Hatrack River Writers Workshop: I have this urge to write...

This is topic I have this urge to write... in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

I've just completed a short story. It's being critted by other people, so I'm waiting a bit before making changes. Meanwhile, I have this irrepressible urge to write something. Anything. But no coherent ideas. Whenever I start a few sentences, I feel silly, and stop. Lately, it's been happening to me whenever I complete something.

Does it ever happen to you? What should I do, apart from taking an appointment with a shrink ?

Posted by luapc (Member # 2878) on :

I recently went through a similar kind of thing. I usually write a set number of words every day. That number has been 1500 words. When I couldn't write, I sometimes wrote nothing, and other times wrote a few hundred words in a day, but far short of my minimum of 1500. The only way I felt good about my productivity again was when I got back to 1500. I did it by forcing myself to write my normal 1500 words again every day, no matter if I felt they were good or not. At first, it took every minute of any free time I had and even ate into my sleeping time, but eventually, I managed to get back to normal. It was hard work, and painful, but I did it. I never intend on letting it happen again.

Everyone writes differently, and has diferent habits. OSC for example, takes long stretches off between books, from what I've read. Obviously this works for some writers. I couldn't do it. The longer I don't write, the more of a habit it becomes not to write, and the harder it is to get back.

I don't know what your writing habits are, but I suggest making whatever works for you a normal part of your everday life, just like eating and sleeping are. If you finish something, don't even think about it. Dive right into a new idea or story right away until your normal productivity is there, even if it feels strange. Do this enough, and it won't feel wierd or strange anymore.

I think this kind of thing is fairly normal for writers. Some people call it writer's block, but I think it's more habit than anything else. If you intend to write seriously and hope to have a career someday being a writer, you'll likely have to find a way to overcome these bouts. Publishers with deadlines are likely to be unforgiving and demanding.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

Glad to know it's normal

But it's not writer's block. It's happened two or three times already, and I know I just need 2-3 days to catch my breath. I suspect that during those blank bouts my mind is collating story ideas, because afterwards everything goes fine. It's just the 2-3 days that follow that are going to be hell.

OK, maybe I'm still rationalizing writer's block...

And, from experience deadlines usually make me type, no matter what type of rubbish I type.

Posted by luapc (Member # 2878) on :

Do you like to plan out a story, or just write it as you go? Maybe you just don't feel comfortable about the story yet, and need a little more time to get it straight in your head before typing it out. 2 to 3 days doesn't seem like such a long time inbetween, especially if you can bang out a complete story after the lapse.

Also, I'd point out that if this is normal to you, maybe you shouldn't let it bother you as long as you're productive overall. Maybe it's just the way you write, and if that's different that what it was before, then maybe you've changed your writing habits. Nothing wrong with that as long as you can still write consistently.

I know you're a good writer because I saw that you placed as a semi-finalist in the latest WOTF quarter. You don't get stories to semi-finalist without being good enough to be published, so likely whatever you write will be good, no matter what you might think of it. I'd say just work with whatever is working for you right now as long as you're productive overall.

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

yeah, I wouldn't worry. It sounds like this is normal for you and you understand it.

You could write something other than fiction, or write a form of fiction you don't usually work with, while your brain is recharging for your customary work. Start a blog. Write a non-fiction article on the Aztecs. Write a series of greeting cards.

Or just store up the impulse and use it to get momentum later.

Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

write a story about a burro in the Atacama desert that gets mummified.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

I usually plan everything before I type. I'm this control freak

But, lord, no, in 2-3 days I won't bang out a complete story. I'll have clearer ideas to begin planning one.

Luapc, you're probably right: my writing habits may have changed over the last semester (for one thing, I've got a lot more productive), which explains why I'm worrying about the whole process.

Beth, I've started a blog, although it's nowhere as funny as yours. I haven't typed much in it up to now. Perhaps it's the time to do some movie reviews. Or perhaps I should follow Mike's idea about that poor mummified burro, which sounds fun

er...or perhaps I should start on that homework...

Thanks a lot for the support !!!

Posted by Dude (Member # 1957) on :

I find that I write and read in spurts. Usually when I'm not working on a writing project, I try to catch up on my reading. Maybe take a couple of days and read a book or two before going back to the keyboard.

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

hey, what's your blog, silver?

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

http://aliettedb.livejournal.com

Posted by Johnmac1953 (Member # 3118) on :

Apart from making an appointment (and get to the back of a very loooong queue - I've been waiting ages!)
Never ever throw what you've written away.
I am not a control person, I tend to write as and when I'm taken. Inspiration is NOT rational

you cannot pluck it out of thin air, dust it down, use it then discard it!
Keep writing!
Best Wishes
John Mc...

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

I never throw anything away, but then I have to write it first

I decided to catch up on my crits, and then we'll see

Thanks !

Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :

I have hundreds of characters. WHenever I need to write, I never really have an absense of characters to use and the characters carry the story, they have the conflicts already and their characteristics determine the resolution.

I get my characters from my other stories. They might have been just the doorman in "Friendship in Trouble," but someday, I'll need to tell the story about how his leg got gimped...

Emily, a MC in one of my novels had three brothers, they each have their own stories, maybe some part of that was interesting.

I have never met a human being without one or two interesting stories about themselves, so every character has a least a short story that would be interesting.

The problems occur when I start a short story to find out that the character had secrets they hadn't told me before and I end up with a novel of material.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

mmm. I don't work quite like you, pantros, although you have a really interesting way of doing it.

I have the idea for the story first. Generally, it's a situation (to take an example from a story I wrote: "what if an incarnation of a god was killed?") and a setting (I absolutely need to know what civilization I'm going to be working with, because it conditions the characters and their state of mind. An Aztec warrior does not think like a Chinese one, for instance).

I then determine the character(s) most likely to hold the POV. The main criterion is OCS's: "who suffers most?", "who is most concerned?". (I'll add that the situation may come in with built-in characters, which saves me some work )

Then I fill in the holes. I need a few more characters, their relationship with my MC.

I write bits and pieces. The main goal of that part is to have an idea of where it's going. By and large, I hate making BIG modifications to a draft, so the first thing I write has to nail most of the plot down. So I have to know the ending. The last lines even.

(for novels I don't work at all like that. I've got a vague idea of where I'm going, I know where I start, I've filled in the characters, and off we go !!! )

Anyone else wanna share the process?

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

I kind of have to disagree with the earlier statement that 'inspiration is not rational.' I mean, sure, there are times when I've woken up in the morning with an awesome idea bursting forth. There is no rational basis, just a great new idea. But for the most part, I decide my own inspiration. I mean, I either pick some trigger word, or I let someone else pick in a challenge environment. Then I switch over to brainstorm mode, and start writing down random words, phrases, ideas, characters, etc. Within a few minutes I have a story idea. Every time. I learned how to do this from participating in the flash challenges Mike Munsil set up. But I can now do it any time for any reason. So my 'inspiration' is fairly rational, usually.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

I definitely need to do more Flash challenges. But I agree; a trigger is a good idea to get your creativity into gear.