writer's block

jed_lether · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:20

Hikari Kisugi said:
Senacot
Clears most blocks

That's pretty funny!

LordSplodge · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:21

jp_bl_68 said:
Take a break. Focus on something else, maybe a menial task. Let the creative part of your brain rest.

This, as well as having tools to hand to write when the ideas or mood comes upon you.

J.B · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:22

I believe it was Seymour Cray who used to go outside and dig when he couldnt focus on something. Spent years digging a tunnel under his house.

How true that is I do not know but you get the point!

Sp00n · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:25

Seymour Cray said:
"While I'm digging in the tunnel, the elves will often come to me with solutions to my problem."

Sound's like he was taking acid as well, lol.

jed_lether · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:29

Sp00n said:
Sound's like he was taking acid as well, lol.

good lad haha

NathWraith · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:29

deleted a few posts here, keep it clean guys.

Von Smallhausen · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:12

Write about what you know.

I am putting together a short stories project albeit slowly and when I get the time.

Van Hellseek · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:15

NathWraith said:
deleted a few posts here, keep it clean guys.

What wasn't clean?

The joke was rubbish maybe, but nothing against the rules. And my point that he is a poor writer if he writes like he did in the OP is a perfectly valid opinion.

Writers need to learn to take critisism or they aren't going to get very far.

Edit: I also notice that you deleted my posts, but didn't delete his personal attack against me, which was actually the only post made in the thread that breaks forum rules. :rolleyes:

Edrof · 16 Dec 2010 at 14:29

seek said:
What wasn't clean?

The joke was rubbish maybe, but nothing against the rules. And my point that he is a poor writer if he writes like he did in the OP is a perfectly valid opinion.

Writers need to learn to take critisism or they aren't going to get very far.

Why do you even need to criticise him at all? Totally unnecessary in a thread where he's simply asking for help.

It is not obligatory to draft, spell-check and edit your posts on this forum so his opening post is OBVIOUSLY no indication of his ability as a writer.

Van Hellseek · 16 Dec 2010 at 14:33

Forde said:
Why do you even need to criticise him at all? Totally unnecessary in a thread where he's simply asking for help.

It is not obligatory to draft, spell-check and edit your posts on this forum so his opening post is OBVIOUSLY no indication of his ability as a writer.

Your point is logical. However, this is the internet. You can't make a post saying "oh hai I r writor". Without expecting someone to call you up on it.

jed_lether · 16 Dec 2010 at 17:04

I see your point, but its more about emotion for me, not punctuation.

Participant · 16 Dec 2010 at 17:04

Forde said:
Why do you even need to criticise him at all? Totally unnecessary in a thread where he's simply asking for help.

It is not obligatory to draft, spell-check and edit your posts on this forum so his opening post is OBVIOUSLY no indication of his ability as a writer.

Butthurt much.

Edrof · 16 Dec 2010 at 17:35

Robbie G said:
Butthurt much.

Oh look, it's like a forum post except with extra pointless stupidity. :rolleyes:

RDM · 16 Dec 2010 at 18:01

On the subject of writing I am really enjoying the windows version of scrivener, quite a nice word processing package designed for writers. Been on the Mac for ages and has good reviews on that.

Edrof · 16 Dec 2010 at 18:12

Interesting, I'll take a look RDM. Does it have any scriptwriting functionality? The justifications for scripts are very, very annoying in Word...

RDM · 16 Dec 2010 at 18:46

Forde said:
Interesting, I'll take a look RDM. Does it have any scriptwriting functionality? The justifications for scripts are very, very annoying in Word...

I believe it does though I haven't looked in to it. It is very well respected in the mac community and I know quite a few people who swear by it. Especially the electronic cork board.

semi-pro waster · 16 Dec 2010 at 19:35

Milkybk said:
Without punctuation it's just a jumble of words. A writer would take pride in what he/she is doing, so there is truth to what people are saying.

I must disagree, if Cormac McCarthy can write and get lauded as a genius then punctuation is, by implication, unnecessary. See also DBC Pierre for a similarly cavalier disdain for the conventions and niceties of actually punctuating your work to aid your reader. Coincidentally (or otherwise) two writers who I think are massively overrated.

Two broad approaches I know of for dealing with writers block, the first has already been described which is to do something else until it passes, the second is to simply set yourself time when you must be writing i.e. you do nothing else during that period but sit down and try to write. I'd personally favour the first approach normally but if it doesn't work it might be worth trying the other. Also if you're writing a novel then it might be worth writing a short story/poem while stuck to just get you back into the habit of writing or vice versa.

RDM · 17 Dec 2010 at 00:42

Just realised I didn't pop a link in for Scriviner and whilst I am sure all you interested chaps are quite capable of googling it, here we go!

Scriviner

Any budding Mac writers should probably have a look at the site too.

jed_lether · 17 Dec 2010 at 12:53

Thanks for all the advise and criticism, im not educated in English to any standard, but have pumped out a few poems after digging a hole in my garden and drinking some red wine, the block has faded and have a few new fans of my work, Thanks again.