10-3-00
Writer's Block, at eWCenter
By: Andy Bloxham
I guess I would need to say SOMETHING about it sooner or later, since I went ahead and named a column after it . . .
It is a common problem among many and most of those who write, whether it is in e-feds or in general writing. It's a stigma known as writer's block (oh how disgustingly clique'!). I've seen questions from time to time from different
handers who are asking for some ideas to help get them out of writer's block. I've talked to a few people who were completely stuck in their roleplay or essay, and they said they had no idea where to take it, or even where to start.
Well, thanks to a good English professor, as well as a few things I've tried in the past, I have this neat little list of things you can try the next time you have no idea where to go with your piece. Some might have seen them before, but...umm....then just turn your head. :)
Anyways, first thing to do before you even write is . . .
(1) Brainstorm
Throw out a lot of ideas you have for what you are about to write about. Piece them together, using clusters or any other way you do it, and decide what all will fit, and what all will not. By doing this, you're making a rough outline of what the whole piece of writing should be about. It should give you an idea of where to take something after one part of it is over, and well help you to know how to start off, since you've already mapped out the ending. That gives some allowance for some accurate and well placed foreshadowing early on.
But let's say you just started writing. Bypassed the whole prewriting phase, and went straight to the white screen/paper. Then, the next thing you need to know is . . .
(2) Avoid staring at a blank page.
Countless times in the past, I have literally just sat and looked at a blank notepad. I had no idea what to write. In fact, this past weekend I had to have an essay done about marketing. I decided to skip doing the outlines, and figured I could just start out with the introductory, body, and conclusion. Nope, wasn't going to happen. At least, not as long as I knew I had all of those steps I had to have done. So, to avoid the staring at a blank page, I just start writing on it. You can go back and fix things later,
but the first few initial words that you write down can sometimes snap you out of that cold trance that you're sharing with the computer.
There are other ideas, though, that can help you get out of writer's block . . .
(3) Visualize yourself writing.
It might sound stupid, but try imagining yourself writing. A lot of athletes will pump up for their game by envisioning himself doing spectacular catches in the outfield or running 60 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter. It works for them. Why can't it work for a writer? Give it a try one day.
(4) Picture an image or a scene, or imagine a sound that relates to your topic.
This was something taken from my class notes. It probably relates more to the essays that people have to do in class, but it can relate to roleplaying as well. Try playing the cd track or mp3 of your character's theme. Let it play through, maybe even let it repeat itself. Visualize your character while listening to it. Relate the sound of the music to how it is your character, and use it to help you get in that frame of mind.
Again, another sports reference (I don't even like organized sports as a whole, so it beats me why I'm making them examples). Ever hear about how some teams will play a certain song in their locker room? It's something that they identify with through repetition of it and their team's ability. It helps put them in the "zone," and as a result, enables them to specifically focus in on what lies ahead for them.
(5) Write it as a letter.
This would probably involve switching from the conventional 3rd person perspective, and into an area most don't venture into in e-feds...1st person. Basically, it would be your character writing everything that happened. To do this, it would take a little more of fully understanding your character's whole persona. In essence, you ARE your character in these roleplays. It's a definite change of pace for your writing, but also a fun style to try when you need something else to counteract what all has been going
on recently with your character. Perhaps he has inner feelings that he wouldn't exactly express on camera. Well, perhaps he would express them in a letter or journal.
(6) Start in the middle.
You have a good idea for the roleplay, but are just stuck with the intro and leading it all in. Well, try to go ahead and write what you know about in the roleplay. Get that all out there and on "paper," and the intro should be easier to come up with since you already know how it will conclude. It's kind of like reading a book halfway, and then reading the ending real quick, before jumping back to where you were. Suddenly, everything makes sense as you continue to read on further into the book. That's the idea behind starting in the middle and working your way around that.
(7) Use free writing.
Free writing is nonstop writing. Just start writing, whether it has to do with the topic or not. Continue with the writing, even if you get off track. Above all else, don't stop the writing. After a little while, everything will seem to click, and you can just simply go back and edit out everything else that didn't belong.
By using this method, you could probably even come up with a few more twists and ideas for the roleplay that you hadn't even thought of. After a little writing, your mind begins to open up better, and it seems to flow. It goes a long way with the spontaneous creativity.
(8) Write the dialogue first.
This is something I have grown to do a lot of. During the writing of the Revelations story, I had a lot of instance where I had no idea what I wanted to write for different parts of it. I knew, roughly, what I wanted the characters to say during the parts, but couldn't just sit down and write it all out in a detailed paragraph form. So, I decided to pull out a piece of paper and pen, go outside to the hammock, and just write the dialogue between the characters. After getting that done, I would just come back
inside and type up what I had. From there, all it took was just filling in the details that led from sentence to sentence.
It's a different approach from being trapped in a chair and having to strain your brain for how you will set up some dialogue that you don't even know yet. Along with that, when writing the dialogue straight out with pen and paper, you get a better understanding of what the character should say. Instead of it being instant key strokes, it's physical writing that often involves more questioning before making the ink stroke.
(9) Switch your methods of writing.
If you normally write in the standard in ring format with very brief moments of description, then try to put your character somewhere else. Use a lot of progressive details, and minimize his words to only the slightest things that need to be said. It'll refresh your writing spirit now that you have something new to conquer.
Along with this pattern, you can also try non-dialogue roleplays. They tend to really help in fleshing out your character. Instead of having the character say who he is, have the description tell that. Say what the character is thinking, but don't have him verbally say it. Keep it as a documentary of sorts on the character.
(10) Enact what you are going to write.
Seriously! You have ideas, but have stumbling blocks in them here and there. Then try to get up and "become" the character. Verbally say what he says, and then see what your next reaction is. If it fits, write it down.
Doing something physically strikes a different kind of thinking than to write what is in your head only. You know what would be awkward to do in person. You know first hand if a movement from one thing to another actually works. Better yet, you get a better understanding of your character, which is a definite positive in continuing to chip away at that idea in your head. Soon, that idea will become three dimensional, to where you know each and everything about the character, and know how he would react
in any circumstance.
Well, I hope this helps someone. I even had to use an idea from here to get this finished. Not to mention, just about every essay I have had to write so far this quarter.
Writer's block isn't all bad . . . it just helps to create alternative ways to your creativity.
Andy Bloxham
