Writers block

[TabulaRasa]

Well, I have been writing all afternoon and I am stuck.

There was this show called Kate and Allie back in the 80's. I was too young back then to know about it since I was only born in the 80's but as an adult I have been able to watch it on tv and well, I fell in love.

The ending however to the show is less than fulfulling so I have been writing a proper series finale. For myself and for anyone who wants the ending the show should have gotten.

I am at page 15 and just don't know where to start next.
I was wondering if anyone has any kind of remedies when they are writing? I usually play music, something soft, emotional, but nothing pathetic, lol. I find it helps me bring out the emotion in my characters. But finally at page 15, I am just not sure how to start the next act. It's a pain.

So what do you do if you have a block? What keeps you writing?

 

[Jill_Valentine]

For me, it helps just get the gears turning again. Just write... anything. Describe the room in ridiculous detail, or describe what you're doing right now as if you're in a detective story. The only thing is, you might get a bit carried away and never get back to what you were originally writing... but maybe you end up with something good anyway? Yeah, I tend to skip from one thing to another a lot.

I usually have the start and the ending in my head when I start, stringing them together is always the bitch. The ending might change when I'm getting there though. I don't tend to write anything in a linear train of thought. If I get sick of one bit, I leave it aside. I just stick the characters into some other scenario and have them potter about in it for a bit, and then once I have a few lumps of the story, I shuffle them into a rough order and start colouring in what's missing.

 

[TabulaRasa]

Same here, I always have a beginng and ending set out. And so far everything is coming in as planned and I have the next part set out. It's just that I don't know how to start it, I am lacking the creativity to start the next act. Thanks for the advice tho. I will just start on anything and see what happens.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I have a bit of a song for what I'm writing, If I get writers block I play that bit of music to get me into that line of thought.

If the block is that bad, try later or write anything, you can always alter it to suit another time.

The literary agent says to have the story pre set out. But that doesn't always work.

 

[Senior Watcher]

just do what joss whendon does. look at where your story is going and when you get 'writers block' take your story in the complete opposite direction!

 

[TabulaRasa]

I do find my best ideas come when I am in the shower and can't use the computer, due to well, electric shock resulting in death. Or when I am in bed and the computer is off and I am all tucked in. I find that my story flows. It's almost like I play it in my head as if it is happening. By the next day if I remeber anything at all, it's very little. I will remember the general storyline but not the words, which seem to be more passionate when I am heading off to lala land.

 

[sharkshark]

I find I can write a lot under pressure. I had all semester to write the first part of my screenplay last year for class, and I waited until I had two days and finished it in about six hours. And somehow got an A on it. Yet when I have all the time in the world, I can never seem to write a single paragraph.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Get yourself a little tape recorder, very handy for situations like you mentioned.

 

[TabulaRasa]

I actually have one. It's official, I am a dumbass. Thank you for reminding me Illyrian.

 

[Hit The Books]

If you've not already got it, get Robert McKee's "Story" - hands-down the best overview of the art I have ever read. He's got good advice for dealing with writer's block and yes, it is always best to know what is happening beat-by-beat, sequence-by-sequence and act-by-act. When you have all of that in place you can begin to write - writing, as he puts it, from the inside-out (as opposed to the outside-in).

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I deal with Writers Block by having myself a nice cuppa, watching a TV show I like(ATM it's Ugly Betty but Buffy, Angel, Dr Who, Diff'rent Strokes, Thundercats, The Simpsons and a whole world of crapola that I love has been used in the past) and forget about what I was doing for the duration.
Then when I go back, I think of a character I want to add. It may be a pivotal one it may be someone buying an Ice Cream, but I focus on the nuances of this chap or chappette and that generally allows me to add a new thing to the story which allows me to carry on.

FYI Kate and Allie is SO funny!!!

 

[Blondie Bear]

I have to rest my brain when I get blocked. I'll go read something really creative (stuff by Mercedes Lackey, Tanya Huff, Neil Gaiman, etc) or play a video game. Let my subconscious work through it. Usually works. Eventually.

 

[Old Master 3.0]

I'll second the previous suggestion of simply keeping your pen moving, and writing down anything. It's one of the best ways to get through a block.

I also agree with simply resting your mind. Take a nap and let your mind reboot a bit.

The thing I usually will do to break out of that slump is something that was suggested to me a while back....simply take a long, hot shower. I forget what it is about it that helps, but it really does work quite well in loosening up that creative grey matter.