OCC: Writers Block

[Momoka Azuka]

Some of you know I've been writing my roleplay of my Elite character for quite some time. For the most part my post have been nearly daily unless things in my personal life come up to stop that from happening. However since my last post only one thing is stopping the next part from going up. It doesn't exist yet. I know what I want to happen with the next part but can't seem to put any of it into words.

Now I know I'm not alone when it comes to wanting to see more from all the talented writers of the many logs in this community but I also know as one of those writers, sometimes you can hit a brick wall that stops your fingers from typing the words needed to make a good story.

So I'm kinda asking for a little help. Not so much as to help me with the next part but more to help me get past this writers block I'm dealing with atm. How do you guys and gals deal with writers block? Are there certain things you do to get focus when coming up with something, is there some steps I can take to get me typing again or do you watch certain tv shows or read certain books to help you think?

Please let me know. At this point I'd even go so far as to do that strange ritual Matt and Marra did with the cow and that heart. (I'm probably not gonna do that. I'll just drink a whole bottle of vodka and pretend I did. )

 

[CMDR M. Lehman]

The best thing to do is to not be afraid to step back and not take the writing too seriously. I mean, unless it's your job to be a writer, why pressure yourself to produce daily output? One of the best sayings I've heard about writing is a little crude, but it absolutely applies:

"Writing is like farting. If you have to force it, it'll probably be crap."

If you wanted to get in the mood to write, why not go back to the source? Play some Elite for a few hours, have fun, and ask yourself what the grander story could have been behind a mission you took, or an interdiction you got caught up in, or a smuggling run you pulled off?

If that doesn't work, then by all means just give yourself permission take as much time off as you need! Writer's block happens to all of us. There's no need to get warrior-mated to some strange bounty hunter just to have the gods help you with your writing!

 

[Becks]

For me it's basically writing when I have the time and the mood. So mostly somewhen around 1 am when I'm too hyper to sleep xD
Against a writing block I'm usually running around in my room trying to react the blocked scene.
May seem a bit weird, but works for me

One of the best sayings I've heard about writing is a little crude, but it absolutely applies:

"Writing is like farting. If you have to force it, it'll probably be crap."

Dat quote ... I like it.

 

[CMDR Argent Steel]

If I feel like I need to write a thing but don't know how to proceed with it, I make outlines. I find that putting up some kind of outline serves as a scaffolding around which I can write, and it might let me mentally climb out of a hole, if you get the metaphor.

Don't do what Matt and Marra did with the cow. Just...they're bad people, and don't do it.

 

[M. Grey]

...
"Writing is like farting. If you have to force it, it'll probably be crap."
...

Well, I'm not a writer but this goes for anything you do! If you force it it will won't be good!
Take your time, focus on something else and clear your mind.
Then you'll probably wake up in the middle of the night and have a good idea...make notices...and before you know it, you have your story.

 

[lordpsymon]

I feel you right now. I've been having writers block for the last couple of weeks. It's a hard thing to get out of, but taking a break and reading other works helps to get me back in the mood.

 

[pippo]

To be honest, it's already quite a feat the amount of content you've achieved to throw at us in such a short (relatively speaking) space of time.
I too, have hit a brick wall after a year, part of it from experiencing the same 'writers block' you talk about but also because since I was roleplaying my story in game, I ended up realizing that I was holding myself from playing the way I wanted in order to keep the story matching the gameplay.

My only advise would be to not think about it too much and just go on and play the game as you please, I'm out exploring for example and still loving every bits of it.
I wish sometimes I could write about it too but I'm not too focused on it.

 

[Marra Morgan]

There's no need to get warrior-mated to some strange bounty hunter just to have the gods help you with your writing!

Damn, there goes my suggestion!

I get stuck quite often and I find that playing the game helps with inspiring a storyline or event.
Whenever I find it difficult to get into Marra's character and mindset, I listen to music that I think reflects her; Garbage, L7, Silverfish - anything feminine with a bit of aggression! Lately I've been finding it much easier to slip in and out of character - for the sake of my family and friends, I don't let the lines blur, of course! But I get the feeling my husband doesn't mind so much...

 

[lordpsymon]

I find also watching other sci-fi (especially Firefly in my case) ends up helping to reignite my inspiration.

 

[Yaffle]

I don't write in a linear fashion. I know the plot, so do the bits I want to do or have in my mind, and then go and backfill.

If I am really struggling other than imbibing I'll just write about anything. The tree by the window, the sound of the birds, anything. Seems once I have started it's okay again.

 

[lordpsymon]

I don't write in a linear fashion. I know the plot, so do the bits I want to do or have in my mind, and then go and backfill.

Essentially what I've been doing - filling in gaps in the canon.

 

[M. Grey]

Both can help...
...doing something that is related to the writing. In this case watch a sci-fi movie, read other logs, play ED...lots of ED.
...or...doing something completely different and unrelated.

For me it's gym, bit of martial arts, the good old sandbag, basically being physically exhausted that really clears my mind.

 

[Predy]

Basically, a writer's block is not having the will, neither be in the right mood to write.
Most writers fight this status going in desolated places, fishing and smoking (Hello there George R.R. Martin) or doing any other activity which should let the brain recover his old status. But this is just forcing it to write something, and it's needed to professionals cause they have to deliver a minimum number of pages before an established deadline.

In this case you don't have this trouble. Writing here is basically meta gaming on ED, and it's considered pure entertainment for the writer and the readers.

Most people here are right: you don't have to force yourself, just take your time to recover the will to write your adventures.
Anyway, if you feel the need of getting some ideas around, i would NOT recommend watching TV, movies or books. Other sci-fi stories outside the ED background would interfere with your fantasy. So the best way could be to read stories around here and any other roleplaying site based on this game, there are many excellent stories around and most of them could contain useful information for crossovers scenes or something like that.

Also, a VERY good way in my experience could be finding someone to role play with IN GAME. This will automatically generate multi-pov stories worth being narrated.

 

[CMDR Argent Steel]

Damn, there goes my suggestion!

I get stuck quite often and I find that playing the game helps with inspiring a storyline or event.
Whenever I find it difficult to get into Marra's character and mindset, I listen to music that I think reflects her; Garbage, L7, Silverfish - anything feminine with a bit of aggression! Lately I've been finding it much easier to slip in and out of character - for the sake of my family and friends, I don't let the lines blur, of course! But I get the feeling my husband doesn't mind so much...

This is something else I think is useful. In my case I'm writing a whole load of backstory, but if I ever do catch up to now, I'll likely rely on gameplay for ideas.

 

[Momoka Azuka]

Thanks for all the tips. I think my biggest problem is I've haven't taken a break from writing without it being something outside of my hands before now. That and I seem to be flooded with ideas for roleplay related to my character's time in a Sidewinder which I may do something with at some point. I'll try not to force and let the ideas come when they come. Thanks again for the help.

 

[CMDR M. Lehman]

I don't write in a linear fashion. I know the plot, so do the bits I want to do or have in my mind, and then go and backfill.

If I am really struggling other than imbibing I'll just write about anything. The tree by the window, the sound of the birds, anything. Seems once I have started it's okay again.

This is actually really great advice. If I have a scene in mind (even if there isn't a solid plan to develop it into a story) I'll usually just write it out. Writing what you know you want or what you want to see tends to make the task of writing the "fill-in" parts easier. In fact, the entire story that Marra and I are co-writing is based on some inspired word vomit I sent over to her one time. It's a very good idea to write in a non-linear fashion, filling in parts of a greater story as the mood hits.

 

[Hell Razor5543]

My Mother has had a few books published (she was paid for them), and, on one occasion, she had a story she KNEW was terrible, but until she wrote it down and got it out, it was blocking her writing process. Once she had written it (and had it rejected by her agent; it really was that bad), it was out of her system and there was now 'room' for the next story to develop in.

 

[Momoka Azuka]

This is actually really great advice. If I have a scene in mind (even if there isn't a solid plan to develop it into a story) I'll usually just write it out. Writing what you know you want or what you want to see tends to make the task of writing the "fill-in" parts easier. In fact, the entire story that Marra and I are co-writing is based on some inspired word vomit I sent over to her one time. It's a very good idea to write in a non-linear fashion, filling in parts of a greater story as the mood hits.

My entire roleplay came to me in a weird way actually. I knew three things about it for sure. I'd be in a Cobra for most of it, I'd be fighting against a traitor in my brother's crew and how it will end. Kinda. The rest has been me coming up with ideas to getting to that end. Granted I do write kinda fast, for the most part it's non-linear. I actually have three whole parts ready to go if I can get this one thing I'm stuck on out. I agree though. I think I need to just step back and take a bit of time away from writing since I have done so much is a short amount of time.

My Mother has had a few books published (she was paid for them), and, on one occasion, she had a story she KNEW was terrible, but until she wrote it down and got it out, it was blocking her writing process. Once she had written it (and had it rejected by her agent; it really was that bad), it was out of her system and there was now 'room' for the next story to develop in.

This sounds exactly like my current issue. I can't seem to write my next part because of this idea involving my character's past with her Sidewinder. Maybe I should do a little prequel story to get it out of my system. Now that I think about that... Hmmm

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

One thing I find that works for me, is to try a different medium. Print out the story you are working on and start by proofreading what you have and then continue writing until you have run out of spare room on the paper.
Another thing to try is to explain what you are writing to someone, even if it's just the cat.

 

[lordpsymon]

One thing I find that works for me, is to try a different medium. Print out the story you are working on and start by proofreading what you have and then continue writing until you have run out of spare room on the paper.
Another thing to try is to explain what you are writing to someone, even if it's just the cat.

Never thought of that idea. I need to get a printer. Or maybe I'll just use the one at work.