Six years ago my life changed dramaticaly and I went through a serious depression for about a year. Before then I had been a very good writer and had been hopeful at publishing a book. During the depression all I could write was poetry. I'm a 5 time nominee for poet of the year. After the depression, nothing comes to me. I am not a writer that plot points everything out and just puts it out there. I am one of those writers that "hears voices" for lack of a better way to say it. Characters just come to you and you start writing. The plot, the story falls into perfect alignment on its own and makes sense. My strong point was always characterization which I think is the way it is for any "voice writer". The ones I have talked to that had that gift and lost it, never got it back. Its been six years. I can feel the urge to write. But I feel helpless to. Is there any way to get it back? Has anyone lost it and had it come back? Or should I just leave it in the past?
2006-12-01 08:43:27 · 10 answers · asked by DanniGirl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
A lot of writers experience writer's block. The length of time it takes to get it back can certainly vary. I think if you just keep at it you'll get it back. It's the people that give up that never get it back.
2006-12-01 08:47:06 · answer #1 · answered by jare bare 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depression is part of a process. Once solved the person has the opportunity to analyze and learn from what happens. What writers and artists normally need to make what they know is to get in touch with the human soul. Many times adversity is a source of inspiration because it makes us to get in touch with the human.
To be out of the depression is an opportunity to celebrate the successful end of one part of a process that can bring a new sunny morning to our past dark days, get close to your soul and celebrate the beauty of a smile, the innocence of a morning flower, the experience of an old man eyes. Get the beauty to touch you, cry of emotion when the pureness of simplicity touches again your heart and let your inner voices to write things that will surprise yourself and charm the others.
Don't worry about the technical. Concentrate in what people think is important... love your audience, that's the only way to communicate.
2006-12-01 16:59:27 · answer #2 · answered by b4contact 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll get it back. Stop pressuring yourself. But do keep writing. Just write for YOU and nobody else. And write in whatever style you're feeling. It doesn't matter.
Go out and have some experiences. Observe your surroundings. Invent little stories in your head about the people you see. Keep a small notepad with you.
Sit at a mall food court or some public place. Listen to the way people talk. Let snippets of their conversations inspire you.
Don't worry. Just enjoy yourself.
2006-12-01 16:48:52 · answer #3 · answered by allaboutthewords 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look no further. Get thee to the bottom of Impossible Odds at The Roll & Shuffle, which provides links and excerpts from Performing Flea, a collection of letters from the inimitable P.G. Wodehouse to his old Dulwich College pal, Bill Townend. Most the letters concern the writing and the difficulties Plum lived through while trying with all his might to do it, which he most certainly did. He was so successful, in fact, that Hollywood covered him in gold during the dirty '30s, and the queen knighted him years later. A good read of Plum will cheer you enormously and get you back to the typer, promise: http://pokerpulse.com/news/viewtopic.php?p=2616&sid=9c899931f55faa2e01c4580eabeac135#2616.
2006-12-01 16:53:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
had the same problem after they put me on ssri's. They seem to destroy that wonderful gift we have of creating beauty on paper with words. Try not to give up hope. Try starting with just a paragraph, or go look at one of those cool books by SARK. They're really a good way to get the words flowing again. I wish you all the joy in the world.
A good starter: "She stepped out of the door, letting the screen slam shut behind her, and headed down the front steps. She unlatched the gate and stepped through. Now, she could go anywhere she wanted, and she wanted to go................"
peace! Koko
2006-12-01 16:54:07 · answer #5 · answered by KoKo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, are we twins or something? With minor exceptions I could have written that question.
I'm trying hard to get my words back, I've found some good writing exercise websites that I've been playing with and I'm hoping they'll help. Maybe they can help you too.
http://www.meredithsuewillis.com/writingexercises.html
E-mail me if you want, I have some other suggestions I copied and pasted to myself, but I don't have the URLs anymore.
2006-12-01 16:51:25 · answer #6 · answered by tabithap 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set aside some time every day to write, even if it's just fifteen minutes. Scribble stuff down even if you think it'll go nowhere. Eventually something will come to you.
2006-12-01 17:28:48 · answer #7 · answered by tkron31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to get the book called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron & try working through it.
Best of luck.
2006-12-01 16:47:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Write a novel based on this situation.
2006-12-01 16:51:03 · answer #9 · answered by attn deficiency. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read books, get inspired. It'll come back, eventually.
2006-12-02 05:59:54 · answer #10 · answered by Jan C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋