I wanted to do this for a long time, but always forgot to do so: Post that blog entry in English as well XD'' (German version can be found here)
Now here it comes!
Every now and then people as for advise when it comes to writing and what they can do about a writer's block, so I thought why not write a blog post about it?
A writer's block tends to occur mostly when the author lacks ideas or when e.g. a deadline pends. (<-- I know that way too well ... The NaNoWriMo is something like that, that pressures me too much because I want to reach the goal, but that leads to a writer's block in my case ^__^''' )
Suddenly it feels like your muse has just vanished or is on holidays; there is nothing left, no spark of an idea, only gawping blank. The worst you can do when it came to that is to force it. The reader will notice, believe me, and you as well will notice it when you re-read your work and that will get you down.
Spare yourself this and do not try to force ideas.
Instead, try to take one or all of these ideas to heart:
1. Tell someone (or a soft toy, if you do not want to talk to someone directly >__<) what you actually want to express with your story, what it is about and to where it should lead. While you tell this, it is possible you already gain new ideas.
Best of course is when your counterpart is someone who can talk (a human that is XD), that way you can have your ideas questioned, or you may be requested to explain it even better. Your counterpart will also tell you if it makes sense.
The goal is to make you think about it, to question your own ideas (what automatically will happen when you try to explain it to someone - at least it is like that with me) and that way free you from your writer's block.
2. Do a profile of your characters, deal with them.
If you are able to draw, way not sketch them? Their clothing, their arms, their jewelery, etc.
Write down what this character made him/her to what he is today. Write about his/her past, siblings/family, special abilities.
Develop a short story about one (oder more) of your characters. That will also help you to gain new ideas for your original story and maybe you are able to integrate that short tale about your character ^__^
It is always really helpful to occasionally deal with your characters more intensly and to let the original story rest.
This will not only help you to free yourself from the writer's block, but will allow your characters to gain more profoundness which makes them more convincing.
3. Try to also do a list of places, special objects, spells (if it is a fantasy story), creatures.
Describe them. The more detail the better. That will give you new ideas and again, will give things more profoundness. Dive into the world you created. Live it. Maybe you even create your own little story how you might be feeling in that world.
It will help you to experience more about this world and its creatures. Not only to make the story more interesting through these ideas, but also to get you back on track.
4. Think about what shall happen in your story. Even if you do not really know yet what e.g. the end should be like; a small portion of it is already there, trust me, like e.g. which character should not die (or maybe he/she should?).
5. Do not write what you might think others would like to read.
Write about what is on your heart, what YOU enjoy. Do not write for others but first for yourself. You write, because you love to write; because you want to give the reader a message; something that is important to you.
Do not write to impress others.
Everyone can be a writer but not everyone loves writing enough to really be one. Writing and the stories we want to tell come from the heart.
6. Place a pen and some paper next to your bed.
It happend many time to me now that I had the best ideas later at night or even in the middle of the night. You might resolve to still remember them in the morning, but believe me you will not. If you do, it will only be some pieces of it but by far not as great as your original idea. I really do speak of experience XD'''
7. If you really have no idea how to continue, take a break. Leave the writing be for a few days and do not think about it.
Occupy your mind with something else. Read a book, watch a movie or entertain yourself, go outside. The main thing is to not think about writing, your writer's block or how it may go on <-- you will not come any further if you continue to think about it, on the contrary!
With time, your problem will be solving itself.
It sometimes helps me to watch some beautiful fantasy movies (best for me is with awesome soundtracks and beautiful landscapes *_*). This way I was able to come up with some great ideas even though they had nothing in common with the movie I was watching, but to dive into another world cleared my mind and made my thoughts go on a joruney.
I hope I was albe to help you to get rid of your writer's block ^__^
Feel free to leave a comment or message me.
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