When writing fiction, is it better to delve into the personalities of your characters, or to plot your story more thoroughly to break writer's block?
2006-06-11 07:25:04 · 8 answers · asked by Mr. Grudge 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
i can't find my copy of Zen in the Art of Writing right now, but in it Ray Bradbury talks about giving you characters passionate hopes and fears. to give them something to run from or run to. then all you have to do is let them do their thing and they will carry you through the story. so sit somewhere slightly uncomfortable, get some cold water or a strong cup of coffee, and write some life into you characters, then follow through the plot.
2006-06-11 21:48:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ganesa 3 · 8⤊ 1⤋
When I have writer's block i really can't do either one...what you need to do is think about your life or friend's lives and pull stuff out of it to write about...you could even pick something that you heard some where else but make sure you change it around enough that it's not plagiarism...but if you cant do that then characters are easier...when you have a character in mind you can decide what their life is going to be like and make a plot around that.
2006-06-11 07:54:23 · answer #2 · answered by PaigER 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually when I have writers block, it means that I'm off track. I go back to the beginning to see where I made the mistakes and fix them. Usually a character has run amuck and taken off in a direction that I didn't want it to go. So between the two option I would say develop your characters better and get to know them as 3-D people.
2006-06-11 07:52:01 · answer #3 · answered by tirgana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well when have writers block I usually take time away from writing. Because if I don't I will write almost anything just so I can have something down. My book is almost done and I have had plenty of writers block. It has taken me about two years or almost two years to write the book I'm now about to finish.
2006-06-11 10:35:51 · answer #4 · answered by dreamee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find that trying to plot out a story before I'm ready for it leaves me saying "I need to get from point A to point B . . . how do I do that?" and unable to continue until I find a way to do it, because I have points B through Z already mapped out fine. Much better to spend some time thinking about your characters - what would they do in such-and-such situation? (Even if it isn't in your book, it might give you more insight.) What does character A feel about character B? What about if she met character C?
2006-06-11 16:33:58 · answer #5 · answered by theycallmewendy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Characters are the easiest... once I know who he or she is the story moves itself along. Also when plotting to ask "What if?" always causes a lot of different scenarios and moves the plot along in directions I would never have thought of otherwise.
2006-06-11 07:37:10 · answer #6 · answered by angelpockets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to me it's better to continue writing. maybe i'll write e mails or shopping list. or write another story. write a poem, a love letter, anything. by making writing as a habit, hopefully you will never (or seldom) experience writer's block.
but sometimes there are times when you have to rest and let things flow. read, go out and play, do whatever you wish to do. have fun... and afterwards, refreshed, hopefully ideas will start pouring to you.
good luck!
2006-06-11 08:24:13 · answer #7 · answered by Firedancer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find it really handy to delve into charcter's personalities. But I think it may be an individual thing. Whatever works for you.
2006-06-11 07:29:19 · answer #8 · answered by What's It All About, Shakespeare? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋