It's Okay to Wait for Your Characters

[rynling]

What to Do If You Have Writer's Block
https://dduane.tumblr.com/post/633616801739276289/what-to-do-if-you-have-writers-block

To summarize, what Duane is suggesting is that, if you're having trouble, you should:

(a) Focus on one piece,
(b) Read it from the beginning,
(c) Take a few days to think about where it needs to go,
(d) Get rid of stuff it doesn't need, and then
(e) Write the character who speaks to you most directly.

I'm not sure if the particulars of this advice work for me, but it's interesting to consider. After all, it's always nice when a story falls into your hands fully formed, but it's been my experience that working on longer pieces involves sustained periods of waiting, reflection, and problem solving.

Comments

[runicmagitek]

> but it's been my experience that working on longer pieces involves sustained periods of waiting, reflection, and problem solving.

100%

I had a friend ping me a couple weeks ago at like 11pm going I AM 70k INTO THIS DAMN STORY AND MY MAIN CHARACTER??? IS JUST NOW???? TELLING ME HE PLAYS THE PIANO???????? And damn, if that ain't a mood. So much hard work goes into making these polished stories and it's so hilariously painful knowing some of this "work" is like the equivalent of being on a road trip and a small child telling you actually they need to use the bathroom NOW after you had asked ten times and the next exit is 20 miles away 🙃

Also liked the commentary on writer's block! Definitely good things to consider. The tone of it was what made me reblog it initially, because yes, I might actually contemplate murder if it means getting this damn story out of my head. Being told to not work on the story that evokes murderous delight left me all shockedpikachu.jpg tho