I don't think I've ever had "writer's block" either. I'm always able to write something, though it can be difficult to write on specific prompts or topics if I'm forced into that. I like your questions to ask yourself, Kat. Another question I think about is, "Do I need to move/exercise?" I have a hard time writing much if I've been sedentary for a long time.
I wouldn't say it's writer's block, but there's a scene I recently decided I want to add toward the end of my book, approaching the climax, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to put there. Yes, there are things I can write and have written, but it all feels too boring, especially leading up to the climax. The scene involves my character researching and discovering information about employment discrimination, specifically based on disability. Of course, I think it's boring to show the actual research process of a character alone. I'm thinking of having her telling another person about what she found out, but for some reason, I can't get a clear visualization of the scene in my mind. That's probably the closest I come to writer's block.
Yes, exercise is so important! A walk can really clear my head and get me out of a rut.
I'm actually going through the same problem right now with my manuscript. Like I mentioned on IG, I have three POV characters in my novel, and my agent asked me to add one more chapter for one of the characters. I'm having a hard time visualizing that chapter at the moment, but it's slowly coming together piece by piece.
It sounds like you have a great strategy for solving this problem in your book. I totally agree that adding another character to the scene will help. I'm sure you've heard the saying that writers should crowd their characters to create tension, and it sounds like you're doing a great job of that.
Huh, I've actually never heard that saying about crowding characters to create tension. By crowding, does that mean just by surrounding with other characters or with some other types of things too?
Crowding with other characters! It's a useful trick to make sure that person vs. person conflict is driving the story since that type of conflict is typically the most effective kind.
I worked through these questions in early December, and found them to be a great way to fill in some of my info gathering, as well as cement some of the big ideas. The later questions, starting around 8 or 9, are really helpful as checkpoints for new chapters. Do you go through that kind of process? Round and round?
Yes! 8 and 9 are so helpful for chapters and scenes. We'll talk about scene objectives soon in the craft lessons, but those questions help a lot for creating scene-level tension. In my first drafts, I often put too many characters in a scene and gradually take them out in revision. Some other guiding questions I ask myself are: What does each character want from the other characters in the scene? Why don't the other characters want to give it to them?
I also get super excited about an idea and sometimes draft too early. It's hard for me to pivot and let go of those early ideas. So happy to hear the prompts are helpful!
I don't think I've ever had "writer's block" either. I'm always able to write something, though it can be difficult to write on specific prompts or topics if I'm forced into that. I like your questions to ask yourself, Kat. Another question I think about is, "Do I need to move/exercise?" I have a hard time writing much if I've been sedentary for a long time.
I wouldn't say it's writer's block, but there's a scene I recently decided I want to add toward the end of my book, approaching the climax, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to put there. Yes, there are things I can write and have written, but it all feels too boring, especially leading up to the climax. The scene involves my character researching and discovering information about employment discrimination, specifically based on disability. Of course, I think it's boring to show the actual research process of a character alone. I'm thinking of having her telling another person about what she found out, but for some reason, I can't get a clear visualization of the scene in my mind. That's probably the closest I come to writer's block.
Yes, exercise is so important! A walk can really clear my head and get me out of a rut.
I'm actually going through the same problem right now with my manuscript. Like I mentioned on IG, I have three POV characters in my novel, and my agent asked me to add one more chapter for one of the characters. I'm having a hard time visualizing that chapter at the moment, but it's slowly coming together piece by piece.
It sounds like you have a great strategy for solving this problem in your book. I totally agree that adding another character to the scene will help. I'm sure you've heard the saying that writers should crowd their characters to create tension, and it sounds like you're doing a great job of that.
Huh, I've actually never heard that saying about crowding characters to create tension. By crowding, does that mean just by surrounding with other characters or with some other types of things too?
Crowding with other characters! It's a useful trick to make sure that person vs. person conflict is driving the story since that type of conflict is typically the most effective kind.
I worked through these questions in early December, and found them to be a great way to fill in some of my info gathering, as well as cement some of the big ideas. The later questions, starting around 8 or 9, are really helpful as checkpoints for new chapters. Do you go through that kind of process? Round and round?
Yes! 8 and 9 are so helpful for chapters and scenes. We'll talk about scene objectives soon in the craft lessons, but those questions help a lot for creating scene-level tension. In my first drafts, I often put too many characters in a scene and gradually take them out in revision. Some other guiding questions I ask myself are: What does each character want from the other characters in the scene? Why don't the other characters want to give it to them?
I also get super excited about an idea and sometimes draft too early. It's hard for me to pivot and let go of those early ideas. So happy to hear the prompts are helpful!