The Dreaded Brain Fog

more commonly know as writer's block

First off let me say my advice and .25 cents won’t even buy you a cup of coffee, but here I go.

I know I’ve talked about this before and I love when you guys jump in the pool with me and put your own spin on it. The question I was asked is how to put a fresh spin on your writing, and how to get over writer’s block. 

Since I’ve been writing with a 1o-year-old. I had to rethink my process to feed it to a 4th grader. So, here I go. 

Telling a story to me is very spontaneous, but even spontaneity needs margins. Here is what I decide before I begin.

1.    Who am I telling the story to and what voice will best express the story?
2.    Who is my main character?
3.    Where is my story going to play out?
4.    Mood and pace
5.    From where does the conflict arise?

And finally, what is my opening line. Sometimes I have the whole thing dancing in my head waiting for an opening line.

To me, the opening line is what engages the entire story, and drives the bus. After the opening line is penned, each line brings me closer to my goal. Don’t get caught up in how many words you think a good story needs. If I can tell a story in 400 words, I will. So, cut out the fluff. 

How many readers will skim over a good story to escape the writer’s ego? So, if the sentence doesn’t move your story forward snip-it, right in the can (the trash can that is).  Keep moving forward one line at a time. Let it play out in your mind like a movie. When you get stuck, start reading from line one and then ask then what? Once you have a good feel of each character their persona will help propel your piece.

People want to feel and see, either something they miss or something they long to see. So, take a moment, and write a story that does those things for you, and others will love it too. So, whittle down the playing field and just drive.

Author's Note

I hope this helps :)
P.S. Take a stab at something new. Stop writing the same old stuff.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Great thoughts on a pertinent subject here at the cafe. But to me, this goes for anyone writing, not just those with writers block. Some with writers diarhhea could do well to read this & take it to heart! *wink! wink!* You mention openings. My pet gripe is when an author writes down all his personal issues, with regard to writing this piece, before he/she actually starts writing the piece. Just start with some action or compelling dynamic description that puts your reader into your story immediately. And I love what you say about length sometimes being an indicator about the writer's ego size. These are the days of short attention spans & life in sound bytes, so people rarely sit for the longer stories. I really encourage people to try the "snippet of life" approach that you often do, producing one compelling scene from life possibly embellished with imagination, of course. (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you Margie, and I agree with you and how and why readers read now days.
and as a writer if I can dress a story in 400-700 words, and get said tale out the door, then when I'm ready for a longer piece word management will be a breeze. Anyway it sounds good on paper :)

[Jimmy Yetts]

When it comes to story-length, am a sprinter not a long distance runner. I worship at Brevity's Altar--mostly because I'm made that way.
"The Dreaded Brain Fog" rarely envelopes me; I've plenty to rant about, since the world and I are usually going in different directions.
Your poem shows deep understanding of story writing and its major difficulties.
A more than worthwhile read, Cherrie!

[Cherrie Palmer]

I like short stories because they let me feel like ive accomplished something. I hate
to end a writing session with part of a scene hanging l

[Cherrie Palmer]

I too am always at odds with this new way of thinking.

[Jimmy Yetts]

It's a Do-what-thou-will Age--previously known as "Paganism."
Their "New Thought" is really quite ancient.
As I've said before, today's greatest--and, perhaps, only-- sin, is intolerance of "rehabilitated" perversions.
Thanks for the listen, gifted artist.

[Mrudula Rani]

"Take a stab at something new. Stop writing the same old stuff " is a wonderful idea.it is what makes writing and writers polytropic. Excellent advice.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I think it is. Even if you do nothing with it, but have fun and take a chance.
I know agent's want a genre to market. I get that what are you going to do with a writer that has a love story, a horror tale, and then a murder mystery. The punch line is -Nothing, that's what they do.
But to venture our skills in new ways gives us better sight. So when we do focus in on one single thread we aren't afraid to spice it up with other elements.
Also this thought (like all the others) could not be cashed in for a cup of coffee. :)

[Shep]

it helps a lot plus where I struggle the most. thanks for the tip.

[Cherrie Palmer]

...Anytime:)..

[Cherrie Palmer]

I think it's good for writers to share their processes with each other.

[Neville]

You are so bloomin write in every respect.... respect.. N

[Cherrie Palmer]

Good morning and thank you.

[Neville]

Morning ...

[Kent Rawski]

Is the smell of bacon and coffee in the morning a good way to kick start yourself?

[Cherrie Palmer]

Bacon is the elixir of life and coffee is a must

[Relic]

This makes sense and I remember reading about the technics you discuss. Know your audience and have a great first line that makes a good hook. Problem with me is, I don't know what to write most of the time anyway. haha

[Cherrie Palmer]

it's a funny thing where I get some of my ideas. They just pop in my head. usually from left-field. Which makes total sense to me seeing how I'm left handed.
Do you have any writing rituals?

[Relic]

I only picture some kind of image or song, though not all the time. Sometimes I'll come up with a line. Then I'll try to come up with some kind of scenario or subject that stems from the first line.