Post by The DLF on May 23, 2006 15:19:24 GMT -5
Lesson 2: Imagine Writing & Writers' Block
In case you're wondering, the subject of my lesson is in two parts; I don't want you to imagine writers' block.
First, we will talk about a way to envision the way a story comes to you. The first thing in this process is to think how it feels when an idea comes to you. Someone (I can't, for the life of me, think who) said to, or near, me, "It feels as though the stories are out there, and every so often one comes in." (Disclaimer: this may actually be from a book; it is certainly not an exact quote; and it may not even be about stories. This is a perfect example of how not to quote when you write. ) My own picture is that of a pottery vessel, with the water being poured un, and the vessel tipping itself, and pouring the water out again. The vessel is me, the water is the stories God pours into me. What is your analogy?
And, speaking of analogies, that brings us to writers' block.
I once got writers' block for around six months or more. I never even realized it until I got over it. It was terrible, looking back on it now, because it seemed as though something was missing. I could still read, laugh, run, jump, sing, draw... But I couldn't write.
Now, I describe it like this: When you don't know how to express yourself, that's bad, but when you don't have anything to express, that's writers' block, and it's worse.
Next time you get writers' block, my recommendation would be to:
a)Read a book or watch a movie that you either really, really like, or really, really hate. Let yourself get r'iled.
b)Pace while talking to yourself until you find a combination of words that perfectly fits how you feel about something in the book/movie.
c)Write it down.
d)Repeat until you have a pageful of these, then organize them into something that makes sense.
I haven't tried this, but it seems to work in theory. If I had writers' block, I'd sure try it. I hate writers' block. I imagine everyone does.
Assignment: think about an analogy for writing, and write a paragraph or more about it.
Assignment Part 2:Try to avoid writers' block, and deal with it when it comes.
This lesson written by The DLF
In case you're wondering, the subject of my lesson is in two parts; I don't want you to imagine writers' block.
First, we will talk about a way to envision the way a story comes to you. The first thing in this process is to think how it feels when an idea comes to you. Someone (I can't, for the life of me, think who) said to, or near, me, "It feels as though the stories are out there, and every so often one comes in." (Disclaimer: this may actually be from a book; it is certainly not an exact quote; and it may not even be about stories. This is a perfect example of how not to quote when you write.
) My own picture is that of a pottery vessel, with the water being poured un, and the vessel tipping itself, and pouring the water out again. The vessel is me, the water is the stories God pours into me. What is your analogy?And, speaking of analogies, that brings us to writers' block.
I once got writers' block for around six months or more. I never even realized it until I got over it. It was terrible, looking back on it now, because it seemed as though something was missing. I could still read, laugh, run, jump, sing, draw... But I couldn't write.
Now, I describe it like this: When you don't know how to express yourself, that's bad, but when you don't have anything to express, that's writers' block, and it's worse.
Next time you get writers' block, my recommendation would be to:
a)Read a book or watch a movie that you either really, really like, or really, really hate. Let yourself get r'iled.
b)Pace while talking to yourself until you find a combination of words that perfectly fits how you feel about something in the book/movie.
c)Write it down.
d)Repeat until you have a pageful of these, then organize them into something that makes sense.
I haven't tried this, but it seems to work in theory. If I had writers' block, I'd sure try it. I hate writers' block. I imagine everyone does.
Assignment: think about an analogy for writing, and write a paragraph or more about it.
Assignment Part 2:Try to avoid writers' block, and deal with it when it comes.
This lesson written by The DLF
