tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post4254407558101763681..comments2024-03-26T07:33:18.502-04:00Comments on WordWranglers: When a story goes silent...Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-46282602603389805252012-09-18T13:16:40.494-04:002012-09-18T13:16:40.494-04:00Good thinking, Margie, and I may go there. Thanks ...Good thinking, Margie, and I may go there. Thanks for coming by.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-81763515599376169182012-09-18T10:54:01.125-04:002012-09-18T10:54:01.125-04:00PS--I used different colored pens and graph paper ...PS--I used different colored pens and graph paper because it's not a commitment. And I write at different angles, up the page, down the page--wherever the ideas lead me.Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-40530411321065351552012-09-18T10:52:34.847-04:002012-09-18T10:52:34.847-04:00Liz, I'm a day late and a dollar short, but he...Liz, I'm a day late and a dollar short, but here's my advice, now that you let it rest for a complete day ;)<br /><br />Sit down with scratch paper and different colored pens. And brainstorm. Return to the place where the story was last working and think of different possibilities and then consider where these would go. Do they have an absolute ending or do they lead into something new and then branch out into something new again?<br /><br />I've had to do that several times with Bix. And sometimes it's my favorite part of writing. The randomness of brainstorming. Sometimes it's useless, but I think even then it opens my brain up to possibility.Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-67510588182948254042012-09-18T05:41:51.976-04:002012-09-18T05:41:51.976-04:00Hi, Kathy. Good thoughts! Thanks for coming.Hi, Kathy. Good thoughts! Thanks for coming.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-47405901492079837692012-09-17T23:13:12.392-04:002012-09-17T23:13:12.392-04:00Wow, this sure seems like a common problem and it&...Wow, this sure seems like a common problem and it's nice knowing we're not alone in this struggle. This too has happened to me. My ending became so entangled, spinning off into multiple directions, I really had to sit down and focus. I asked my self who had the most to lose in the scene and write it in that character's POV. Then I had to go back and examine the story and character arcs. Once I'd reminded myself of that I wrote toward those goals and eventually wrote my way out of the mess.<br />Kathy Ottenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996558118761118634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-10951879588849647802012-09-17T22:31:15.579-04:002012-09-17T22:31:15.579-04:00Hi again Liz - sorry couldn't help. Hope you g...Hi again Liz - sorry couldn't help. Hope you glean enough ideas from all this advice. Ah yes, the dreaded "sag in the middle" syndrome. We all know it. Actually it looks like you'll be best served by putting it away for a while!<br /><br />Hope your muse jumps into your head and the computer too.<br /><br />By the way, the name's MONYA, not Monica, but don't worry, I've been called different MONIKERS all my life. Monya Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457892085239476067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-73468210434983906262012-09-17T20:01:08.762-04:002012-09-17T20:01:08.762-04:00Thanks, Shawn. I think I'm seeing a little lig...Thanks, Shawn. I think I'm seeing a little light...<br /><br />I appreciate everyone's help!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-7575435066573371302012-09-17T19:13:58.755-04:002012-09-17T19:13:58.755-04:00Seems like you're dong all you can. Give yours...Seems like you're dong all you can. Give yourswelf permission to not think about it. But remember to go back and try againShawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04264060298236728344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-31707519582823139522012-09-17T17:10:25.361-04:002012-09-17T17:10:25.361-04:00I am finding today that music helps, too. What a j...I am finding today that music helps, too. What a journey this book is shaping up to be! Thanks, Susan.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-68652713036949021852012-09-17T15:28:55.919-04:002012-09-17T15:28:55.919-04:00Liz, I'm going through something similar to th...Liz, I'm going through something similar to this right now. The only difference is, I do have the story completely outlined, so know where it's going. But I just can't bring myself to sit down and write it. For now, I'm trying to make myself sit down at the same time every day and write 1000 words. The hard part is sitting down to do it. But it's just not flowing as I thought it would. What works for me when I just can't bring myself to work on a project is to work on something else for a while, or if that fails, I read. Reading other stories always reinspires me to work on mine. Susan Macateehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476340887041053638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-30636076797714298752012-09-17T13:31:32.679-04:002012-09-17T13:31:32.679-04:00Good reminder, and since I've advised enough p...Good reminder, and since I've advised enough people to do that myself, I should have thought of it myself. Still think I'm going to give it a day off, though. Thanks, Ella.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-40029890009346920152012-09-17T13:13:03.356-04:002012-09-17T13:13:03.356-04:00Don't cut, don't stop. Finishe your first ...Don't cut, don't stop. Finishe your first draft. There are several ways of saying this, from Nora Roberts, "I can fix crap, I can't fix nothing. From Hemmingway. "The first draft is always crap." Just keep writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-19301679107371627522012-09-17T12:29:36.077-04:002012-09-17T12:29:36.077-04:00You, too, Nancy, and thanks for coming by!You, too, Nancy, and thanks for coming by!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-28452906338445165912012-09-17T12:28:54.005-04:002012-09-17T12:28:54.005-04:00They're still surprising me, Lynne--especially...They're still surprising me, Lynne--especially by clamming up! But I think you have a point about the conflict. Mine is forever weak, and beefing it up might be a fix.<br /><br />Thanks!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-84527114536120545982012-09-17T12:25:18.455-04:002012-09-17T12:25:18.455-04:00I'm at that unhappy place right now and I wast...I'm at that unhappy place right now and I waste a lot of time doing research that is fascinating, but just not quite what I need to get me going again. I like Cheryl's idea of changing POV so I'm off to do esactly that! Best wishes with restarting, Liz. Nancy Jardine Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12366248895961876075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-84556806265808939682012-09-17T12:19:43.647-04:002012-09-17T12:19:43.647-04:00I've tried some of that, too, Suzanne. And tod...I've tried some of that, too, Suzanne. And today I wrote a few lines (yeah, seriously, lines) that I just love. I hope that's a step back through the creativity door. Thanks for coming!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-78899197402175595782012-09-17T12:09:32.516-04:002012-09-17T12:09:32.516-04:00Thanks, Arsoleen. We're a cleaning bunch this ...Thanks, Arsoleen. We're a cleaning bunch this week, aren't we? :-)Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-15317015776369641552012-09-17T12:08:10.265-04:002012-09-17T12:08:10.265-04:00I almost wish I wasn't so in love with this st...I almost wish I wasn't so in love with this story, but that at least lets me know I won't give up on it. Thanks, Patty. And you said one thing that made me wonder--I'm reading a book by an auto-buy-favorite, Carla Kelly, and I'm struggling with it. Maybe it's not the stories at all, but something internal I'm going to have to dig out. Thanks for stopping by!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-32267153412475029082012-09-17T12:04:33.483-04:002012-09-17T12:04:33.483-04:00I'm sure it will, Molly, though I panic every ...I'm sure it will, Molly, though I panic every time this happens. Good luck and thanks for coming over.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-77786786871801757702012-09-17T12:02:18.737-04:002012-09-17T12:02:18.737-04:00Thank you, Cheryl! I think we just got benefit of ...Thank you, Cheryl! I think we just got benefit of your workshop. :-) I will try this.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-21740887554175124502012-09-17T12:00:10.119-04:002012-09-17T12:00:10.119-04:00Thanks, Lisa. I know the ending--it's the midd...Thanks, Lisa. I know the ending--it's the middle where I seem to be in really dire trouble. Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-85630128589099368222012-09-17T11:56:03.788-04:002012-09-17T11:56:03.788-04:00Wow, lots of great answers and suggestions here. ...Wow, lots of great answers and suggestions here. Sorry I'm late to the post. Since you are an organic writer (I prefer that label to pantser) the element of surprise is probably what keeps you invested in your story. When did you stop being surprised by your characters?<br /><br />One thing that I'm aware of when my story comes to a halt, I've weakened the conflict somehow. Internal conflict has to be set from the very beginning. External conflict may need to be ratcheted up. Where's the conflict in your story right now at Chapter 12. Have your characters said or done something they swore they'd never say or do? (yet?) (That's a Donal Maas trick)<br /><br />OR - take a long walk or shower. One or the other (or both) ususally get my brain synapses jumping around.<br /><br />Good luck. You've gotten some terrific advice from your blog friends! Please keep us posted. Lynne Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17156587180087372120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-82768659443219544352012-09-17T11:44:11.526-04:002012-09-17T11:44:11.526-04:00You've got plenty of great ideas to work with ...You've got plenty of great ideas to work with here. My favorites that I use:<br />* do something else creative<br />* jump ahead a scene or two and write the scene that excites me (p.s. often I find that the scene that I get stuck on (I'm a panster too) usually has no clear scene goal and often times can be cut.)<br />* work on a short piece of some kind<br />* I'd like to say I exercise, but alas when I'm stuck usually my body is too. LOL<br />Good luck.Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06515738513698526073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-41748910328758025822012-09-17T10:45:10.642-04:002012-09-17T10:45:10.642-04:00I like Cheryl's responses, especially the ones...I like Cheryl's responses, especially the ones about adding a complication or a scene where the character receives something. I'm wondering if a new minor character could appear to upset the show, maybe a long lost friend/past lover, perhaps? Then again, I'm off to do cleaning, too!:) <br />Good Luck!<br />ArsoleenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-72986336013000401132012-09-17T10:42:58.528-04:002012-09-17T10:42:58.528-04:00I take a break and watch TV or read someone else&#...I take a break and watch TV or read someone else's book. Two weeks of silence, though? I'd be near frantic! I'm sorry. I don't know what advice to give. But I can sure feel your pain. If you're still obsessing about it, that's a good sign. When they open up again, it'll probably all flow out of you at once and leave you exhausted.Patty Froesehttp://pattyfroese.comnoreply@blogger.com