudden another super fun manuscript took hold!
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ReplyDeleteI just keep writing if I'm struggling due to laziness or exhaustion. If it's a serious problem, in theory, I set it aside for a few days and think it over. Maybe even a longer time; in practice, I ignore the problem, try pretending it doesn't exist or that I will fix it with some magical prose... And end up writing myself into a dead end. This makes me rewrite the whole thing. Both my works (one MS and one WIP I gave up in the middle of) need/needed a complete rewrite. Sigh. It sucks.
ReplyDeleteMusic helps get my creativity flowing. I put in headphones so it is right in my head and no other sounds can interfere. Then I just sit and let my fingers type, even if I know it isn't quite right, I type. I can always delete it later. But at least I get something written.
ReplyDeleteI'd say, go with your gut and write something else. My mom always says it's the quiet voice inside we need to listen to. And if we don't we'll go astray. Hm? Anyway, you can always return to it when your moods sync up. enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSometimes if I'm stuck I try to get involved in the world or do things that help with world/character/plot building. For instance for a ms I'm currently writing that I started a while ago, got stuck and stopped, that has vampires in it I had a day of watching Blade, Underworld and such -- darker vampire movies because that's what my wip involves...try that it often works to give some further ideas (not copying their plots but understanding what element your characters/plot/world is missing).
ReplyDeleteUsually when I'm stuck I doodle. Something about drawing helps me come up with more ideas to write, especially if I draw what I think a character looks like. The other thing I do is I just space. Some of my best ideas have come out of a good daydreaming session.
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