posted
Anyone ever have a problem with motivation? When I was in school full-time I started a novel and was actually able to get about 10 chaps. written even while being a mom and student. Now that I'm on a break from school, I have yet to write a single word. I realize that some of this comes from nerves, i.e. "What if what I'm writing is incredibly stupid?, etc." But, the thing is, I know I'm a decent writer...what I'm writing might suck, but it's not so bad that it can't be fixed w/ rewrites. It just seems like now that I'm out of school I would rather browse on the internet than actually work on my novel. My husband is always asking when I'm going to get back to writing and is incredibly supportive. Has anyone else ever been in a slump like this, and what have you done to break out of it? It's not that I don't know where the novel is going...it's simply that I'm too darn lazy to work on it. I've been reading tons of great stuff, which should inspire me, but it's not working.
posted
I do know this feeling. I have several stories I want to work on.There are several problems. Distractions such as the net and this nifty video game as well as stories. Feeling that the moment things are commited to page they begin to suck, badly. Well contructed poetic and stylish sentenses metamorphosize into trite, clichey writing that a teenager with a lace covered diary could write better. Loathesome. Some people will sit for about 8 hours doing nothing BUT writing. I will try to think of stories while doing something boring such as bagging or walking down the street but I should be working on political essays as well. I think of such essays and stories CONSTANTLY. I wish I could just cheat and find them in the Celestial Library already written and perfect but it just doesn't work that way. I need to get motivated or more disciplined but such things are not my fortay. I also need to not waste time with lame shows that make me angry...
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, I've never written a novel or such, but used to be a journalist, and there were definately times I woud be in a slump.
About the only way I could get going again would be to re-read over what I had written several times, and then my brain would kind of feel a NEED to continue the story -- ideas would come of where to go with it next.
But sometimes those ideas came in the middle of the night or while driving down the road. Had to learn to keep a notepad handy to not lose the thought..
And if I was ever just totally unable to think of a BEGINNING to an article, I would just jot down notes, ideas, sentences that I knew I wanted to use SOMEWHERE in the article -- like writing the middle first -- and once I got all those ideas out of my head, I could picture a beginning better.
posted
I work as a marketing writer, so I hardly ever do any creative writing anymore. I just don't have the energy. I get home and the last thing I want to do is write more words.
Usually by Sunday evening, after a good weekend, the numbness starts to wear off my creativity. That's about the only time I write anymore.
I have found, however, that the occasional writing "contests" here provide some motivation to write creatively a little. When I have a lull at work I try to freewrite a bit to exercise that part of my brain again.
Writing all day for work has helped me learn how to pace myself, and has taught me more about my own most effective writing habits. I'm learning how to get through a big piece fairly smoothly. Most of the time, all it takes to get going in the morning is to start typing. My mind just has to get thinking about it.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Give yourself deadlines and stick to them. Write a story a week, or a chapter a day, or X words an hour, something. Be consistent.
Set aside a certain amount of time a day to write. Don't violate it for anything. If you must miss the time, make it up the very next day.
When you sit down, try Robert Silverberg's trick of retyping the last page you finished yesterday. This gets you back in your mindset and gets you limbered up, so to speak.
Keep a file or a notepad to jot down story ideas, good lines, perfect titles, character names, choice bits of dialogue, whatever. Then forget about them and get back to work. If you obsess on them you won't get any writing done, and if you don't write them down you will forget them.
Close your browser windows, turn off instant messaging, shut down your e-mail, stop playing your games. Unplug your phone. Go outside and unhook the cable. Whatever it takes. If you simply cannot start typing without getting distracted, grab a pen and paper and move away from the computer.
If you're the type to incessantly re-edit everything you write, to the point where you can't finish because you've rewritten the first three chapters sixteen times and none of your drafts match and you're not quite sure what the original plot was -- this would be me -- don't edit. Write, keep writing, and don't stop until you're through. If you think of things to change scribble a note about it and keep moving, don't go back. You can read it once you're finished.
Stay with a friend and instruct them only to give you food in exchange for finished pages. You'll either write more or lose weight.
If you feel like writing but can't get started, research. Whatever you're working on, you can dig into the information you need to write it and something might spark an idea. Even if you're writing completely out of your head you can research it. Writing s-f? Get your science straight. Creating a fantasy world? You'll probably need at least a rudimentary knowledge of combat strategies, or maybe a historical battle you can get ideas from. How does magic work in your world? Better figure it out, readers will notice if you're not consistent. Writing about your own life? Go through your photos, revisit your old neighborhood, call up old friends and take notes. Remember, you're working.
Pick up someone else's writing and edit it, or rework it. Not with the intention to publish it or anything, just to get into the groove.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
When you finish for the day, never end on a cliff-hanger or chapter end. Stop in the middle of a scene, or even in the middle of a line of dialogue. Makes it much easier to get back into it when you come back.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I once wrote a story, I think it was for high school creative writing, about the little devil that sits on my shoulder telling me of things I could be doing instead of writing.
He sits there with one goal, to not allow the tormented would be writer to craft his work.
Finally, on his death bed, the writer begs the devil to allow him to finish just one story, or if not, finish it for him.
The demon relents. After the writed dies, the demon begins to write, only to have another small demon appear on his shoulder to stop him from working.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
You know, I do believe that I got the mental spanking that I needed. I've been spending too much time with BOC (butt on couch) instead of BIC, as Phanto put. Chris, Dan, and others, your advice was great as well. Not editing as I go along has been killing me, but luckily a professor told me NEVER to go back through until the novel was done. Instead I go back through each chapter and make notes at the top.
Anyway, would anyone be willing to read the first chapter? Not even an edit, really. I think I just need to have someone say, "You know, it's pretty interesting and I'd like to read more." I worked with a prof. for the first several chapters, and she was very helpful as far as editing, but I never really got that response from her. Thanks!
posted
I'd say that (if you haven't already done it) write some character sketches! You'll want to get to know your characters better and create situations in which this is possible and voila! You are writing again. I completely understand your distaste for your novel... and that is why, personally, I stick to poetry or short stories... OK, short story SINGULAR... Posts: 165 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, yeah. Can't forget the famous tactic that is truly useful: write the first draft without editting it. That means write the story out, and until its done, don't edit it.
The few moments when I actually follow my own advice, I make incrediable progress .
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
.
