Comments on: Drawing from a dry well http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/ Science fiction, science fact, and all that's in between ... Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:49:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: crustypaul http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/comment-page-1/#comment-149280 crustypaul Wed, 14 May 2008 14:01:28 +0000 http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/?p=1580#comment-149280 when i get completely blocked i like to dissasemble my mixing desk. I'm not entirely sure that advice is going to be of any use to you though :) when i get completely blocked i like to dissasemble my mixing desk. I’m not entirely sure that advice is going to be of any use to you though :)

]]> By: Vague http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/comment-page-1/#comment-149249 Vague Tue, 13 May 2008 10:09:29 +0000 http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/?p=1580#comment-149249 Don't beat yourself up about quality while you're establishing the routine, let yourself write about any old thing - noisy neighbours, that bug crossing the windowsill, that weird stain on the pavement. Anything to get the synapses firing. And when a story idea emerges from the chaos sling it down on the page any old how, don't fret about using too many adverbs or clich Don’t beat yourself up about quality while you’re establishing the routine, let yourself write about any old thing – noisy neighbours, that bug crossing the windowsill, that weird stain on the pavement. Anything to get the synapses firing. And when a story idea emerges from the chaos sling it down on the page any old how, don’t fret about using too many adverbs or clich

]]> By: Ian M Hocking http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/comment-page-1/#comment-149248 Ian M Hocking Tue, 13 May 2008 09:08:27 +0000 http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/?p=1580#comment-149248 Yeah, it's a bloody annoying thing. I usually find that a 'block' often comes from not thinking enough about the story before hand. I want to write but there's nothing there. While you're waiting for the ideas to arrive, you might want to try writing in a different medium; maybe a poem or an absolutely tiny flash fiction. I also sketch... Yeah, it’s a bloody annoying thing. I usually find that a ‘block’ often comes from not thinking enough about the story before hand. I want to write but there’s nothing there. While you’re waiting for the ideas to arrive, you might want to try writing in a different medium; maybe a poem or an absolutely tiny flash fiction. I also sketch…

]]> By: James http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/comment-page-1/#comment-149247 James Tue, 13 May 2008 08:27:22 +0000 http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/?p=1580#comment-149247 I've had exactly the same problem (repeatedly). Two things that worked for me: (1) Write longhand, then you can't go back and edit it, you have to just keep going. (2) Write a story a week, ala Jay Lake. Set rules like, you *have* to finish the story in a week and you *have* to finish as story before you start the next one. Then if you're writing a story you don't like at least you keep writing for a week and finish it, and maybe on the way it starts getting good. But if it doesn't there's always next weeks story. I did that for a year and it was great. It's just the same as the Flash you were doing, but longer ;-) Also I try and spend the day before, in any spare moment I have, thinking about where the story is going next, so that my writing hour is writing, not plotting. It's what Schroeder and Doctorow say in their Idiot's guide book, writing is discrete activities and you can split them apart. I’ve had exactly the same problem (repeatedly). Two things that worked for me:
(1) Write longhand, then you can’t go back and edit it, you have to just keep going.
(2) Write a story a week, ala Jay Lake. Set rules like, you *have* to finish the story in a week and you *have* to finish as story before you start the next one. Then if you’re writing a story you don’t like at least you keep writing for a week and finish it, and maybe on the way it starts getting good. But if it doesn’t there’s always next weeks story. I did that for a year and it was great. It’s just the same as the Flash you were doing, but longer ;-)

Also I try and spend the day before, in any spare moment I have, thinking about where the story is going next, so that my writing hour is writing, not plotting. It’s what Schroeder and Doctorow say in their Idiot’s guide book, writing is discrete activities and you can split them apart.

]]> By: Neil http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/drawing-from-a-dry-well/comment-page-1/#comment-149244 Neil Tue, 13 May 2008 07:17:42 +0000 http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/?p=1580#comment-149244 When I'm blocked I sift news sites for ideas as jumping off points, history books can also be useful prompts. When I’m blocked I sift news sites for ideas as jumping off points, history books can also be useful prompts.

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