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Getting going
Sometimes I want to write and I just can't get going. I read all these things about how you must write a bit every day but it just doesn't work for me. What I find does help is to forget about writing all together and perhaps wash up (yes, really). When I suspend my thought they start to flow, so I have a dictaphone near the washing up bowl so I can just speak whatever I'm thinking. Works for me ...
Sometimes I want to write and I just can't get going. I read all these things about how you must write a bit every day but it just doesn't work for me. What I find does help is to forget about writing all together and perhaps wash up (yes, really). When I suspend my thought they start to flow, so I have a dictaphone near the washing up bowl so I can just speak whatever I'm thinking. Works for me ...
Posted by: Brian LePas
01 September 19:23 pm
Ok, here's a different writing process.
I always have 3 plays on to go. When I get bogged down with thoughts, plots, schemes, character development, set, lighting, sounds, colours or costumes etc, I stop writing that particular play, get some tea, and start editing or writing in of the other plays. I don't stop writing when the rythm of thoughts stall. Another thing I do when the thoughts are not flowing is to read someone else's play - I usually am reading a couple of plays at any one time. For instance, I recently re-read Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" from start to finish after becoming stalled on some humourus dialogue I was writing.
Whatever your process is for re-starting the flow, as a writer, you are consumed by the imagery in your head and will always need to get that imagery out of your head and onto paper, so just go with it and be crazy and creative with re-starting the flow when it stops. Personally, I never suggest to myself that I have 'writers block' and until I saw this posting, had not thought about those two words for many many years. Is 'writers block' a state of mind that can be controlled and discipliined? I think so :-)
Ok, here's a different writing process.
I always have 3 plays on to go. When I get bogged down with thoughts, plots, schemes, character development, set, lighting, sounds, colours or costumes etc, I stop writing that particular play, get some tea, and start editing or writing in of the other plays. I don't stop writing when the rythm of thoughts stall. Another thing I do when the thoughts are not flowing is to read someone else's play - I usually am reading a couple of plays at any one time. For instance, I recently re-read Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" from start to finish after becoming stalled on some humourus dialogue I was writing.
Whatever your process is for re-starting the flow, as a writer, you are consumed by the imagery in your head and will always need to get that imagery out of your head and onto paper, so just go with it and be crazy and creative with re-starting the flow when it stops. Personally, I never suggest to myself that I have 'writers block' and until I saw this posting, had not thought about those two words for many many years. Is 'writers block' a state of mind that can be controlled and discipliined? I think so :-)
Posted by: Jon Fletcher
06 April 11:19 am
In response to Sheila's comments, I think this site is really buzzing! In the end its what we make it isn't it? My most recent writing tip - in a learning by experience sort of way. I've discovered that if I can't sleep at night (doesnt always happen but comes and goes in phases you know) that rather than sweating it out in bed getting more and more wound up and counting the hours that I'm not sleeping (I know its daft) then I get out my trusty notepad and get to some wriitng. Its actually amazing to do this. I dont try to write anywhthing that makes any particular sense of is in any form and it just comes. sometimes its a diatribe on not being able to sleep (unpublishable - too many swear words!) but just occasionally something worth saving comes from it.
Just a thought for any fellow non sleepers
In response to Sheila's comments, I think this site is really buzzing! In the end its what we make it isn't it? My most recent writing tip - in a learning by experience sort of way. I've discovered that if I can't sleep at night (doesnt always happen but comes and goes in phases you know) that rather than sweating it out in bed getting more and more wound up and counting the hours that I'm not sleeping (I know its daft) then I get out my trusty notepad and get to some wriitng. Its actually amazing to do this. I dont try to write anywhthing that makes any particular sense of is in any form and it just comes. sometimes its a diatribe on not being able to sleep (unpublishable - too many swear words!) but just occasionally something worth saving comes from it.
Just a thought for any fellow non sleepers
Posted by: sheila cameron
27 March 16:37 pm
I would like to see a lot more interest on this site. We all need enthusiasm to 'get going.' I'm compiling an anthology of poems, also raising money for our local church through poetry competitions. check out other sites for more input. earlyworkspress.co.uk well worth a visit!
I would like to see a lot more interest on this site. We all need enthusiasm to 'get going.' I'm compiling an anthology of poems, also raising money for our local church through poetry competitions. check out other sites for more input. earlyworkspress.co.uk well worth a visit!
Posted by: Jon Fletcher
22 March 16:45 pm
I echo what Mick said - it can depend so much on what's going on and how I feel ... Sometimes though I just have to say (out loud) to myself; "Just get on with it mate" because I know I can put it off and put it off forever. When I do this and get writing I always have something to write, even if I reject it later.
I echo what Mick said - it can depend so much on what's going on and how I feel ... Sometimes though I just have to say (out loud) to myself; "Just get on with it mate" because I know I can put it off and put it off forever. When I do this and get writing I always have something to write, even if I reject it later.
Posted by: Mick Ward
17 March 08:42 am
I have found that my motivation is dependent upon many things: how well you feel (health-wise), how many distractions there are around you and if anything has inspired you. Mostly I'm a lazy writer, but I find that entering writing competitions generally gets me in the mood in record time. Over the past few years I have ended up with seven or eight pieces written in time for the competition closing date, then I have the agony of deciding which ones to enter!
On top of this, I have a fellow writer for a pen-friend and we set each other tasks, such as to write a piece using five countries in the text, or maybe write a complete story in just 24 hours (length pre-determined). My pen-friend is in the USA, but there are clearly lots of writers on this site alone....so lets get inspired!
I have found that my motivation is dependent upon many things: how well you feel (health-wise), how many distractions there are around you and if anything has inspired you. Mostly I'm a lazy writer, but I find that entering writing competitions generally gets me in the mood in record time. Over the past few years I have ended up with seven or eight pieces written in time for the competition closing date, then I have the agony of deciding which ones to enter!
On top of this, I have a fellow writer for a pen-friend and we set each other tasks, such as to write a piece using five countries in the text, or maybe write a complete story in just 24 hours (length pre-determined). My pen-friend is in the USA, but there are clearly lots of writers on this site alone....so lets get inspired!
Posted by: Paul Martin Chafer
28 January 18:59 pm
Promethean fire is a fickle flame at worst, a blazing inferno at best with a lack of temperature control. They say 'write everyday' I cannot write everyday: who can, and who are 'they' anyway?
I feel the trick is - and it is different for everyone - is not to force the issue but allow the natural flow of inspiration be your guide. Meanwhile, if putting pen to paper is proving difficult, just keep the grey matter working, searching for that elusive spark of inspiration and sooner or later the work will start to come and then you'll wonder what the problem was. We all have dry spells with no creative juice, it comes with the territory of 'budding writer'.
Promethean fire is a fickle flame at worst, a blazing inferno at best with a lack of temperature control. They say 'write everyday' I cannot write everyday: who can, and who are 'they' anyway?
I feel the trick is - and it is different for everyone - is not to force the issue but allow the natural flow of inspiration be your guide. Meanwhile, if putting pen to paper is proving difficult, just keep the grey matter working, searching for that elusive spark of inspiration and sooner or later the work will start to come and then you'll wonder what the problem was. We all have dry spells with no creative juice, it comes with the territory of 'budding writer'.
Posted by: Em
21 November 10:37 am
Sometimes I find my inspiration in really boring places where I find myself sort of switching off - like waiting for a bus or to see a doctor or something. When I do this I either seem to tune in to my own thoughts and come up with ideas or tune into other people's conversations - or bits of them. These can be fantasitic for ideas!!
Sometimes I find my inspiration in really boring places where I find myself sort of switching off - like waiting for a bus or to see a doctor or something. When I do this I either seem to tune in to my own thoughts and come up with ideas or tune into other people's conversations - or bits of them. These can be fantasitic for ideas!!
Posted by: Mark Radford
26 October 11:57 am
I had in the past found it difficult to motivate myself to write regularly when all the past work I produced got rejected. I took up a creative writing course and I soon learnt where I had been going wrong and it gave me renewed confidence. A reworked article of mine from the course got Highly Commenced in a contest so it was just the buzz I needed to get back into a regular schedule of writing and I rewrote my novel again and it's much stronger now and soon to be published. Perseverance really is the key to achievement.
I had in the past found it difficult to motivate myself to write regularly when all the past work I produced got rejected. I took up a creative writing course and I soon learnt where I had been going wrong and it gave me renewed confidence. A reworked article of mine from the course got Highly Commenced in a contest so it was just the buzz I needed to get back into a regular schedule of writing and I rewrote my novel again and it's much stronger now and soon to be published. Perseverance really is the key to achievement.
Posted by: Gianni Mansi
16 October 11:49 am
when it comes to "writing" I am certainly not an expert, well, in my opinion anyway. I find the best way to get going is to relax and not put pressure on myself. I just let my thoughts flow when I feel in the mood to "write", not worrying too much about my punctuation at this time, as I feel it is important to get my thoughts down on paper (or on the computer) as soon as possible, while they are still fresh in my mind. Watching a good film, or reading a book I find "inspiring", is sometimes all I need to get myself going.
when it comes to "writing" I am certainly not an expert, well, in my opinion anyway. I find the best way to get going is to relax and not put pressure on myself. I just let my thoughts flow when I feel in the mood to "write", not worrying too much about my punctuation at this time, as I feel it is important to get my thoughts down on paper (or on the computer) as soon as possible, while they are still fresh in my mind. Watching a good film, or reading a book I find "inspiring", is sometimes all I need to get myself going.
Posted by: Alison Prior
26 August 17:29 pm
When I have set myself the challenge to write something, it can take ages before I actually put pen to paper. Although that rarely happens these days - it is usually finger to keboard or if a long piece, I dictate it to the computer which types it for me. Anyway, I digress - I shuffle words around in my head long before I am satisfied to write. Then I read it out loud. It has to sound all right.
When I have set myself the challenge to write something, it can take ages before I actually put pen to paper. Although that rarely happens these days - it is usually finger to keboard or if a long piece, I dictate it to the computer which types it for me. Anyway, I digress - I shuffle words around in my head long before I am satisfied to write. Then I read it out loud. It has to sound all right.
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