My writer's block

[Tonstad39]

I'm in the process of writing the first book in a series titled "Onstad Mythologies." The stories in each book take a set of myths and apply them to the 21st century society (Think Anubis and Ra as godly has beens in a post Islamist Egypt).I'm working on the first in the series whitch are based on the myths of Judeo-christian folkore and the particular story that I'm writing is about the backstory of the christian God & how 20 trillion years ago, he was a minor knowledge deity who taught creation and metaphysics in the multiverse (In my book series I also use real world science to complement the ancient scripture) What I am hung up on is this: What other (if any other) ethnicities would there be outside the multiverse besides Gods and Angels?

 

[icehorse]

Most of my paycheck for the last 15 years has come from being an editor and author (albeit for non-fiction). I always advise authors to just start writing. You can write chunks out of order and rearrange them later. You might starting writing at chapter two - that's common. Just get used to the idea that you're writing re-arrangeable chunks and get going

You can further reassure yourself by starting on chunks that you know will survive, regardless of any future plot revisions you might cook up.

good luck!

 

[Shiranui117]

Most of my paycheck for the last 15 years has come from being an editor and author (albeit for non-fiction). I always advise authors to just start writing. You can write chunks out of order and rearrange them later. You might starting writing at chapter two - that's common. Just get used to the idea that you're writing re-arrangeable chunks and get going

You can further reassure yourself by starting on chunks that you know will survive, regardless of any future plot revisions you might cook up.

good luck!

This forum doesn't let me smash the rating buttons hard enough

 

[Augustus]

I always advise authors to just start writing.

Or not write anything. 'Writer's block' might also be a sign that you don't know what you want to say yet and that more research/thinking/doing nothing while ideas percolate is necessary.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Or not write anything. 'Writer's block' might also be a sign that you don't know what you want to say yet and that more research/thinking/doing nothing while ideas percolate is necessary.

To each their own, but I've never 'solved' writer's block effectively by not writing.
I've had much more success with the following methods;

1) Pretty much what @icehorse suggested. Just write the parts of the story you do have some idea of, and don't over sweat continuity. That's what editing is for.
2) Go stream of consciousness. I've had less sucess with that, but have friends that swear by it. Literally just start writing, and don't let your pen stop. Doesn't matter in the least what you write.

or my personal favourite...

3) Have 3 stories on the go at once. One should be in initial planning or drafting stage. It's free-form, and creative. The second should be the 'in progress' story, where you're actually writing. The third is a completed piece, which requires editing to distill it down to it's finished richness. And if three stories is too much to consider, just use the same theory, but substitute in '3 chapters' instead.

 

[Augustus]

To each their own, but I've never 'solved' writer's block effectively by not writing.

I'll bet you have solved a problem/answered a question by not thinking about it though. Same idea.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I'll bet you have solved a problem/answered a question by not thinking about it though. Same idea.

Yep, and like I said, to each their own.
The one difference I would humbly suggest re: writer's block is that the wall can become bigger if left alone. I used to deal with it in much the way you've suggested, with mixed results (sometimes good though). Did a writer's course, and was convinced by the end of it that applying various more practical strategies actually resulted in me producing more at a higher quality.

 

[The Holy Bottom Burp]

Have you tried whisky? It has the benefit of loosening up your thoughts, releasing emotion, and what's more whatever you write appears to be brilliant (at least to yourself!). Disclaimer; whatever you write 'under the influence' may not appear to be so brilliant to you the day after!

 

[Jeremiahcp]

This forum doesn't let me smash the rating buttons hard enough

Get a touchscreen monitor.