Saturday’s Question & Answers
Kelly Francis asked: HOW DO YOU JUMP START WRITER’S BLOCK?
CP: For me, writer’s block is usually a few specific things: a) a result of a transitional issue - how to get from point A to point B and I call Janelle or another Plotmonkey and cry until they help me; b) I’m in the wrong character’s point of view. This happens to me ALL the time and instead of recognizing it, it takes me two weeks of NOT writing to remember that’s my problem and try again in another character’s point of view, one who has more at stake in the scene; c) I have NO idea where to go next, in which case I call Janelle or another Plotmonkey and cry until they help me; or d) I’m just not writing in which case I call Janelle or another Plotmonkey and cry until they help me!
JD: Most of the time it’s a matter of the story not going in the right direction that leads to writer’s block for me. Or I need to rethink a plot point or conflict issue. When that happens, I take time away from the story — believe it or not, sometimes a nap can make things gel for me! Or a walk. Something where my mind can just THINK. When that doesn’t work, Carly and I try and talk things through (she’s my one-on-one critique partner). It’s funny how the two of us can nail each other’s problems in a story, but can’t fix our own, LOL! However, there have been many times when I’ve posted a “help” message on our Plotmonkey loop, and Julie and Leslie come to the rescue and we’ll all four figure out what the problem is. The nice thing is, I never feel alone when I come up against writer’s block — I always know that even with the toughest story, I have my Plotmonkey pals there to help me through the rough spots.
LK: For me, writer’s block isn’t so much a block as it is a dead end. I don’t hit a wall, I simply “run out” of road. The story has taken me down an interesting side path on my travels and it’s dropped me on my butt out there in the midddle of nowhere.
If I’m in a “normal” writing mode–i.e., everything is good in my life, I just let myself get off track–I can almost always get myself moving in the right direction again by asking for a road map from my Monkey pals. 95% of the time they point me the right way. In an “abnormal” writing mode–when life has just interfered (or I’ve *let* it interfere) I just have to wait out my awful frame of mind and jump right back in the moment the energy, enthusiasm and excitement for the story & its characters returns.
JEL: I find tequila works best. A good mojito (little rum, little lime, little mint) also helps. Seriously (do I have to be serious?) writer’s block is usually an issue of getting back to basics, talking to my plotmonkeys and rediscovering my direction. I sometimes skip troublesome scenes or jump around to a scene I really want to write and then fill in later. I sometimes use my layering techique, which can help in getting me going again.
Good Morning Ladies! It’s great the way you guys can bounce ideas off each other and help each other through rough patches of writing.
leslie, I just finished “here comes trouble” and loved it! :love2: Will Max’s brothers get there story’s written? I read the excerpt to the next Trouble book and i’ll say it sounded a little scary. I can’t wait to read it!
Can’t wait to here all about Atlanta and all the shopping I’m sure Carly did.
Comment by TRICIA — July 29, 2006 @ 7:44 am
WOW I feel special I’m the first to post. This is what happens when you go into work on a saturday morning :wallbash:
Comment by TRICIA — July 29, 2006 @ 9:09 am
I am so glad that you are able to break your ‘writer’s block’ or else we wouldn’t get such great books!
I am almost through the first of the “Boys of Summer’….whew!!!!
Comment by katie — July 29, 2006 @ 10:51 am
I am so glad that you can bounce things around between yourselves and come up with solutions to writers block. We would never have the great stories from you all otherwise. :thumbsup2:
Hope all went well in Atlanta and waiting for the lowdown from you all……..
Comment by Cryna — July 29, 2006 @ 10:58 am
Good Morning Ladies.
What a great question and answer that all you ladies come together to help each other out.
Leslie I got Here Come Trouble yesterday and can’t wait to read it.
Comment by Cherylann — July 29, 2006 @ 11:02 am
Carly,
I was cleaningmy curio cabinet today and guess what I found. A MONKEY WOO HOO.
You sent it to me when my friend Tina wrote to you about our reading group Classy Ladies.
His name is SPANK from Under the Boardwalk
He can be my mascot for the PLOTMONKEYS
Comment by Cherylann — July 29, 2006 @ 11:11 am
Julie, it seems to me your way sounds the most fun!:cocktail:
Comment by Susan — July 29, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Thank heavens you all have a good way to get by your writer’s block.
I say thank you because we get great books to read from all of you. It must be really frustrating to go along & hit that road block–can’t imagine.
I finished Boys of Summer–great job Julie & Leslie, Kimberly too, of course! :love2: Fun reading even though I’m not a baseball fan.
Take care, everyone have a great weekend.
Comment by Donna M — July 29, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
It’s good to have such great monkey friends, huh?
Comment by Arlene — July 29, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
Yay…I love it when I can pop on here and read an answer to one of my many questions. LOL!! Lord knows I ask a bunch.
I think it is very interesting how each of you deals with things a bit differently. But yet all rely on having a monkey or two help out when it’s needed.
Now Julie, your answer made me think of another question….. “Have you ever written something then wake up the next day to read it and think…What the hell was I thinking last night?” Heehee!! I am sure if you have ever had a few too many Mojito’s that could happen.
Okay, is the trip over with yet??? It hasn’t been the same this week without all of you here posting. Hurry back soon okay? :oops:
Comment by Kelly — July 29, 2006 @ 8:28 pm
Julie’s fix for a mental block seems like a winner. No telling what you can think up when your brain is loosened up a bit with a nice shot of Tequilla.
It is good that you ladies have such a smart group of monkeys to call on whenever you find yourself going down the wrong side road of a story.:doggie:
Comment by Gigi — July 30, 2006 @ 11:28 am
It’s great you all help each other out. Thanks for sharing the insight on how to keep moving when you get stuck. It was great meeting Janelle, Carly and Leslie in Atlanta! Looking forward to seeing you all (and meeting Julie) in Dallas next year
Comment by Yolanda — July 31, 2006 @ 1:34 pm