View Full Version : I am a writer who cannot write.
Dasquian Belargic
Dec 12th, 2005, 12:58:09 PM
Why can't I write anymore? I'm so worried that after 5 years my creativity has completely burned out. As far as 'hobbies' go, writing was the one that I've taken the most pleasure out of - yet is now giving me the most anxiety. At first I thought that being in love had some how affected my creativity; one friend even commented that I needed to get drunk and beat up a few hobos to get back to my noir roots, pretending to be the illegitimate love-child of Vonnegut and Pratchett.
For a while I thought that my inability to come up with anything might have been a byproduct (conversely) of depression, or a result of no longer possessing any interest in the sort of subject area that I was tackling, but neither seem to be the case. Certainly not the former, as it's been a long, long time since I felt the motivation to write. It seems the more I try, the more I spew out stale mediocrity. I've always wanted to be a writer, but it's impossible to be a writer who can't write. I need 50ccs of inspiration, stat.
Morgan Evanar
Dec 12th, 2005, 01:05:22 PM
Light some (safe) things on fire. It will make you feel better. Also reading and watching good things usually helps.
Loklorien s'Ilancy
Dec 12th, 2005, 01:44:27 PM
Music always helps me - soundtracks mostly. I've got a whole cd case devoted to my soundtrack collection, and I don't know how many mp3 collections. If you ever want any, I'll be glad to send them your way.
Khendon Sevon
Dec 12th, 2005, 03:07:00 PM
When it doubt, break away from the mundane.
For creativity, I find that I get inspired under two conditions:
First, when I’m extremely depressed. I just can’t contain myself when I get sad; I have to express what I feel. Usually it means I end up writing something moderately sorrowful or do a digital painting with complex metaphors for every iota of emotion I possess at that moment. Eh, my poetry comes from here, too.
Next on the little list would be when I pull myself from the banal drudgery of boring, boring everyday work. There’s nothing like throwing aside my homework and school books and taking a walk up and down Hoboken, or going on a short trip into the wilderness for some camping and alone time. (I guess music, movies, having a conversation about a story I want to write, etc, essentially, have the same separation of everyday and fresh).
Then again, I’ve been getting inspired recently by sipping Virgil’s rootbeer. Eh, it’s really, really good! Don't look at me like that! It allows me to unwind (a beer can do this, too, but my writing sharly falls off in quality as the beer intake increases).
Of course, there are always those times where inspiration just doesn’t come. Maybe you need to cross-train? If it works for sports, why not for inspiration?
Inspiration is so personalized that I can’t really provide a formula or a surefire thing, sadly.
All I can hope is that this post somehow helps to inspire you to get inspired ;)
Akrabbim
Dec 12th, 2005, 03:44:29 PM
Explosions.
Morgan Evanar
Dec 12th, 2005, 03:56:00 PM
Originally posted by Akrabbim
Explosions. See?
Eh, it’s really, really good! Don't look at me like that! It allows me to unwind (a beer can do this, too, but my writing sharly falls off in quality as the beer intake increases).I write really really really well when I have a buzz going. I worry about it.
Zereth Lancer
Dec 12th, 2005, 04:44:06 PM
I read for inspiration. Either something star wars or by Terry Pratchet. Music helps alot too. It can stir up emotions and such if its good music. I'd also try a movie. Either something with action (Guns, exposions, that kinda stuff) or perhaps a stirring drama, or even a comedy to raise your spirit with a few laughs.
I also find that reading my old threads, or even other peoples; can help remind me of what I used to be all about. It can show you where you where, you know where you are, and then you can find out where you want to go.
Lighting thing on fire is fun, but I've never gotten inspiration from it, except to burn something else.
Daiquiri
Dec 12th, 2005, 05:00:52 PM
I know exactly what you mean! For me, the words just arent there anymore. Theres no 'flow' to the wordage. Hopefully one day my synapses will begin firing again.
Lilaena De'Ville
Dec 12th, 2005, 05:05:28 PM
Or read some of your old stuff - however this might also just make you more depressed, so do so cautiously. :hug
You can't force it - you have to get excited about it again, and if that isn't happening with one subject, then it may with a different subject matter.
Dasquian Belargic
Dec 12th, 2005, 05:08:00 PM
Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
Or read some of your old stuff - however this might also just make you more depressed, so do so cautiously. :hug
Yes, this is the case. I can't get into those characters heads anymore, for one :(
Wei Wu Wei
Dec 12th, 2005, 05:13:06 PM
For me, some of my best ideas have come from other types of writing and research. I've got two story ideas that have made quite a bit of headway thanks to my Theology and Philosophy of Mind classes.
You could always go out somewhere and watch people interact or try to guess what a person might be like based on what they look like.
Or you could just be still.
Pierce Tondry
Dec 12th, 2005, 05:39:37 PM
I would like to talk to you about this subject personally, Dasq, sometime later this week. I was in a similar pit of uncreativity last summer, but have since worked my way out through a few personal events. Knowledge of my path might help you find yours.
Sudoku
Dec 13th, 2005, 12:19:56 AM
I've had the same thing happen to me more than once...:uhoh Which is why I reset myself and reread stuff I've done. I guess it works, because I havent quit yet.
I think the problem some people have had since the reset is there is no good vs evil element - there aren't really any major groups, and I find a lot of people are more focused on their own stuff then doing something major. [/off-topic]
Droo
Dec 13th, 2005, 01:37:13 AM
Brilliance inspires me. I have private love-affairs with genius. For example, you want character quick? Watch The Silence of the Lambs.
Originally posted by Pierce Tondry
I would like to talk to you about this subject personally, Dasq, sometime later this week. I was in a similar pit of uncreativity last summer, but have since worked my way out through a few personal events. Knowledge of my path might help you find yours.
I would also like to be privy to your experiences with regards to this sort of thing. Perhaps, a few of us could get together in an AIM convo sometime and have a good long chat about our writing experiences, what inspires us, what we like to write about and so on.
Marceloi
Dec 13th, 2005, 02:48:20 AM
I get inspired getting into a mental 'battle' with smeone else trying to one up them. One of the best I've been involved with was a collaborative effort that worked so well as good minds were unleashed to go for it and it was also something I wanted to contribute to
LOve to do it again
Dasquian Belargic
Dec 13th, 2005, 02:51:59 AM
I'd very much like that, Droo :)
Cirrsseeto Quez
Dec 13th, 2005, 06:47:02 AM
Music, DVDs, and guns do it for me :D
Lilaena De'Ville
Dec 13th, 2005, 12:10:08 PM
My characters always work best with a nemesis. :)
Migg Laos
Dec 13th, 2005, 09:49:37 PM
:hug
DON'T PANIC.
Don't beat yourself up about it. It's hard not too, but don't. You can't force writing--well, you can, but it will sound forced and that will just frustrate you more. Everybody gets writers block. After To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960 (right? I think so...) Harper Lee was said to be writing her second novel. In 1961 she said that she was only managing a page or two a day if she was fortunate.
Also, have you considered the possibility that maybe you're brain is recharching, or something is percolating? Sometimes, during the mad panic of 'I can't write anymore!', it's difficult to recognize that slow hum of inspiration.
The very best creative writing teacher I ever had was fond of telling our class, "Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first call promising."
It'll pass. :)
Dalamar DeSang
Jul 9th, 2007, 11:09:39 PM
Really I feel the same way Dasq. I think I just needed a break. I just feel listless at the computer. A good book does inspire sometimes. But mostly the blahs are there.. So I guess if you figure out a way out of your writing funk. ELIGHTEN me.. lol
Lilaena De'Ville
Jul 9th, 2007, 11:10:35 PM
Considering this was two years ago, I think she worked through it. ;)
Dasquian Belargic
Jul 10th, 2007, 06:21:45 AM
Well... that's debatable :mneh
Lilaena De'Ville
Jul 10th, 2007, 07:59:17 AM
Well, *I* think you worked through it. ;)
Mu Satach
Jul 10th, 2007, 10:36:05 AM
You know a fun read about writing is <i>Bird by Bird</i> by Anne Lamott. It's a fun, fast, helpful read regarding all the hurdles involved with writing that I really enjoyed. It has become a book I recommend anyone to who loves to write.
I'm also a big fan of library's, so don't buy it, but check it out and read it. Super fast read, I think I sailed through it in two or three nights during or right before finals one year. :)
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9575620-0195247?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184084890&sr=8-1">Amazon.com link</a> just for reference.
Itala Marzullo
Jul 10th, 2007, 05:29:20 PM
Bite more than you can chew. I have three storylines for TMC, past, present and future and if I run out of something, I'll always have something else to draw from.
Listening to good soundtracks with orchestral tracks helps a lot. Watch fantasy and sci-fi films for a week or so, that should help you.
Dasquian Belargic
Jul 11th, 2007, 10:20:44 AM
Oh, I bite off more than I can chew. I certainly don't need to do any more of that.
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