tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post3623251177831935104..comments2024-03-10T04:29:20.044-04:00Comments on Mad Genius Club: Sticky pointsSarah A. Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-27145471129631558062009-08-26T04:26:36.992-04:002009-08-26T04:26:36.992-04:00Chris it comes back the old I am my own worst crit...Chris it comes back the old I am my own worst critic ethos doesn't it? I just wish I could just leave it a whileAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-88781045667124025462009-08-26T04:02:33.974-04:002009-08-26T04:02:33.974-04:00Sarah, I must be badly stuck as I plan to go to an...Sarah, I must be badly stuck as I plan to go to another continent...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-5504514202838826152009-08-26T03:56:22.176-04:002009-08-26T03:56:22.176-04:00(nod) Kate I often find explaining the story reall...(nod) Kate I often find explaining the story really works for me. One the advantages of co-authoring.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-84962818166758125732009-08-24T21:57:47.354-04:002009-08-24T21:57:47.354-04:00Weirdly, I get stuck before the problem. I'll ...Weirdly, I get stuck <i>before</i> the problem. I'll write so far, but if I don't know what's supposed to happen a couple of chapters from where I am now, I can't go forward.<br /><br />If I don't get anywhere on a couple of days letting it stew, I talk it out with my writing group. THat usually unknots things.Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-12587553894053155552009-08-24T20:35:24.720-04:002009-08-24T20:35:24.720-04:00If something isn't working, I usually get this...If something isn't working, I usually get this annoying little knot in my brain. I have to wander a away and keep thinking at it for a while. The solution usually emerges the next day.<br /><br />In terms of writers block - for me its more phases where nothing I write and nothing I do seems to be working. But the thing is - there is usually nothing all that wrong - its just low creative biorhythms. When I got back to the same work with more mental energy, its usually fine.<br /><br />When I am in that down phase my output drops to nigh on zero. I am still there, at the computer, but I am going over the same paragraph again and again. When I come back to those few pages as a 'renewed' writer - they can often be the best writing I have done in a while, even though at the time I can't think of it as anything else but a mess.Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-44558773089916206682009-08-24T19:20:49.693-04:002009-08-24T19:20:49.693-04:00I go through phases. I used to do the jump around...I go through phases. I used to do the jump around a lot. Sometimes my books were all pieces of books, nothing coherent. <br />Nowadays, mostly, when I hit the snag, I print everything I have -- outline, research, everything -- and go somewhere unusual for me. Unusual meaning a place where I don't normally write. Could be the living room, or the library downtown, or even the park -- and read over all of it. Somewhere along the line by brain snaps into the big "duh". <br /><br />With me it's usually a snag in the thread stopping me. Either a character acting out of character; a plot point that simply is not convincing; or a scene that's badly out of place.Sarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-10328531470069735562009-08-24T09:20:39.826-04:002009-08-24T09:20:39.826-04:00Amanda -seriously - several of my books ended up m...Amanda -seriously - several of my books ended up more like jigsaw puzzles than linear progessions - with jumping forward - and then when that piece was clear, backfilling. I listed those in reverse order of what I try first, I realise.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-8741946874455945032009-08-24T09:16:59.476-04:002009-08-24T09:16:59.476-04:00Matapam - that's one of the reasons I struggle...Matapam - that's one of the reasons I struggle so much with first person. It's also why so many authors slide in omniscent (yes there ARE authors who do this well - but precious few of them) because showing the whole picture needs - as it were - another camera angle.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-87593593332375534082009-08-24T09:02:18.077-04:002009-08-24T09:02:18.077-04:00My current sticky book - solid stick all the way -...My current sticky book - solid stick all the way - was helped when I realized that the story problem could only be resolved by a rather nice Bad Guy.<br /><br />He was already a POV character, I just had to reframe the story (ie ditch a third of it) so he was the main character and the actions of his side emphasized. <br /><br />Because _he_ could blackmail the councilman into doing the right thing, but no one else could do diddly to stop . . . <br /><br />Mind you the story is still full of problems. But your third point "Add a new POV character - who will expand that motive " just handed me a clue. Duh! I just repurposed the representative of the unfeeling juggernaut. Now I need a new Bad Guy. <br /><br />Thanks, Dave!<br /><br />MataPamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-44535817440635867072009-08-24T07:41:18.145-04:002009-08-24T07:41:18.145-04:00Dave, thanks for this post. It came at exactly th...Dave, thanks for this post. It came at exactly the right time for me. I've been struggling with my current WIP. I'll go back and do what you've suggested and see what happens. Well, either that or I'll just throw the computer through the window. Nah, that takes too much effort. All those cords to disconnect before it will get a good launch. Guess that means back to work.<br /><br />Now, silly monkey, take care of yourself and let me know if you need anything.Amanda Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927312739323222344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-18679984407856232992009-08-24T05:50:38.029-04:002009-08-24T05:50:38.029-04:00Yes, the reason it isn't working varies -- for...Yes, the reason it isn't working varies -- for me motive is importantAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-83651601188293251802009-08-24T05:00:56.165-04:002009-08-24T05:00:56.165-04:00Good point, Dave.
My theory is that writers block...Good point, Dave.<br /><br />My theory is that writers block is our inner story wizard saying something is not working. You need to go back to the start and work your way through again. <br /><br />If I do this, I usually find what isn't working. And it will be something to do with pacing, point of view, that sort of thing.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.com