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One of my favorite techniques for getting around writers block is to
think about what is supposed to happen AFTER the scene I'm stuck on
right now.
If you know what needs to happen next (or even have a glimmer), you
can use that as a springboard to get things moving. Upcoming
actions don't have to be a concrete knowledge -- a basic idea is just
fine. Just as long as you kind of know where the story is going.
Consider some of the actions that might need to happen in this
current scene to make upcoming scenes logical and write them
down. You're simply planting seeds for what's coming up.
For example, if Character A is going to be doing X in the future,
what would she need to do before that? If Character B is going
to be doing Y in the next chapter, what would make sense for him to
do here?
You don't even have to actually write the scene. Just write
about the scene and some possible things you could do with it or
directions in which you could go.
As you're brainstorming (on paper), consider other ways to express or
accomplish what you're trying to do in that scene. Often the
first thing we come up with is the obvious. Noodle on five
possible ways the scene could play out and see what shows up.
Start by WRITING something like the following, and then continue with
whatever comes up. Remember, you're not WRITING -- you're
noodling / brainstorming / making notes / or whatever:
"So I know that [character's name] is supposed to do __________
at some point and &ldots;"
"So if _________ needs to happen, then [character's name] will
have to &ldots;"
"Well, so I have this idea that _______ is going to happen, so
if that's the case, then I'm going to need a scene that &ldots;."
Don't forget, it doesn't have to be perfect -- it just has to be on
paper. You can burn it later if you want. Or not.
After all, it's not like anyone else is going to see it.
The best part is, as you start brainingstorming, the scene will take
shape. Elements will start to gather. You'll get snippets
of conversations and think up props and location details. The
best part is, even if you don't get the scene written, you'll be
further along than when you sat down and you'll probably be able to
turn it into something like a real scene next time.
But this is also what writing is. It's a process. It's
playing scales -- practice and rehearsal -- as you put it all
together until it turns into something. |
