When You Don't Feel Like Writing (Part 2)

Remember in my last post how I talked about sometimes needing a break from your writing?

Well, there's a flip side to that.

That's just the easy way out. There might be something else you need to do. And I know you aren't going to like it. Sorry to disappoint you.

When you don't feel like writing, it could just be procrastination or a lack of interest in your WIP. In which case, you probably just need to sit yourself in that chair and write.

But if you find the words aren't coming to you, try to get excited about your WIP. Plan the next scene in detail, make a pinterest board for your novel or character (as long as this isn't eating up writing time), try to become your MC and live the scene. I find sometimes, just thinking about my WIP can get me more in the mood to write. Especially if I think about why I did it in the first place. And why I want to finish it.

If that still doesn't work, sit down at your computer and just write whatever comes into your head. If it's about your cat, write it. Do you need oreos? Write that too. Just getting your fingers moving might be the spark to get your creativity and excitement going again.

A lot of the time, reading other's work is all I need. It makes me remember why I want to write and why I love it. Even if it's just a blog post, it could be your flash of inspiration. 

But how do you tell the difference between procrastination and a need for relaxation? I don't know. I haven't found a sure-fire way yet.

Usually, if you find yourself just lazing about, wanting to watch tv constantly or wasting hours on pinterest, you probably need to write.

But if you've been writing a LOT and you really cannot look at your manuscript again. A good novel or movie might be in order.

It's hard to tell, and sometimes you guess wrong. But you were actively trying to complete your novel. That's what's important.

Being stuck and not wanting to write can be a terrible thing. But if you treat it right, it can actually help you. It can make you just sit and write. No matter what ridiculous words find themselves on the page, you have written something. And that in itself is something to be proud of.

Many people don't even try. So bravo if you find yourself stuck! Because that means, you're at least trying. And that is the difference. 

Moral of the story?

Have you found yourself in this situation before? What are some ways you have found to get excited about your WIP?

When You Don't Feel Like Writing (Part 1)

"Writers block. No desire to write. Feeling like a time bomb. Need to get away." I sit shaking on my bed. Curled into a ball. I can't think about writing.  I need to get away. But what will my characters do without me? I brush away my exhaustion and pull my notebook toward me once more. I know something's wrong the moment I do. I begin to heat up. I shake uncontrollably and I realize what's happening. "I'm going to explode." I stutter. I widen my eyes in fear, and then, nothing.

This is me today. And I know you've felt this way too. We've all had those days. Days when we would much rather watch that new episode of Psych or Warehouse 13 (My personal favorites) rather than write. 

Maybe you'd rather play the Legend of Zelda or the Sims. 

Maybe for you it's reading that book you've been meaning to read for months or reading every post in the archive of your new favorite blog. (I've wasted hours doing just that.)

So what do you do when this happens?

You really wanna know? 

I say...just do them. Yeup. You heard me. 

Go watch that episode. Read the book. Play Zelda. Poor Link so desperately needs to be a Hylian again. He's sick of wolf form. 

I'm serious. If you feel you just need a break, chances are you do! 

You're creativity needs to be open to new things. 

It needs to take a walk, eat some ice cream, read new materials, get some fresh ideas, and soak in some more inspiration. 

It's impossible to just sit down and write for days. (Plus sleeping a couple hours.) 

You need adequate sleep, fresh air, new information. You're brain needs to be free. Because if it's not, you're work will gradually become worse and worse. 

You'll wonder, what's happening? Why can't I write as well as I used to? Why don't I want to write anymore?

Simple. You're killing your creativity. It's being suffocated. 

So to avoid that, I suggest doing something you enjoy. It might be just what you need to enjoy writing again. 

A Much Needed Push to The Desk

Lately I have found myself needing more inspiration to write. And yes, I am well aware that inspiration is a myth and that really, I just need to sit down and do it. But sometimes I need an extra push. You too? So I guess we both need a push. I've been looking at some writing quotes and I've found some that are soon becoming my favorites. So here it is, a push out the door! (Er...to the desk.)

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.
~Les Brown

You don’t have to say everything to say something. ~Beth Moore

No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. ~CS Lewis.

Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any. ~Orson Scott

If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. ~Stephen King

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. ~Ernest Hemingway

I am like a little pencil in God’s hand. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. ~Mother Teresa

Write something that’s worth fighting over. Because that’s how you change things. That’s how you create art. ~Jeff Goins

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! ~Job 19

The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Know that the Creator lives and moves and breathes within you. So those dreams? Risk them. Those words? Write them. Those hopes? Believe them. ~Elora Nicole Ramirez

So maybe now we all feel a little more "inspired" to write. I'd love to hear some of your favorite quotes on writing! Share them in the comments! Feel free to share what you're stuck with in your WIP or whatever's holding you back, I'd love to hear about that too! Maybe forming the problem into words will give you some ideas! :)

Writing Characters Who Are Your Opposites

How DO the bad girls think?

A few days ago, I was stuck on this question. This was my free write from that day:

"I've been stuck on this question for about 45 minutes. Im trying to write a character summary for the bad girl in my new WIP but I can't seem to empathize with her at all.

I'm a homeschooled quiet girl. (Not a "homeschoolER" mind you, just quiet.) So the brain of a rebellious girl who's always putting others down and chasing the hot boys is foreign to me.

I don't even have friends even remotely like this.

It's quite the problem. I know I need to write this summary so I can understand this character and so she isn't a boring shell of a person but I just can't get into her mindset.

I've been asking myself; "Why does she do these things?" "What are her dreams? " "What keeps her from these dreams?" But it's not working too well."

After I wrote the last sentence, my brain kind of exploded. I knew a girl who used to be a little like this. She wasn't mean or anything, just dark. She didn't chase boys either but that's beside the point. All of a sudden I had ideas. I felt like I'd just broken the surface of the water and could breathe.

The character summary isn't quite what I had hoped. It's lacking in a happy ending. I dont feel that bad for her, but I think I understand her better.

The secret was looking at WHY she's like that. (Ana's her name by the way.) Why does she chase boys? Her dad died when she was little and she's starving for male attention in her life. Why is she mean to others? No one is ever nice to her. Her mom was distant and now she's dying. Ana doesn't know what to do. She's at her wits end and the only way she knows how to deal with it is take it out on other people.

As simple as that. But I couldn't figure any of that out until I found someone I had met who I could sympathize with. If I don't have even just an inkling of sympathy for my charries, they end up flat.

And the only way I found that sympathy was free writing. So next time you're blocked,  try free writing. Maybe it'll open a new point of view for you like it did for me.

How do you write characters who are the opposite of you?

Forever at Odds

Dear Writers Block,

I know you seem to like me. I mean, you won't leave me alone so that says something. But unfortunately for you, the feeling is not mutual.
You're annoying, selfish, and you won't let me do anything I enjoy. You're barely letting me write you this letter and that's not supportive. It's not good for a relationship.
Our relationship has been rocky. I yell, you sulk. You don't give me space, I indulge you before resorting to yelling again. But it's come to the last straw. 
I know when I have the urge to deep clean my room that you've gone way too far. How could you do this to me?
So we have to part ways. It's the only solution. I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, but this is goodbye. Hopefully forever.

Sincerely, 
Beth

P.S. Please don't take out your frustration with me out on some other poor writer. Just go get a job at McDonald's or something.