The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

littlemanpoet · 08-01-2002, 10:56 AM

I think I've finally discovered the cure to Writer's Block, thanks to Nar (where are you, Nar? did the great deep dark 'vacation' black hole steal you away forever?).

That's to write down every likely scenario and see how it spins out. A secondary way is to use a trusted sympathetic reader/listener and hash out the issue together.

You know, I think multiple scenario writing may not even take longer than avoidance, which is the usual means of dealing with WB. So it's nothing to get intimidated about, and you wind up having a pretty clear idea of what won't work and what will, and what works best.

Naaramare: I suggest that you write the most extreme version you can think of first. Let the wildest (within the limits of what works in your story) things possible happen between Puck and your protagonist that you can think of. Once you've done that, you at least have vented and you may have a pretty good sense of what WILL be best. Hope that helps. By the way, I'm glad you're writing because it's really fun peeking inside your head. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks anyway, Lila and ST. As it turns out, I DID discuss my latest difficulty with my wife over supper (I usually can NOT talk with her about my story - feel too threatened most of the time by her suggested changes which usually feel ALL wrong. Hmmm, do opposites attract, or what?). Anyway, I'm going to drop the thugs and gang members altogether because I suddenly realized that that ol' Society of the Sciences of Antiquity would be aware of my fairy woman like she was a lightning rod, whether she did any magic or not, because she IS magical. So they're not too far away and they interrupt their rite to check this curiosity out, and (it's the evil segment of the Society, of course) they accost her (there's 13 of them including my arch villainess) and the Felloth that possess them suggest to them to use this magical woman as the focus for their rite, which will do her much harm by turning her into one of them. And my protagonist has to rescue her from THAT. And that's before they even meet the REAL bad guy. I'm beginning to like the way this is going... hee hee hee

dragongirlG: So I would agree to the "sit down and write" school of busting WB, but have a method instead of sitting there banging your head against the table.

Thinhyandoiel: I hope at that first convention of FWW we have a MAJOR thunderstorm. Won't it be great?

Ruthwen: Welcome to AYWSF! Enjoy reading it and post often, and may your inspiration last long as Fairie lives on in the minds of us all. To help that along, have three cups of your fav virtual brew on me (nonalcoholic if you're under age and really care about all that).

|_|) |_|) |_|)

Care to tell us a little about your favorite story (that you're writing)?

08-01-2002, 10:56 AM	#32
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	I think I've finally discovered the cure to Writer's Block, thanks to Nar (where are you, Nar? did the great deep dark 'vacation' black hole steal you away forever?). That's to write down every likely scenario and see how it spins out. A secondary way is to use a trusted sympathetic reader/listener and hash out the issue together. You know, I think multiple scenario writing may not even take longer than avoidance, which is the usual means of dealing with WB. So it's nothing to get intimidated about, and you wind up having a pretty clear idea of what won't work and what will, and what works best. Naaramare: I suggest that you write the most extreme version you can think of first. Let the wildest (within the limits of what works in your story) things possible happen between Puck and your protagonist that you can think of. Once you've done that, you at least have vented and you may have a pretty good sense of what WILL be best. Hope that helps. By the way, I'm glad you're writing because it's really fun peeking inside your head. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Thanks anyway, Lila and ST. As it turns out, I DID discuss my latest difficulty with my wife over supper (I usually can NOT talk with her about my story - feel too threatened most of the time by her suggested changes which usually feel ALL wrong. Hmmm, do opposites attract, or what?). Anyway, I'm going to drop the thugs and gang members altogether because I suddenly realized that that ol' Society of the Sciences of Antiquity would be aware of my fairy woman like she was a lightning rod, whether she did any magic or not, because she IS magical. So they're not too far away and they interrupt their rite to check this curiosity out, and (it's the evil segment of the Society, of course) they accost her (there's 13 of them including my arch villainess) and the Felloth that possess them suggest to them to use this magical woman as the focus for their rite, which will do her much harm by turning her into one of them. And my protagonist has to rescue her from THAT. And that's before they even meet the REAL bad guy. I'm beginning to like the way this is going... hee hee hee dragongirlG: So I would agree to the "sit down and write" school of busting WB, but have a method instead of sitting there banging your head against the table. Thinhyandoiel: I hope at that first convention of FWW we have a MAJOR thunderstorm. Won't it be great? Ruthwen: Welcome to AYWSF! Enjoy reading it and post often, and may your inspiration last long as Fairie lives on in the minds of us all. To help that along, have three cups of your fav virtual brew on me (nonalcoholic if you're under age and really care about all that). \|_\|) \|_\|) \|_\|) Care to tell us a little about your favorite story (that you're writing)?