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This has never happened to me before...; HELP?
Topic Started: Jul 20 2008, 11:44 AM (416 Views)
Andy
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Neigh, not a horse. A unicorn!

I know I've said I don't believe in Writer's Block countless times, but...

Okay this is going to sound weird, but I've forgotton how to write. I can't do it. Everything comes out sounding awkward and badly phrased. I've tried reading lots to try and remember things and inspire myself, but it only upsets me. If I said this to anyone else they'd laugh, but it honestly feels like I've forgotton to walk or something. Scary. Yes, I know I'm being melodramatic.


The scariest part is that I'm off to uni in Sept and my degree title is 'English Literature with Creative Writing'. They told me they picked me because they were really impressed by my writing and in Sept I HAVE to be good again. But what if I can't cure whatever this thing I've got?

Does anyone have any tips or advice for a first time sufferer who is scared sheepless?

:andy:

xxx
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Dobby101
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Hakuna Matata

Could it be that you are just anxious/nervous/excited about going to uni? Maybe the nerves are just taking it's toll a bit.

What I would do is go into some challenges, pick the most creative one and then get a beta to help you through it.

Or, take a break from SAYS and HPFF and other writing sites for a week and when you would be on here, walk around outside, in the mall and observe things. You might feel inspired to write more and it could come out sounding better than it has lately.

I hope you are better soon Andy! :huggle:
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Andy
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Neigh, not a horse. A unicorn!

That's the thing though - I haven't read ff in weeks and I'm on SAYS on much less than usual. I know what I want to write, I have all my plot bunnies...I just can't, you know...write...
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Lyn
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[[ just. loves. projects ]]

Oh, Andy!! *hugs* It happens, really. I think it's happened to every writer out there. You can try and force it. You know, write a huge amount of crap, until everything makes sense again, or dig up some writing exercises, or you can just go hunting for some inspiration, and meanwhile take a break from writing altogether. Re-watch some fave movies or something.

Hm, I wish I could be of more help, but, like Tamara, I think it's an anxiety attack. ;) It should pass soon, but only if you manage to NOT panic!! Besides, it's all in your mind. If you think you can't write, it'll be harder than usual, so you just need to relax. :glomp:

Take your time. Slow it down or speed it up, whichever you think might help.
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Elf_ears13
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INTJ ftw

Oh, Andy! I think you just need to calm down, because it will pass. ^_^ I agree with the above in that you're probably freaking out a bit and thinking too hard, when in the past you may have just written what came to you. Never fear! It'll come back.

What I would do is try writing the worst story ever with tons of terrible cliches and bad similes and cheesy dialog. Then, when you're up to writing something good, it'll obviously be loads better! It sounds silly, but when you start with a bad simile and turn it into a good one, it can still be the same lame comparison but with the right writing it'll actually be good - like comparing a girl's eyes to warty frogs is a bad plan, but if the guy's a frog studier then he could get to describing the beauty in the life cycle and the transition between land and water is like the way the girl can transition him between earth and heaven or something cheesy but also romantic and in character. :P

Yeah, so don't work on your old stories just yet, try picking up something new, something with a different character or a different PoV. And if it makes you feel better, try reading some awful writing and know that you're much, much better than about 90% of fanfiction writers (seriously, think of all the ones who call Hermione Hermy or Mione, of which I was one of back in the day :blush:).
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Eyriana
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floo powder power.

I agree with Tamara and Lyn - you might be having a fit of anxiety. It's happened to me, and I understand how horrible it is. You just freeze up, and the only thing that enters your mind as you stare at that page is the feeling that it's ending, and badly, and you don't know what to do :huggle: But I've gotten through it, and I know you can too!

Any of the above suggestions might help you - especially if you try more than one. A couple of things that helped me the most:

  • Re-read something you haven't worked on (or even looked at) in a very long time, and then start by editing that or adding on a little - just a little.
  • Try to find some of the best writing available on HPFF, and read it. There's a possibility that it will make you feel bad, but the possibility is higher that it will inspire you to want to create something even better.
  • Like Marisa said, write some total crap for a while. Get some of that clichéd fluff (or angst) out of your system. Then try taking a break. After a while, hopefully, you'll feel new again.

No matter what, though, remember that you CAN and WILL get through it. Just hold out and it'll be over before you know it :) :glomp:
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StoryLover3095
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I FINALLY MADE 1000 POSTS

Andy! :huggle: I'm going to start by saying I also agree with everyone and you might have a little anxiety. Everyone's gone through it (I know I have PLENTY of times) but you will ALWAYS make it out. ;) Hmm, here's some ideas:

-Take a break. Just relax for a little bit from writing. Be with friends. Go party. :P Do anything and get your mind relaxed and have fun. I see you said earlier that ou have been doing that in the first place. That's alright! I went through the same thing in 06-07. I took a couple months (at least) and didn't even go on HPFF for those months. Once I did go back on, I realized how much I missed HP and writing. I thought of a bunch of ideas and wrote. And wrote. I bet you, the same thing will happen. You'll miss writing too much after your "break" and write. You'll realize your writing IS good. :) Don't let the pressure get to you. If they thought you were a good writer, they meant it. They didn't lie to you. And I don't think you're writing can go to incredible to horrible like that. I KNOW it can't. :glomp:

-Read. ALOT. Of anything other than HPFF. Find a new favorite author. Go to a bookstore and grab the first book you see. Whether it's a kids picture book in front or a book you read already. Pick it up and look at it and read it. Then go to your favorite section (Romance, Drama, Thriller, etc) and look around. Take the book with the most interesting cover.

-RELAX!!! Take a deep breath and leave for a couple weeks. B)

You WILL write fantastic stuff again. I promise. ^_^

:glomp:
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Andy
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Neigh, not a horse. A unicorn!

I love SAYS so much. Thank you so much everyone. I'm taking baby steps (Jessi would be proud) and hoping I wont fall further than the floor. *huggle*
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