i need help!!! major writers block!!?

Question

i need to write a short story for english, but cant think of anything to write about. if anyone could help, that would be nice, and please dont say "you have to start writing the book before you get writers block" that woiuld be unnecessary because i know that already and im in the middle of writing a nother book and cant get anything from that either!!!! so im sorry if this question stopped you from "helping"

Answer 1

Try to come up with a new main character for your story (something a little out of character for you - something not tackled before). Write down a description - male, female, eye color, etc. etc.

Then take this character and imagine then in some odd place or scenario – anything goes! Write down ideas on what would have to happen to your character or how they would react to the scenario you placed them in.

You can do this for multiple characters if you like.

This may seem futile, but it will help you flesh out some characters and give you insight into what you may want to happen to this type of character in a potential story. You may even come up with multiple story lines!

Strong well crafted main characters can inspire readers to love your story as well as drive you to write a great story for these imagined beings so be in! :-)

Answer 2

Do you have any other projects that you're working on? Whenever I get stuck in the middle of a long writing project, I find that just getting my juices flowing with a short story or some poetry on completely different subjects really helps. It lets my mind take a break and find a fresh perspective.

I also have some books that are old stand-bys. I've read them dozens of times, but they always seem to motivate me and help me get back on track. Do you have any books about the craft of writing that work for you like that? Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott are my two big motivators. Definitely classics!

My third big help is to go outside and do something active! Take a walk, rollerblade, go to the gym, go swimming-- just get out of the house and away from the words that are driving me crazy. Getting the blood pumping is really important for your mind and your concentration.

If you really feel like you have to read through the whole manuscript, maybe that will end up being your best option. Best wishes and good luck! You can do it!

Answer 3

So Wednesday night, I was teaching this guy GMAT-prep from 5:30-7:00 at the language school I work for here in Zurich. 7:00 comes along and he goes to open the door and finds it locked. I look around for a key or another door that's open but no. I don't have the phone number of my boss or anyone else who would have a key, so I try to call information, don't get the boss's number but get like the second in command's number, call it, but after a long conversation it transpires that it's the number of someone else with the same name. My student thinks that maybe the fact that I was speaking English didn't help, so he calls information and speaks Swiss-German. He decides to give it a try with someone with the same last name as the boss, figuring they might be related and know the number. Calls the person, her husband answers and says "Beat? Is that you?" and they carry on a medium-length conversation (on MY cellphone!) in Spanish. Turns out it's an old friend of his.
Eventually I locate a staff directory, call the boss and am set free by her husband.

Dunno, I think it's a good story, feel free to do with it what you will

Answer 4

Here's a suggestion I hope will help you out. Pick up a newspaper, or start trolling any news site for bizarre bits of news and when you find one appealing to you, start a story about it. Try not to find one that would require a ridiculous amount of research, something you could do that would be fun and require more creativity on your part than work. If that doesn't work, try meditation to clear the block. As a writer, I just move away from the project that is blocking me and start something else. Sometimes when it's really difficult to overcome, I just freewrite, freewrite, freewrite and then read back over what comes out. Occasionally you'll find the answer to your block, and in some cases you may even find some inspiration. Most importantly try to remember that the words don't control you. Your "power" over them is what makes you a writer.

Answer 5

First of all, 'write what you know'. Don't try to be fancy or tricky. Write about something you are familiar with or know a great deal about.

If you like baseball, have your character playing baseball on a team or with friends. If your family always goes camping at a special time every year, perhaps you can set your story in a similar setting. Write what you know, whether it is something you've experienced or felt or enjoy....make your main character go through the same experience.

Second, the poster 'thetophat' above has some great suggestions. You just have to get started with one sentence. So start with one character and give him/her a name. Then complete the sentence with an action...something you know about or can relate too.

Even if you end up throwing out the first line later, start with something, as thetophat suggests, and move forward.

At some point the story might actually head in a direction. Don't try to be imaginative at first, just think of what you like to read and try to tell a story that you might enjoy reading.

Those are my thoughts. Good luck.

Answer 6

Whenever I have writer's block, I think of the characters I wish to write about. Once you've imagined a character, ask these questions: Who is this person? What is wrong with him/her? How did they get into this mess? How do they get out of it? Even though this is a short story for English class, this is designed to improve your writing skills. Your characters, if developed well, will write the story for you if you take the time to get to know them. Think...develop...write...and listen to your characters talk. have fun, good luck, and get an A+.

Answer 7

It's alright. You just need to find a place to start. I usually start with characters when I write. Begin with something like," Old Man Kennings was at the market again..." Or, " The Seniligian Overlord came to Earth on the seventh of Ocober with evil in his slimy heart..." Or, " Peggy Sue was having a grand time at the sock hop until..." Always start with one character. Then you add elements like setting and conflict and so forth. And there should also be pirates.... And racecars. Pirtates in racecars. That'd be a wicked stroy for your English class.

Answer 8

Whenever I hit the wall I write a long e-mail to a friend. I usually don't have a subject in mind, just that I'm getting my thoughts on a page. Usually after I've written the e-mail I can go back and find something that I've written that will snowball into something else.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Instead of focusing your attention on "what to write" focus your attention on what you like, and what you have a lot ot say about. Something you're passionate about. Forget the paper entirely. Go in another room turn on the TV or something that will distract you from the paper and think about what you've spoken a lot on in the past, or what you would have a lot to speak of if it ever came to that point. You have interests, therefore you have things to talk about.

Answer 10

is there any particular subject that you need to write about or is it open topic? if it is, then write about what you know, make it a story, fun and exiting. i guess you need to find your muse.. i hope i helped, but i think you should add some more detail to your question so people will know what to write back. its just a thought