Quote:
Originally Posted by mjhudston
I'm trying to write other stuff as well, I.E my blog which is turning into a rant session of late.
how do people write their stories. do they use story boards, note books or anything else? I tend to make notes in my notebook when they come to me, but as I said nothing of late.
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I'm on a roll at the moment and I write this, not to gloat, but because for the last year, I could write nothing at all. There were a number of things messing with my head and I had no thought collection time. It wasn't a good scene because I'm creative and when I'm not creating, I go a bit mental.
So for what it's worth I've discovered these things.
1. As many people here have said, don't push it, you can't force something but just writing any old cobblers, even if it's how you can't write, will help unlock.
2. Writing is subconscious and for me at any rate, it comes from other stuff. What I mean is, my brain can come up with lots of wacky ideas and I can write reams and reams but only if I'm putting other things into it. If I stop listening to music, or the radio or stop reading other books then slowly but surely it dries up.
3. The story will come when it is ready. So while it's fermenting, don't be afraid to step away from the keyboard. I've been fannying about with my second book for ages. I had lots of scenes written and lots of ideas but I couldn't get them to go together. I took some time off and then, suddenly, last weekend, the whole sequence of events fell into place.
4. How full is your life? Sometimes there's just too much going on. Using me as an example - my writing stopped completely (apart from the stuff I did at work) for the four years I had a decent job. I don't work now, but I'm a stay at home parent with a 3 year old so my writing still grinds to a halt in the school holidays. After a day entertaining a 3 year old, even one who is very good at amusing himself my brain is too fried to write. Indeed, I usually spend the first few pre-school sessions of term listening to music and generally defragging my brain.
5. If you are down, or tired, or too busy you may have to accept that there is no room for writing right now. Don't push it. Stop, step back and when you do write, remember it isn't a race. It doesn't matter if your work in progress takes years to finish, take the time to enjoy it. What's important is not how fast it comes but whether or not, when you've finished, you're proud of what you've written.
It's probably all cobblers but that's been working for me!
Cheers
MTM