A time to write?

Question

When I write, there are certian times when I don't feel in the mood or like my imagination is being blocked off, so I don't try. It is not writers block. I have experianced that before. Thsi is like a thick pane of glass, in which I know there are ideas floating around, but the necessity to keep it back hinders it from comming out, even if it is just a trickle, or from the wrong resivour.
I was just wondering when you feel that you write your best, and what techniques you do use to hlep you to start writing.
Also some tips on how to write something that is going on in your head too fast to write it down all at once. I use the coputer with typing but my fingers can't fly fast enought. lol
Thank you for all your help.
God bless you and America!!
K.K.

Answer 1

Break the glass!

Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and write until all the shards are blown away by your fury. When I hesitated like you're describing, I let those ideas stay behind the glass. Then, before I knew it, almost ten years went by and I'd only written a fraction of what I had hoped to have written.

Writing is a physical process which follows the laws of physics: An object in motion will stay in motion until a force acts upon it. An object at rest tends to stay at rest until a force acts upon it. Fight the first and encourage the second.

Answer 2

I know what you mean. My friends all say I have writers block, but, as you said, this is different.
If there is a certain mood to the point you are at in your writing, then listen to some music that match the mood of your writing.
As for techniques, I usually think of the scene, then write down as many descriptive words as possible that match the scene (like, instead of scary use horrifying, terrible, etc.).

Answer 3

to start wtriting, listening to music helps, listening to the lyrics of new songs or ones I haven't heard in a while, usually slow gives me ideas and helps my brain flow.
to start writing sometimes too first I think, I look around the room and when something catches my eye I think about what attracted me to it and ask myself questions like what it could mean or symbolize to get me in a good thought process.
For ideas that flow fast don't write complete sentences, just the key words that will get your ideas down.

Answer 4

Most professional writers view writing as a job. They choose set hours and write only during those hours. Some are daytime writers who like to get up and worh with the sun, others like me are nocturnal writers. I find I go to sleep early in the evening and wake up for my writing sessions which generally last until daybreak.

You have to find out what works for you. Nelson de Mille can only write his books in longhand. Others have different quirks. I have one special keyboard I have to use. It has almost all the letters worn off, but it has my "touch" and I just cannot write with other keyboards. My son has tried to replace it many times but I say NO - so he takes it apart every couple months and washes it in the dishwasher for me. I own a laptop, but I cannot write on that either. It's great for e mail and stuff, but I cannot work on it. I have to have my 10 year old microsoft keyboard. We're partners and friends.

If things fly by too fast in your head, then you are the type of person who needs to seriously outline and do written character studies and analysis. That will help you contain your thoughts, get the general plot down, then expand on it.

Others like me wing it. I've never outlined any of my books. They reside in my head until Im ready to write. Sometimes - Like now for instance - I have the ending for my current book floatig around in my head but Im still about 10 chapters away. So it just sits there waiting. When I am ready for it, I know exactly what it will be and what I will write.

You can also skip ahead you know. Just leave a hole in the story and start numbering your chapters X and XX and XXX and then when you fill in the hole, change them. I wrote my first novel that way.

I also find that my "twilight" between wake and sleep is a very creative time for me and I end up getting up several times to jot down notes. Keep notebooks beside your bed for that. I also drive with a tape recorder in the front seat because I got tired of driving and writing down thoughts. So now I talk to myself in the car. Since many people are using hands free cellphones now, I dont look totally nuts LOL ...

What I'm trying to say is you have to find a work pattern that works for YOU and stick with it. Writing is a job and should be treated like one. Set your hours, make yourself nice and comfy, fix coffee if that's what you need (personally I write with a cup of green tea) and then just do it.

If the piece you are working on is stuck - go to something else. I have at least 4 novels in pieces on my computer that I put aside - one over 20 years ago when my son was a baby. It just wasn t the time to write it. One day I may get back to it, or I may never. Just keep writing. If you are really having trouble, stick to short stories. You might also try some writing prompts like selecting a famous painting and writing a story about it. Try Norman Rockwells - they are great for that. I use that exercise when I teach CW classes with great results.

And also write about mundane things - things you KNOW. Write an essay about your dog or people who cut you off in traffic - anything! It keeps the thoughts flowing.

Sooner or later one of them will lend itself to a longer work.

Good luck. Pax - C.