tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post7085276610322094202..comments2012-03-13T21:11:15.912-04:00Comments on Tea Time with Cheri': Have you ever felt Creatively Constipated?J.J. Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16229116329954720638noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-87068278877442041012011-09-26T19:48:06.803-04:002011-09-26T19:48:06.803-04:00Over-thinking about what I'm going to write on...Over-thinking about what I'm going to write only makes circles in my brain. It doesn't count until it gets typed. But if I'm staring at the screen with still fingers on the keyboard, a new tip works for me: type dialog. Just do the "talking heads" thing. Barest attributes and beats, no description. I get the dialog down and then I can work with it later.Lee Carverhttp://www.leecarverwriter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-47029492350543189812011-09-26T11:48:22.479-04:002011-09-26T11:48:22.479-04:00Sometimes I just need to get out of my office and ...Sometimes I just need to get out of my office and take a walk to clear my head. I find myself staring at the screen with no clue what comes next, and staring doesn't make the words appear. Taking a walk and praying while I walk seems to release new thoughts to flow. <br /><br />I've also jumped ahead when I'm stalled and write a scene I DO know will happen sometime later in the book. Doing that can send your thoughts off along new lines and open new ideas.Miralee Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09431092886100324593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-45791123634974604492011-09-25T23:58:11.176-04:002011-09-25T23:58:11.176-04:00Staci has some great advice. I especially like wat...Staci has some great advice. I especially like watching older movies and you can make a collage of your story with shapecollage. You can get an idea of what I've done here -> http://www.reneelynnscott.com/2010/08/dream-board.html<br /><br />The first one is a dream board, the other two are picutres of my heroes and heroines.<br /><br />One thing I highly suggest is something I picked up from The Artist Way. Free writing. It does wonders. At first you can just doodle on a notepad (yes, it should be pen and paper), and then you can just write random thoughts and ideas. Eventually you release all that creativity.Christina Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04002231264150528628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-9480688362061536572011-09-25T21:21:56.765-04:002011-09-25T21:21:56.765-04:00Well, I wish I could say I was good at avoiding cr...Well, I wish I could say I was good at avoiding creative constipation when life is beating the tar out of me, but I confess, most times, creativity just shuts down. While angst drives many writers to the page, it just flips my off switch.<br /><br />That said, I of late am learning that if I will commit to writing just one sentence, another will come. And sometimes another and another. Some days are better than others with this method but you absolutely must commit to sitting down in front of your manuscript file, no matter what nightmares are pounding on your door.<br /><br />BK Jackson<br />http://www.bkjackson.blogspot.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-90620280738344014162011-09-24T12:49:45.775-04:002011-09-24T12:49:45.775-04:00That would get overwhelming in a flat hurry. One p...That would get overwhelming in a flat hurry. One problem is too many "other" ideas coming in as you're writing ("you might try making her blonde. I like blondes..." "you might try starting it later than this..." "Tighten this scene" (which if you don't know what comes after might sound like a great idea... or it might take out vital information you really need for later!)<br /><br />For me, I have to have the whole together before I start getting a lot of feedback or I get so sidetracked with their suggestions, my original idea gets completely lost in the shuffle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-31018660792351854722011-09-22T21:06:36.434-04:002011-09-22T21:06:36.434-04:00Very good point!!! I tried sending in my wip, chap...Very good point!!! I tried sending in my wip, chapter by chapter, to our crit loop when I was writing and ended up throwing it away after I received so much feedback. ~CheriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-18039318782116059522011-09-22T17:47:01.347-04:002011-09-22T17:47:01.347-04:00One more hint... never edit while you are writing ...One more hint... never edit while you are writing the first draft. Be gentle with you and let the story come the way it does. After you've got it down, THEN go back and rework things that don't work, reword, etc. But editing as you write is the surest way I know to make sure that #1 nothing sounds good & #2 to make you doubt every word your put down, which of course ends up in, "Why can't I write anything anymore?!!! I'm so blocked!!!!!!!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-59026015288835952272011-09-22T16:12:38.147-04:002011-09-22T16:12:38.147-04:00Apparently that really works well for Staci,who is...Apparently that really works well for Staci,who is a multi-published author! Click on her name and you will see the results of her writing binges in her many books...all too good to pass up! She will make you laugh, cry,and sigh with characters you will miss once they are gone. Thanks for the hints Staci! ~Cheri'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419991345245429137.post-18091808172297156002011-09-22T15:22:14.276-04:002011-09-22T15:22:14.276-04:00Movies "get me going." Every so often, h...Movies "get me going." Every so often, hubby takes children camping or skiing. I was never made to do either so I stay home and watch movies. Tons of them. Back-to-back, morning to night--for days at a time or however long they are gone. Never fails, right after that, I'm a writing fool. I can't get the ideas out fast enough. And I get new ideas. Lots of them. New characters start talking to me. New circumstances start weaving together in my soul. Works every time!<br /><br />Oh, and while I write... I make slide shows of my characters with pics I find of stars for my "in head movie" on the 'net. I put that to music, make a soundtrack for my book, and I'm off to the races. Life often stops me, but those are my ways to set myself free!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com