A general poll for all you other writers out there...
If you hate your WIP, and all you do is sit at the computer and stare without adding one single word to the thing is it better to:
a. Keep staring and hope that something will come to you eventually. It's better to stay focused.
b. Work on a new WIP so that, at least you're writing something.
c. Play Spider Solitaire
What think you? I am curious about the answer, so please feel free to share your experiences with me.
BTW, I'm still looking for my funny bone. If you see, would you send it my way?
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3 comments:
IMHO (and this is what I do...not that THAT's saying anything)... when I'm completely stuck I start working on my short stories. At least I'm being productive and meeting some of my goals. I don't completely give up on my WIP, though. When we have our weekly prompts, I've taken your advice and am trying to find some way of including that in my WIP...that way I'm advancing in SOME way the WIP. Also, I look at other story prompts on other sites and brainstorm to see if there are any I can use as well. Normally, it doesn't take long for something to suggest itself and I can get back into it.
As far as your funny bone... it's there. I know this is easier said than done, but try not to sweat it. It will come to you. It's a PART of you, so it can't be gone forever. It's almost like trying to remember a name. In my experience, the more you try to remember, the more frustrated you get because you CAN'T remember. But...when you are least expecting it... BLAM... the name is just there. That will happen with Liv Leigh. Try not to think about it and I would be willing to bet that when you are involved in a lesson with DD or when you are feeding the cat or when you are loading wood into the heater, the perfect scene will pop in your head.
Well, it depends. Sometimes a stall means you’re trying to do something that doesn’t fit with the characters and their story. Sometimes, the intent is correct, but the execution isn’t what the story needs. Sometimes it’s simply the internal editor stalling you out and you simply need to write through it.
And sometimes it’s hard to know when to write through and when to step back. One thing I do when I can’t seem to get going is to force myself to write a sentence, a paragraph or two of what I’m working on, then I can quit. I go do something else, generally something physical--shower, exercise, fold laundry, load the dishwasher, etc.
A lot of times, that does the trick. Then of course, I have to rush back to the computer and get down whatever it is I thought of.
Hope this helps.
Thanks guys! I feel like a slacker if I don't write anything, but lately I just can't face Miss Olivia. Still, she's simmering in my brain, and I get flashes now and then, so maybe something will finally gel.
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