Writers block, FML

[Matt.i.presume]

Hey guys (and gals) I have an odd question that I am hoping fellow writers can help with. I have a really weird quirk with my writing. Once I get going, it just "flows". However, I have noticed (and this is totally odd) I can't write unless I am actively dating someone, or in a relationship. Weird I know. It's kind of like needing a muse of sorts. Currently I am in the process of moving with my company from Baltimore to Richmond, so for obvious reasons, I am not dating, nor do I plan on doing so in the next few months. Any advice? Suggestions? Totally weird I know but I need to break this. I am one hundred-fifty pages deep in a novel and can't get a page further...I have tried everything! Anyway, thanks for dropping by, and howdy, I'm Matt

[Raven Falcon.]

Hey guys (and gals) I have an odd question that I am hoping fellow writers can help with. I have a really weird quirk with my writing. Once I get going, it just "flows". However, I have noticed (and this is totally odd) I can't write unless I am actively dating someone, or in a relationship. Weird I know. It's kind of like needing a muse of sorts. Currently I am in the process of moving with my company from Baltimore to Richmond, so for obvious reasons, I am not dating, nor do I plan on doing so in the next few months. Any advice? Suggestions? Totally weird I know but I need to break this. I am one hundred-fifty pages deep in a novel and can't get a page further...I have tried everything! Anyway, thanks for dropping by, and howdy, I'm Matt

What genre is your in-development novel?
Different genres require different styles of writing. (you probably have known this)

[Calidore]

Does your S.O. actively participate in the writing, or is just having him/her a psychological relaxant? If the former, try using friends. If the latter, see if there's a way you can (legally) reach that state without one.

Maybe learn sign language so that while you're single you can have conversations with your right hand.

[Matt.i.presume]

Does your S.O. actively participate in the writing, or is just having him/her a psychological relaxant? If the former, try using friends. If the latter, see if there's a way you can (legally) reach that state without one.

Maybe learn sign language so that while you're single you can have conversations with your right hand.



Haha- it's nothing like that. I think it is more an emotional up-welling. Almost as though my inner-self is a lake that remains calm until a storm arises and churns the deep. They don't actively participate, just passively through I guess inspiration. A muse of sorts.


What genre is your in-development novel?
Different genres require different styles of writing. (you probably have known this)

I don't normally limit my genre. Currently I am in process of a dystopian novel and another is a historical epic.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hey guys (and gals) I have an odd question that I am hoping fellow writers can help with. I have a really weird quirk with my writing. Once I get going, it just "flows". However, I have noticed (and this is totally odd) I can't write unless I am actively dating someone, or in a relationship. Weird I know. It's kind of like needing a muse of sorts. Currently I am in the process of moving with my company from Baltimore to Richmond, so for obvious reasons, I am not dating, nor do I plan on doing so in the next few months. Any advice? Suggestions? Totally weird I know but I need to break this. I am one hundred-fifty pages deep in a novel and can't get a page further...I have tried everything! Anyway, thanks for dropping by, and howdy, I'm Matt

:lol: I'm sorry to laugh but this is hilarious. It reminds me of a Woody Allen short story "The Whore of Mensa" where the protagonist hires women for intellectual conversation. Here's a sample:


"I'm on the road a lot. You know how it is - lonely. Oh, not what you're thinking. See, Kasier, I'm basically an intellectual. Sure, a guy can meet all the bimbos he wants. But the real brainy women - they're not so easy to find on short notice."

"Keep talking."

"Well I heard of this young girl. Eighteen years old. A Yassar student. For a price, she'll come over and discuss any subject - Proust, Yeats, anthropology. Exchange of ideas. You see what I've driving at?"

"Not exactly."

"I mean my wife is great, don't get me wrong. But, she won't discuss Pound with me. Or Eliot. I didn't know that when I married her. See, I need a woman who's mentally stimulating, Kaiser. And I'm willing to pay for it. I don't want an involvement - I want a quick intellectual experience, then I want the girl to leave.

...

Seconds later, a silky voice answered and I told her what was on my mind. "I understand you can help me set up an hour of good chat," I said.

"Sure honey. What do you have in mind?"

"I'd like to discuss Melville."

"Moby Dick or the shorter novels?"

"What's the difference?"

"The price. That's all. Symbolism's extra."

:lol:

[Matt.i.presume]

Haha- just about right. I mean look: some people can't write unless they're sad, some because they need tragedy, some people need serenity, I happen to be someone who needs a muse. It's weird, I know- but it is keeping me from writing and there HAS to be a way to break it. You guys have to know of a way to break writers block.

[BookBeauty]

My best advice to you is to write anyway. I've found that, despite being frustrating, and difficult, it's the best way to get through any writer's block. Put your stream of consciousness in brackets and then continue with your thought.

For example:

George walked into the bar. He scrunched up his nose disdainfully when his gaze hit the bar stool, but he took a seat anyway. (Oh God. Now what? Erm.. I guess he could talk to the bartender? No, no.. Maybe I'll have him jump up on the bar and do a little jig. Well, that really wouldn't make sense, he's obviously a meticulous fellow. Ooh! I've got one!) With a low mumble, his face tilted downwards, he gazed sidelong at the doe-eyed babe on the other side of the room.


So, yeah. It's messy, but it gets the job done. I'm just too lazy to use this method for my current writer's block dilemma.

[LitNetIsGreat]

:lol: It's a shame you can't hire a women, like in the story. Hey maybe we have stumbled upon a rare business opportunity here?

[Matt.i.presume]

:lol: It's a shame you can't hire a women, like in the story. Hey maybe we have stumbled upon a rare business opportunity here?

Haha, I am afraid it's a little more complicated than that. My life is filled with interesting people to debate/talk/converse with, however, they don't do the trick. It is nothing with the libido either. So, no clue.



My best advice to you is to write anyway. I've found that, despite being frustrating, and difficult, it's the best way to get through any writer's block. Put your stream of consciousness in brackets and then continue with your thought.


Good advice, maybe I will try it. The only problem is: my mind tends to scatter like light through a prism when I have WB like this. What is your current dilemma?

[BookBeauty]

Good advice, maybe I will try it. The only problem is: my mind tends to scatter like light through a prism when I have WB like this. What is your current dilemma?

I have too many ideas, too much to write about. I have many, many unfinished projects that I never even get halfway through. I don't seem to know how to end it. It's sort of playing chess without knowing how to checkmate. It goes on and on and never manages to tie everything together cohesively. :)

I have a great fire in the beginning of a project that dwindles to nothing and I can't seem to bring myself to continue.

There's also the common writerly problem of being too hard on oneself, too analytical, too much, ''I'm not good enough, I'm a hack, I should just quit while I'm ahead,''

But I suppose the hunger to write is stronger than all of that.

I was recently told that I shouldn't put so much thought into it, and write because I enjoy it. Just enjoy what I'm doing for now, don't sweat it, start as much as you want and just let it flow, go between projects if I want to. And I suppose that I had forgotten that I write because I love writing.

But, writing and I, we have a complicated relationship. :lol:

[Matt.i.presume]

I have too many ideas, too much to write about. I have many, many unfinished projects that I never even get halfway through. I don't seem to know how to end it. It's sort of playing chess without knowing how to checkmate. It goes on and on and never manages to tie everything together cohesively. :)

I have a great fire in the beginning of a project that dwindles to nothing and I can't seem to bring myself to continue.

There's also the common writerly problem of being too hard on oneself, too analytical, too much, ''I'm not good enough, I'm a hack, I should just quit while I'm ahead,''

But I suppose the hunger to write is stronger than all of that.

I was recently told that I shouldn't put so much thought into it, and write because I enjoy it. Just enjoy what I'm doing for now, don't sweat it, start as much as you want and just let it flow, go between projects if I want to. And I suppose that I had forgotten that I write because I love writing.

But, writing and I, we have a complicated relationship. :lol:


Haha, I have went through the same thing. Maybe you also should do stream of conciseness, then go back later and polish it. I tend to write a couple chapters, go back, reread, polish, reread again then keep writing. That way you're not all fire, you just sort of keep the fire burning steadily and it helps with character development.

I deal with the "too analytical" portion through....you guessed it, the muse. LOL.

[BookBeauty]

I've tried a bunch of things, but I still have much more to try. :)

As for your writer's block, it's probably important to understand where it stems from, and why you do so well with writing while in a relationship.

Is it because of how that relationship makes you feel? Or maybe it changes your thought processes? How you're thinking? Are you euphoric? Maybe it's like a roller coaster?

Think back on memories of being with these people you had relations with. Think about what you were thinking and feeling at the time. And if all else fails, perhaps your writer's block is stemming from an unconscious desire for closure and/or a more thorough understanding of why you parted ways.

If it is how you were feeling, or thinking at that time, maybe you could somehow synthesize it, call the muse by calling up those emotions. Maybe reading romantic literature, or watching romantic movies, or even just daydreaming and pretending that you're with someone.

Once you've fooled your brain, then you start weaning yourself off of the dependency for those things, and eventually you can call up the muse at will. :D

[Matt.i.presume]

I've tried a bunch of things, but I still have much more to try. :)

As for your writer's block, it's probably important to understand where it stems from, and why you do so well with writing while in a relationship.

Is it because of how that relationship makes you feel? Or maybe it changes your thought processes? How you're thinking? Are you euphoric? Maybe it's like a roller coaster?

Think back on memories of being with these people you had relations with. Think about what you were thinking and feeling at the time. And if all else fails, perhaps your writer's block is stemming from an unconscious desire for closure and/or a more thorough understanding of why you parted ways.

If it is how you were feeling, or thinking at that time, maybe you could somehow synthesize it, call the muse by calling up those emotions. Maybe reading romantic literature, or watching romantic movies, or even just daydreaming and pretending that you're with someone.

Once you've fooled your brain, then you start weaning yourself off of the dependency for those things, and eventually you can call up the muse at will. :D


This is epic advice. The nearest approximation I have been able to come up with is: my inner life is like a frozen lake and nothing moves or stirs and everything settles when I am not with someone. However, when things get moving with someone, it melts the ice, churns the surface and deep and gets things moving.

I suppose this is a product of asking my heart to freeze at room temperature. Maybe I could try some of that. I am really close with most of my exes and have a couple good friends. Maybe Ill somehow at least find a shadow of that with them. Who knows.

The only point of contention is- I am an American and more importantly a Southern male haha, so romantic movies? UGH. Ill give it a try but good god, you might as well remove my manhood. I owe you a debt for helping. Ill send you my contact info, hit me up if you ever need help!

[WyattGwyon]

I have too many ideas, too much to write about. I have many, many unfinished projects that I never even get halfway through. I don't seem to know how to end it. It's sort of playing chess without knowing how to checkmate. It goes on and on and never manages to tie everything together cohesively. :)

I have the solution for you: Don't start a project until you have either (1) sketched a comprehensive plan or (2) written a really good ending.

[hallaig]

I've got a mate who's the same. Never written a word for 5 years cos he needs to be in a volcanic relationship. I'm OK cos I'm miserable all the time whether I'm in a relationship or not. What did Montherlaunt say, as often quoted by Philip Larken? "Happiness writes white."