Will someone please help me with my writers block?!?! please!!!?

Question

i am an "aspiring young novelist" as people would say, but lately for like 5 months, i have had MAJOR writers block. everytime i try to start a story, i write a paragraph, if that, and then throw it out. i really need some help!!! please will someone give me tips and/ or story ideas. (i am best writing dramas or romances, but really anything is fine_ HELP ME!!

Answer 1

You're trying too hard for one.

Stop beating yourself up so easily. The thing about writing is that it can't be *rushed*.

Think about what YOU want to write and then start writing it. It doesn't have to be anything (or if you have something) in particular.

Writer's block is what comes from your inability to come up with something constructive and imaginative. In years past, I would have it simply by being burned out from too much writing.

So how I solved this, was by taking on 3 projects and then rotating them around on a six-week basis. 3 times a year (March, June, and September), I would take 2 weeks off from my writing.

When I write, I don't think about how good this novel will become or how much money I will make upon completion, I just *write* the story.

I let people decide whether it is good enough or not for them.

Pace yourself. It's the best advice I can give you on top of this. It's not a race. In order to get good, you have to give yourself *time*.

Experiment with what you love the most and go with it. :0)

Answer 2

Story ideas aren't the problem. If they were then you wouldn't be a writer in the first place. Writer's block is due to not having enough inspiration or your creativity is blocked somehow.

Take a week off from writing. Don't even think of it. Rest your mind in a good book and forget the stress of writing. Once the stress leaves you then you might be able to sit back down and do what you love. If there is another stress in your life at the moment then stop writing until that's resolved. You will be surprised what ideas pop into your head once you're not stressed any longer.

Answer 3

yellow black birds!

Write something about that.

Sorry, sometimes brainstorming random things really helps people get going. I don't know why. I do it all the time, as I am a writer and often times it is what helps me get going. Also, try reading some of your friends essays and things. Generally, writers will read something that another peer has done and will instantly think 'I can write better than that" and then will promptly set out to do so.

Try doing some brainstorming activities for a while, and maybe write some poetry and stuff to offset the novel streak that you've been on. Sometimes shorter things will help unblock your head.

Answer 4

When I wrote a novel many years ago, I got an Idea. I pictured the beginning and then the end. Then, I took the idea, wrote it down and thought about it. (I was doing all this long hand, and at the computer) Then took the ideas and wrote on legal pads about a full page storyline. Beginning, middle and end. I broke those down to chapters, and wrote out one or two sentences that explained what would happen in each chapter. Then took each chapter and fleshed out the ideas to about a paragraph. Once I did that, I know knew who all the characters were and wrote some separate back stories ( not long) on each of them. Finally, I sat down a the computer and wrote 1,000 words a day, every day. After a couple of weeks the charters took off on their own and I just had to write down what they did. They wrote the story. Three months later I had a rough draft. Then I gave it to people I trusted to read and edit.

Answer 5

First, don't throw it out. Keep going. Even if you think it's tripe, even if it's grammatically incorrect or makes no sense. Keep going. Don't judge. That's the first act that will paralyze you and lead you to writer's block.

Also, start with a character. Define the character. What she looks like. How she grew up. What her dreams are. What her failings are. What really bugs her. What makes her happy. Once you have a character and really understand that character, set her on a journey, literally or figuratively or both. A lot of stories start with the beginning of a journey. Put her on a train, so she can interact with lots of people. She's going somewhere to start a new life. She's running from her old life. She's going home. Select a destination and why she's going there. Then keep following her trail.

And never, ever stop to judge for your first draft. Just get the story out. You can go back later and fix it up. Just keep going, like your heroine will be doing. She'll just keep on going.

Answer 6

This is the method I teach to students

1) Put the book aside and read - at least two books - Classics. Preferably in your genre.

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 7

One great way to be inspired is to GET inspired. Go hiking someplace beautiful, watch an old movie (or a new one), go swimming in the ocean, have mind-blowing sex with someone you really love, eat some Moroccan food.

I am of course not condoning plagiarism, or suggesting derivation, but oftentimes, READING a great piece of writing can help you write more greatly! :)

Pick up a poetry anthology and leaf through it until something moves you. Reading great things stimulates the same part of the brain which enables us to write great things. It's like smelling food, and then becoming hungry.

Good luck! Write on!!! :)

Answer 8

Hopefully, you'll be able to find this at your local bookstore, but if not, definitely order it. It's a book called "The Writer's Block". It is actually a thick, cube-shaped book (about the size of your palm but fat!). It contains hundreds of exercises, like going through the newspaper to find a topic, writing for a set length of time about anything, writing something based off the word 'kiss', and so on. It's inspirational and fun!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780762409488&itm=1

Answer 9

First get over the notion that everything you write has to be perfect. It won't be. You'll be revising after the first draft is done, so just get on with it.

Next, you need to get your butt in the chair. Set a timer, shut down your internet, open your word processor and write. It's called discipline and the best block breaker there is.

Answer 10

So I used to write poetry, A LOT of poetry. One night I had writers block, so I wrote a poem about it. I have had it ever since.... That was like 10 years ago.....