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Over the last month I have been working on a novel. I've written 40,000 words, that's 13 chapters with no problems, but suddenly I've hit the wall. This morning I find myself using typical displacement actions. Anything other than writing! I have started editing the stuff I already have down, and that's not the way I usually write. I normally do a complete first write then put it away before editing it. You may have noticed I have posted on here a few times as well! I have not run out of ideas and have at least another nine chapters planned. It's just creating them that's the problem.
What do you do when you hit your wall? Any useful tips and insights? All suggestions gratefully received.
Comments
I'm not the best person to give any tips or advice today as I am being almost slovenly in my approach to writing today. The best I can say at the moment is, take a break from the novel, spend even more time on TB and put it all down to it being February .
Good luck :)
good luck :)
Perhaps that's the problem. It is planned. In my case, every time I right something, I delete it because then it is in 'the wrong place', whilst I am also trying to make the transition to the next point smooth.
Try to to worry - it happens to us all.
If I were in your shoes, I would go back to my outline or skeleton and just check that the logic follows through to the end of your concept. You don't necessarily have to have already done a very detailed plot but you need some idea of the continuity.
Alternatively, scrub that bit for the moment, start working on another section (as Carol suggests) and join 'em up later, when you're in the mood.
Good luck.
If your characters are where they aren't supposed to be, mentally, physically or on the plot arc - find out where they dared to venture off path!
Paperbackwriter has hit the nail square on the head; I am due to write a chapter of subplot that has only recently come to my mind.
I wrote some time ago on here about forming a writers' group. This is a perfect example of when I would love to have someone I could contact to share problems. This group is doing the job very nicely, thank you.
written how I want it. for me the solution is to hit a couple of carriage returns, switch to italics and write, "What
happens next is..." Then carry on with the next chapter. I don't worry about leaving holes in a first draft cos they
can be filled on first edit.
More imortantly I've invested the time in plotting each chapter - nothing in depth, just a few sentences - as a guide, so if I do find the momentum slowing, I have that guide to fall back on. Fail to prepare = prepare to fail.
A short story will keep you writing and let the solution to your problem simmer on the back burner.
Me too - I should be getting shopping done so I can get back to re-writing my book.
So my son's toy hedgehog was naturally called Harris.
Years later I wrote a verse for each of my kids' toys, and this was one:-
Harris the hedgehog loved to eat slugs,
hed go round the garden hunting out bugs.
The gardeners family started to feel
the occasional worm was not a good meal.
They offered him sausage and even paella,
but he thought a treat was a fat caterpillar.
They tried him with pizza and custard in jugs,
No thank you, hed say,"I'd rather eat slugs."
[/quote]
Good idea, how about this one, max 1500 words:
http://erewashwriterscompetition.weebly.com/
This competition is also making a donation to a charity or voluntary group. See website for how a charity or voluntary group of your choosing could benefit.
Well worth the effort.
hedgehog seems to have been christened Snuffles, because my wife says that the only noise he makes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2095112/Piers-Morgan-Joan-Collins-tried-cocaine-sneezed-blew-Sammy-Davis-Jr.html
- towards the end of Tuesday (NOT the bit about Joan Collins).
GCSE in any particular subject? If not, Norcot's advice is good.
You could always try asking your family for ideas - they might surprise you.
Or you could "interview" a grandparent or elderly neighbour - older people often have a fund of stories just waiting to be tapped and would be thrilled to be listened to.
Record your interview on something - ASK permission first! - and make notes later. This method keeps the conversation flowing.
Good luck.
Oh, and if your name's Amber, an extra good wish cos we have a granddaughter with the same name!