Top Four Techniques for Dealing with Writer's Block - Part Two
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
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Writers, have you ever been struck by writer's block? Have you struggled to get a good grip on how to deal with it?
The following video (part one of a two-part series) offers practical advice that I use all the time in my professional practice. With hopes that this information helps you out of any trouble you may now be in, and to avoid that trouble in the future.
Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay creative.
Damon DiMarco, CreateX3.com
PRODUCT LINKS
Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck - tinyurl.com/2s...
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - tinyurl.com/yb...
Thank you for the rest of the series! I really appreciate it, and I look forward to each episode.
It’s my pleasure to have you as a subscriber and fellow creative, Kirk. Thanks for watching and wishing you my best.
I just wanted to thank you for your response! It is greatly appreciated. I am definitely guilty of trying to make my writing “too good” at the onset of writing and I have to remind myself that a first draft doesn’t need to be good, I just need to get it done and worry about making it good in subsequent drafts. All of your tips were very helpful and I will be trying to implement them in my writing routine. Thank you again!
TG723, it’s my pleasure. Thanks for watching and writing in. Sounds like we walk the same road and I’m glad to know other people are on it. Wishing you all my best.
I love the break the routine advice, thank you.
You’re so welcome.
Tip #1: Write.
Tip #4: Don't write.
🤣 Seriously though, some great tips. You also touched briefly on the concept of what Gaiman calls the "compost heap," and that's a really important habit to get into as well. Keep a notebook, either physical or digital, of any stray idea that pops into your head, or ideas that fell out of other works. Characters, concepts, names, places, scenes, anything and everything. Even if it sounds terrible when you think it, or if it sounds great when you think it but seems silly when you look at it later. When you're feeling at a loss with a certain project, or having trouble starting something new, oftentimes there is some nugget in the compost heap that can get you going.
SF: Write? Don't write? I can tell you without hesitation: I'm probably the least religious person you'll ever meet. Still there's an old Pete Seger song spun from a verse in Ecclesiastes. The Byrds made it hot in the 60s. "To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season (turn, turn, turn)."
I think a wise writer knows when to write and when to pause. When to push harder and when to let go. When to plunge deeper into the current of creativity and when we should sit by the river's edge waiting for the current to bequeath us whatever its waves will unfold.
If this sounds contradictory, it probably is. Creativity and paradox often march hand-in-hand, I find.
I'm glad you appreciate all this. Glad you're watching.
Also glad you invoked Gaiman's idea of the compost heap. Spot on, in my experience. And good advice for the whole community. Thanks for that. Wishing you well.
great video damon, really been enjoying your talks recently. I wonder if you might have some thoughts on something I've noticed that keeps reappearing in my work, which is the struggle of tone and walking the line of drama/melodrama. I've written a number of things where I set out to make a dark harrowing drama with a few comedic elements to break the tension, but then find myself wandering into black comedy territory. Some of these are just the work telling me what it is and in those I feel like I followed it where it wanted me to go, but in others it feels much like you said about resisting the work and I find a fear or aversion to things getting "too real" or "overly sentimental". It's not a block per se, it's more like I keep finding myself taking this detour, maybe because I'm not sure where the road I started on will lead me. Have you dealt with a similar trend and if so how have you worked to right it?
Swee Neezy, apologies for the late reply. I’ve had a couple assignments here demand my attention, and I’ve also been traveling, which complicates things, but your question is a good one, and I’ve given it some thought.
In general, I think it helps to remember that we are not as in charge of our writing as we might think we are. That the inner voice inside us, the one that compels us to write in the first place, is for all intents and purposes, a living, breathing individual who has his, her, or their own opinions about things. Including how the story goes, and why it needs to be written in the first place.
It’s a delicate paradox, I find, having the writerly discipline to show up to work each day only to do what the job demands, which is to let go almost entirely.
In this regard, I’ve often told people that I’m not doing any work at all when I write. The writing is doing the work, and I’m simply functioning as some sort of secretary, and occasionally, as an advisor.
The point is, I’m not in charge. Oh sure. I turn on the lights. I sharpen the pencils. I roll paper into the typewriter. I make the coffee. And I commit to sitting down for however long the session will take. Plus however many sessions need to be put in to see the damn job through.
I guess in a roundabout way, I’m saying just put in the time, listen closely to what your instincts are trying to tell you, follow them as best you can, and be willing to fail. That’s the only way we learn anything, and right now it sounds to me like you’re learning about the tone and style your in a writer is trying to communicate. Listen and be led.
One final point that may help you. Outline your story first. I’ve done some videos about this and I have a ton of consulting clients who I help through this particular morass. Among the many benefits of a good outline, you will get all your meandering done before you set out to write the actual product. You will still have room to improvise after writing a great outline, but the majority of the plot points will be nailed down so that you need not concern yourself with style, that’s already been taken care of. If you aren’t outlining your work now, prior to writing, perhaps give that a try.
I hope this helps. Again, apologies for the late reply. Please check back with me when you can and tell me how things are going. In the meantime I’m wishing you all the best.
Hi. I have a 1978 Olympia Monica de Luxe. I love this typewriter, but it has a problem, it is very noisy, so my neighbours are not super happy. I bought it from an antique shop. Do you have some suggestions to make it less noisy? I was thinking maybe some lubricating might help. The most noisy thing is when the page moves to the left after I press a key.
Hi Vlad. You might try removing the typewriter's chassis and hot gluing layers of cotton batting along the inside. Making sure, of course, that the batting you add doesn't interfere in any way with the machine's internal works. This is what countless typewriter brands did back in the day. Very often when you open an old typewriter, you'll find desiccated batting still glued to the insides. Other members of the typosphere have done videos about this and I encourage you to look up their work, it's very helpful.
Meantime, I feel your pain. My first (purchased) typewriter was an Olympia SM3, a carriage shift machine like your Monica de Luxe. The up and down action of the shift was loud enough that the downstairs neighbor in my apartment building complained. I was able to make her happy by using a typewriter pad under my machine and also padding the spots where the legs of my table touched the hardwood floor. These measure dampened the machine's vibrations while I was using it. Might also be something worth trying.
I appreciate you watching. Wishing you luck. Let me know how things go.
I've a problem..with uppercase letters..they are not equal to small letters...so HELP ME!!!
Hi, Dead Poet. Allow me to propose what is probably a self evident solution.
Learn how to touch soap. Now crank some paper into your machine. Shut your eyes and start typing.
Write down the contents of your soul. Whenever you hear the bell lever, the carriage return and keep going.
Do you see what just happened there?
Nobody really cares if the contents of your soul are written in capital letters or lowercase letters.
We do care, however, that you wrote things down, that you know the contents of your own soul, and that you share these ideas, if indeed that is what you wish to do.
Thanks for watching and good luck.
@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco thanks 🙏
Bro, I thought ribbon is the issue so I bought a new ribbon and replaced it but I'm facing an issue.. when I start writing it prints dark but after a few words it gets lighter and lighter..
Is the ribbon advancing with each hammer strike? The machines are built so that every time you hit a key, it should wind the ribbon in one direction. If the ribbon isn't winding, the hammers will keep hitting the same spot on the ribbon, which uses up all the ink and delivers lighter and lighter character stamps. Check to see if the ribbon is advancing.
@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco thanks yeah now it's advancing... thanks alot for reply
@@deadpoet9392 Excellent. Glad it worked out.
HEY! I saw your video on the spring of the typewriter! I was wondering if you could reach out to me! I need your help! Excellent vids ✨
My typewriter is a seville 4000😢
Hi, Diego. Good to meet you. I’ve never met a Seville 4000 but I’m happy to help however I can. What’s your issue, please?
@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco the spring whining mechanism is not tight enough, i coil it back but the pull isn’t strong enough! ☹️