What can I do to cure writer's block?

Question

I don't want to do anything like work on writing using prompts.
Are there any tips out there?
I was working on a story but now it's just not flowing.

I'm basically stuck at the biggest climax in my story. I had a whole bunch of other little climaxes but this one is pretty huge.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Ha ha, thanks Beejee. I actually have a blank word document pulled up on my computer and a notebook pad and pencil mocking me right now. Sadly though, I'm under the drinking age. Is kool aid an ok substitution?

And because of that one tip curently I'm listening to music. (Spice Girls!) Hasn't worked yet. Oh well.

Answer 1

Have you tried working backwards? Skip the climax and write the ending. Who prevails and what did they gain. Filling in the gap in the middle is easier when you know where you're at and where you need to get to.

Answer 2

Simple pimple,
Ask urself where did the story stray , erase ur story up until the point ,
Write extra dialogue or make an observation ,
Example ,
IF ur stuck on a love scene ,
Afterwards , Johnny looked outside and noticed and grey the sky similar to his spririt for sleeping with the wrong girl.
Add dialogue

Take a day off and look in retrospective and ask
why does not the story flow

this one may seem easy ask what am i trying to say and ur saying it

Answer 3

This is the method I teach to students

1) Put the book aside and read - at least two books - Classics.

2) Brainstorm on paper - anything no matter how silly it sounds. Fill a notebook with ideas if you want - just come up with lots.

3) Write the ideas on file cards one per card. Sit down at a table and start shuffling them around trying to create a story from them. Keep moving them - dont be afraid for it to sound silly.

4) Make an outline from those cards when you find something interesting.

5) Try to write a very very short story from that outline. Then write several more very very short stories from the cards. See which one lends itself to a longer work

6) Start doing character studies and analysis - back to the file cards. Write down anything you know about your characters - adjectives, habits, appearance, likes and dislikes, occupation, age, anything. Look in magazines and catalogs and cut out pics that resemble the character as you see them in your mind.

7) Back to the table. Start pushing the character cards around - see who rubs who and how -- Who likes who? Who hates who? Main character to main character - then main character to secondary character - then secondary character to secondary character. This will help you come up with subplots

8) Back to your outline. Plug in the subplots.

9) Come up with a kick tail first sentece that will draw your readers into the story.

10) Start writing.

It works for my students. Just make sure you dont skip the two classics - that is the inspiration that unblocks and inspires you. If you are still blocked, move onto something else. I have about 4 books on disks - started but it just wasnt the right time to write them for me. One goes back to when my 20 yr old son was a baby. Maybe I will finish it one day, maybe not. So far the mood hasnt struck me. And it is a great idea - never been done. Im just not ready for it yet. No shame in leaving something aside.

Good luck. Pax - C.

Answer 4

I HATE writer's block!!! I'm a writer too and i've found that the best way to get rid of it is by listening to some music. I really depends on what you're writing, but it shouldn't make a difference. I'm a poet so music helps. but since it's a story you're working on, i reccomend you just read some of your old work (if you're like me, there's tons of it). If that dosen't work, then just think about your characters, your setting, your plot, that kind of thing. if your blocked, something may be wrong or just not fit with what you have. go back. edit. listen to music. well... that's all i got.

Answer 5

I can try to help, but by the way- if you do write a story, you should always read a book while writing it.

Now because you don't like writing i'll help you out this way; try thinking of something very interesting in your main character's past and then include it in the present. Example:

(Random name and this is the past:) Kelly walked into the bathroom and her enemy, Trish, was standing in front of the mirror fixing her make up. Kelly walked into a stall silently and insided she found grafity written on the wall, surrounding a big skull drawen in black perminent marker.

(Present in your book:) Kelly opened the book to a random page and to her surprise she saw a familler looking skull.

Do you understand what I mean? The skull was from her past and now it appeared in a book in the future.

Answer 6

You weren't specific as to where in the story you were stuck. The climax? Resolution? Character development? I will tell you that I draw inspiration from my own life and from wise sayings and build my story and characters around those things. I would also try mapping a rough outline of the plot using my imagination as to where and when to introduce the turning points and twists to the story. Draw inspiration from your own personal triumphs, humor, sorrows, ect. If I see something (an image/human reaction/a stranger/comfrontation) that strikes me or makes an impression, I will write down the memory and use descriptive words about it and try incorporating it into the story. Remember: your painting a picture for an audience to see through your eyes, but you want them to be able to relate. HTH

Answer 7

Alright, I don't know that I've ever had this "writer's block" before. But I have found myself frustrated and needing some direction to go. What I do is research, part of the character or place . . . anything to build on . . . then I spend quiet-time with
myself-- dishes by hand, sewing, etc. At some point my characters start talking to me . . .

Answer 8

Best thing is to go do something else.

You can not force yourself to write. If it does not flow freely, then it won't be good. It will just seem all choppy and forced.

People can actually tell the difference when reading what you write. They know when you stopped, they know when you forced it, etc.

The key is to take your mind off it, doing something else.

Answer 9

if kool aid doesn't work for you immediately, i know the kool aid guy's number (oh yeah, the actual jug of cool aid)! he's so much help when i have writer's block. he just comes in, smashes the wall, and me and all my friends drink out of his head. it's fun times, and it gets me so inspired.

but if that doesn't work, treat yourself to some dinner or whatnot. you know, the good stuff. get your mind off it for a little while.

and, if all else fails, try the doctor's prescription: sit on le toilet until it comes out.

Answer 10

Whether qualified or not - I sympathize. Writer's Block must be on a par with a blocked favorite artery.

Ignore it. Don't let that blank page know you care. Every once in a while walk by with a glass with something amber in it, mumbling, "I don't give a damn".

Good luck.