can you help me with my writer's block?

Question

I have the worst case of writer's block. I have my two main character figured out and some little scenes I want to include but I can't come up with the over all plot. This is what I got so far.

Adam is a loner and a drifter; he is renting a room above a small cafe in a run down part of town. Kate is from a rich and proper family. Kate finds herself getting suffocated by the high class life style. But when she tries to live a different life style she finds herself becoming lost. Kate gets in to a mess bigger then she understands. Adam sees her struggling and tries to help. But his help comes across more as a kidnapping then a rescue, when he takes Kate to a run down motel.

That is what I have so far, got any idea on where I should go with it?

Answer 1

perhaps they meet a wandering artist, someone who has a personality that bridges their differences.

Answer 2

You have the basis of your plot right there - you need to flesh it out and make both Adam and Kate real.

this is for your own files. ( not to put in the story)

First Adam - begin writing about him - what does he look like, how old is he, how does he dress, does he have other family or friends -I know in your story he is a loner and drifter but he MUST have had some life before that. How does he walk, talk, does he smell, how does he smell, nice or nasty, sweaty etc, does he drink - what? Beer, top shelf, whisky, rum etc. What does he eat, fish n chips or steak dianne.


Do the same with Kate - She is rich and proper - who are her family , what does she look like, fat, slim, pretty , hair and eye colour, is she used to maid service, is she escaping from a a life where men are only after her for her money and position. What are her likes and dislikes, has she been married or engaged how old is she, does she have hobbies.

If you spend time on making your characters walk and talk in YOUR mind, they becomes real on paper and the reader will believe that the chacters could only behave the way they did in your story.

Take your first sentance - " Adam is a loner and a drifter; he is renting a room above a small cafe in a run down part of town." You need not tell your reader WHY he is a loner and drifter, or WHY he is renting a room above the cafe in a run down part of town - BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW , because it is HOW you write about him that tells us who and what he is like.

Remember to use the Who What, Why, When , and Where then add the How.

WHO are your characters
What is the story about
WHY are there conflicts or problems
WHEN is the storly line taking place
WHERE is it all happening
HOW does it all end.

Is Adam someone who was recently released from jail, or is he "hiding" from a rich life. Is he the one real beneficiary to an enormous estate and he is on some one's
Hit List" and they are trying to kill him. Is he a "royal" who was kidnapped and then escaped but lost his memory.

WHO and What is the main story about. Is it adventure, murder mystery, or romance etc. When you define that , it can make it a lot easier.

You do need other characters in the story - the usual triangle, some one after Kate, or Adam perhaps, an ex lover, a new romantic partner, a friend, someone who will add a twist and tension to your story.

You have the basics there of a good story you just need to work on it.

The important thing with writers block is to write, write anything, just keep writing.

Start a file for each character - write down sub plots, what happens if, why did he / she do that.

I find it sometimes helps me if I can find a Title and beginning and the end. Also the approx words to use.

I would set it out as

Title

approx 5000 words

opening paragraph

Adam peered through the dingy windows of his first floor room. It was story and day even though the clock on the dusty mantle read 5.30. " Better get ready, almost time for my shift downstairs" he thought, reaching for his white waiter's jacket and shrugging into it. "Stinking job but it'll have to do" He glanced the window again then froze with suprise.


I'd leave a fair side gap with the words

body of story here



then ending

Kate stood smiling at her reflection in the long oval mirror in her bedroom. It was all over at last and Adam was back where he belonged. A final glance and she turned away, moving with measured step out onto the stairway and the waiting crowd below.

the end


As you write you may find your mind exploring other options and story lines, try not to force yourself to stick with the one thought, write them down as they come ,on a separate sheet of paper, then return to your story.

Hope this helps in some way

Good luck with it all.

Answer 3

Adam needs to find a way to make Kate realize that her life isn't that bad. The hotel is a GREAT start since it's run down. If Kate doesn't like her life style, she needs to come to the realization that she can change that WITHOUT really living in the dumps. A lesser lifestyle doesn't mean being without the ability to move up a little if you don't like the change. Adam appears to be like the ground floor position of a new job, like the janitor of a corporation who's ambition is to make partner of the corporation someday. Kate starts here and slowly moves up her "lifestyle" ladder until she finds what she's comfortable with (maybe that's Adam and she brings him along for the ride).

Answer 4

Would Kate be the type to take drugs or alcohol? How about someone drugging Kate by spiking her drink? It happens at clubs and parties all the time. Maybe she is at a party and she falls prey to some scumbags who spike her drink. Adam has seen this type of thing before and intercepts. He knows that he cannot leave her at the party and no one knows who she is so he decides to take her back to his place to watch over her. She comes to and mistakes his actions for kidnapping or that he was the one that drugged her.

Answer 5

getting suffocated by the high class life style is a cliche. urm but cliche is good. it gives you a chance to slap ppl in the face with new turns. maybe adam can be a writer. writing about Kate. his book is about the "kidnapping then a rescue". and he uses it as a.. manual.. if you will

Answer 6

Cindy, this is something that has to come out of your own imagination - and the way to beat writer's block is to write. If you are blocked on this particular story line, try writing out various scenes from the part you have alrady. Write about Kate. Write about her former life style, write about her present life style. Try to bring your characters to live, then let them interact with each other. I know that sounds goofy, but it will happen - and what they do will surprise you.

Answer 7

Look up the life of those kind of people. Study the life and day a little and it will expand the story and probably give an idea of what to make up next. But it sounds good all together.

Answer 8

.......then they discover that they both know of someone who is after them. they find out that there is more than mere coincidence in meeting each other. Now it is up to them to find this bad person ofr their survival and their families. In the mean time, she falls madly in love with him, but discovers that he is not such a perfect guy after all. Available nationwide Jan 16.

Answer 9

Writer's Block/ Writer's Anxiety

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/567/01/

http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingroadblocks/tp/block.htm

http://www.geocities.com/zigguratzen/

http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/hack-your-way-out-of-writers-block/

http://www.sff.net/People/LisaRC/whyis.htm

http://www.sff.net/People/LisaRC/into2.htm

http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/hack-your-way-out-of-writers-block/