Beating writer's block & getting to the end of a story
Before I get to today's reader question, I took a break from editing Bewitched & Betrayed this weekend and added long-sleeved t-shirts to my CafePress store. In the next few weeks, I'll be adding sweatshirts and hoodies. And in the next few months, Webmaster Todd and I will be completely revamping my website.
Now, on to today's question.
Rose asks: "I was wondering if you could give a budding author some advice. Since the age of five, I've been writing stories. However, I haven't been able to finish any; writer's block gets me every time. Any advice on how to over come writer's block?"
First of all, a question for you. Do you plot out your stories and have an ending in mind before you begin writing? I know a lot of writers like to strike out and see where the characters take them. I think of writing a book as a roadtrip -- but being a control freak, I like to know where I'm going, and where we're going to be staying each night along the way. I plot the same way. I know where I'm starting and where I'm going, and a few major plot points along the way. But at the same time, I'm not opposed to taking a cool, new detour if a character suddenly gets a case of independence. In fact, new ideas always pop up in the middle of a book for me.
Knowing how your story ends gives you the freedom to play around with the middle. I call it the "murky middle" because I always get bogged down at the halfway point. But by knowing how the book ends, I can write my way out of the swamp.
That being said, coming up with a concrete ending isn't easy. It takes a lot of brainstorming and trying out things. Take one of your stories that you feel really strongly about and give it a shot. Where do you feel that it's leading you, your characters?
Let me know if that helps you. If not, I'll take another stab at it. ; )
Lisa
Now, on to today's question.
Rose asks: "I was wondering if you could give a budding author some advice. Since the age of five, I've been writing stories. However, I haven't been able to finish any; writer's block gets me every time. Any advice on how to over come writer's block?"
First of all, a question for you. Do you plot out your stories and have an ending in mind before you begin writing? I know a lot of writers like to strike out and see where the characters take them. I think of writing a book as a roadtrip -- but being a control freak, I like to know where I'm going, and where we're going to be staying each night along the way. I plot the same way. I know where I'm starting and where I'm going, and a few major plot points along the way. But at the same time, I'm not opposed to taking a cool, new detour if a character suddenly gets a case of independence. In fact, new ideas always pop up in the middle of a book for me.
Knowing how your story ends gives you the freedom to play around with the middle. I call it the "murky middle" because I always get bogged down at the halfway point. But by knowing how the book ends, I can write my way out of the swamp.
That being said, coming up with a concrete ending isn't easy. It takes a lot of brainstorming and trying out things. Take one of your stories that you feel really strongly about and give it a shot. Where do you feel that it's leading you, your characters?
Let me know if that helps you. If not, I'll take another stab at it. ; )
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:39 AM
3 Comments:
Hi :)
Thanks for the informative blog post Lisa.
That was a great answer to a common question.
All the best,
@RKCharron
xoxo
PS - Yay for adding longsleeved shirts!
I used to have this same problem, being able to start a story but never finishing. And I think this is great advice. Some authors outline on paper, some outline in their heads, figuring out a few major scenes and the end of the book before they start to write; but I think that just about every writer who is able to make it to "the end" has an outline in some form, be it a detailed paper outline or a sketchy one in her head.
Thank you! I know if I didn't have the ending already worked out for my books that I'd be writing all over the place. I gotta have a destination. The road getting there will change, but I know I'll end up in the same place.
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