(no subject)

[keiliss]

About writing.

I know what I want to explore in the chapter I'm trying to write. I know which characters I want to write about. I know how to make the progression from here to later chapters of the fic. I just seem to be having a terrible problem bringing the words to life.

Everything I write looks flat, anonymous and colourless, and has for the last week and a half. I can't hear the characters talk, I can't see their logic....it all just feels like the written equivalent of elevator music. So I'm depressed. And because I'm depressed, I can't see my characters clearly enough to write them. And so I'm depressed. And on and on the loop flows, endlessly...

The worst is that I know this is probably normal, that it will lift. I look at the previous eleven chapters in this fic and remind myself that, yes, I wrote that, and there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to do it again, I just need to be able to relax a bit and create more writing time for myself. And it doesn't help a damn bit!

Okay - I won't say I feel better, but it's nice to whinge a bit. Very therapeutic *grins*

*Goes back to staring at ugly, flat, colourless words. Considers drinking more Jack Daniels instead*

Comments

[ex-fimbreth.livejournal.com]

Drink the JD. And if you have any left, put the bottle in the mail and send it to me, I could use some too. I know the feeling, sweetie. Yesterday I knocked through an entire chapter of my story... the words were just flowing perfectly. Today I've written two pages of crap. Complete and utter shit.

*yawns and thinks longingly of the Absolut that is in the freezer*

[riina2504.livejournal.com]

Darling, because of your Finnish connections you should now drink Finlandia instead of Absolut *grins*

[ex-fimbreth.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I know, I know! But on our last Caribbean cruise, we stocked up on Absolut in St. Thomas. Next time I'll buy the Finlandia.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good advice, Fim. I drank the JD, as instructed (all of it, sorry, sadly there wasn't much in the bottle) and went to bed. I figured things always look better in daylight :) It passes, right? *hugs Fim*

[larianelensar.livejournal.com]

Maybe try writing something with new characters? Short and light? Kind of break out a rut? And yeah, some liquor might be good too *grin*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I like that idea - something short and completely different. I've been living with these characters for over nine months now, including the time spent writing the stand-alone that Doubt grew out of. I have a few unfinished ideas I can haul out and play with. Thanks :)

[nikkiling2.livejournal.com]

I completely understand, as I'm having a similar problem. I wish I had some sage advice or something, but...well... sometimes it helps to just set it aside for a little while and work on something else. Kinda sucks for the readers *grin*, but I'm sure we'd understand. In fact, that's what kick started my last chapter; writing a short something that was 180 degrees different.
Another thing that kinda helps for me, and I'm sure I may have mentioned it before but, tape recorder by the bed. Record the voices as you go to sleep in that moment between sleep and wakefulness when they all seem the most clear.
And of course red wine... lots of red wine! *grin*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Red wine is good, lol! And yes, writing something completely different appeals. Standing back makes a lot of sense after all these months, and if it leads to something half as good as your short, very different piece was, I'll be more than happy. Thanks, Nikki :)

[erviniae.livejournal.com]

It will all happen again--put on loud music and dance about--get yourself out of your funk--or use the funk to capture some of the darkness within!

Hugs,
kat

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Kat:) Loud music is great (goes to find headphones) Dancing around is not so good. Last time I tried that in this rather small room the cat ran and hid in the bedroom!

Capturing the darkness, though - now that's a thought.

[erviniae.livejournal.com]

Feeling any better sweetie?

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

"hugs Kat* - much better, thanks. Seeing that people cared enough to stop and leave a comment really lifted my mood a lot. And I think I've worked out something very important - this fic has to write itself. The minute I start trying to impose my logic on it, instead of letting it find its own, things go wrong.

So I am drinking red wine and trying to write fluff - something I simply cannot write - until such time as my muses are so intimidated that they finally get back to work :)

Kei

[riina2504.livejournal.com]

I think this is something we all go through. I know I have. It seems my muse was scared away by my boring thesis and he hasn't come back. *sniffles* So, I'm working on other stuff and hoping that at some point LOTR will start flowing too. And it will, just like your writing will. In the mean while getting drunk sounds good *grins*

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Another vote for alcohol!! *grins - likes* Thanks, Riina. When my muse gets back I will be sure to ask if he saw yours while he was out partying or whatever he is doing. And yes, I'm sure the words will start flowing again soon - for both of us.

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

*le sigh* Same here. After a while I just started saying 'to hell with it' but I admit the perfectioninst in me has a hard time with this attitude. Well, good luck to you... and the fic is wonderful so far. :)

Tal

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Tal, so much :) Unfinished work makes me edgy at the best of times, so staring at a couple of paragraphs on an otherwise empty page for too long reduces me to a quivering wreck - as you might have noticed, lol!

*hugs Tal*

[ford-of-bruinen.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling sweets.. I have battled with that a long time now *hugs* hang in there and start threatening them, it might help

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Now THERE'S a thought - I could threaten them with being sent to live with your Elves if they don't cooperate. That should scare those muses into working overtime. Btw - lovely short fic, sweetie. Beautiful writing.

[lotrangel17.livejournal.com]

Once I finished my last story I have not been able to write a thing. I am seriously thinking about writing a mpreg story just so I can write about all the things I am complaining about right now, lol. Hang in there, it will come back soon :)

*hugs*
Steph

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks Steph, I'm sure the words will come back, though sooner rather than later would be good :) And I liked your drabble. It was really cute. Is there more to follow?

'hugs' - Kei

[lilyfrost.livejournal.com]

*hugs* It'll pass, don't worry. I've found that, no matter how hard you try, you can't force words.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Lily "hugs Lily much* I know - I was trying to force the words to come when they weren't ready, and you're right - it doesn't work one little bit.

Kei

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Hi sweetie,
Oh, how well I know this one. I would like nothing more than to be prolific, have words flow easily and not have to change anything. Unfortunately, a lot of the time writing is just damn hard and yeah, everything comes out crap. What I've found works for me:
1)Let it sit for a while and just think about it, especially as you're drifting off to sleep and your inner critic is giving way to the dream creative. Sometimes it's because you're trying to have your characters do something that isn't right. Working it through your head can reveal that.
2) Give yourself permission to write a crappy draft - no one will see it - just slog through it like a commando wading through a muddy swamp, lousy language and all. When you get to the other side, you can always dump what you wrote, rewrite, and finally get it where you want it.

Now if I can just get out of my own slump, where nothing is working, I'll be doing well. *g*
Hugs,

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - love the idea of the crappy draft, mine currently fits the description with no effort on my part - two different shades of highlighter, three different colour fonts, unconnected bits all over the file, two and a half versions of the same scene, all bad, time line and background notes, and scenes that go on and on and on because I can't seem to get them to come to the point. Somewhere there's the core of an idea, but right now it's buried so deep... And you got the other problem right, too. I was trying to make a character act against his logic. It doesn't work. It SO doesn't work!!

*hugs elfscribe tight* I hope you will be playing nicely with the pretty elves soon - kei