WIp Challenge: Day 23, Friday

[enemytosleep]

Another day has come and gone, so now it's time to check in. \o/



How many new words did you write today? Did you reach your goal? Were you editing instead? Researching? Or was today a day of rest?

...and today's discussion topic:

The week is almost over. Have you had any blocks this week? Today, let's talk about things that get in the way of writing fanfic and any writing woes you might have, now or in the past. Tips or tricks for getting past those blocks are very welcome too! Some of us - totally not me! - have not had productive weeks, ahem.

Comments

[enemytosleep]

Yuujinchou Exchange Bonus Treat #3 (due Mar 24): Current word count: 645 <-- this is moving to the WIP folder ;_; It's too rough for me to salvage in time.

Yuujinchou Exchange Bonus Treat #5 (due Mar 24): Not happening any time soon, sadly. Also moving to the WIP folder.

Help_Japan (due 18 years ago - 750 word min): No new words. I promise to give this love after the Yuujinchou exchange stops eating my brain. O.o Current word count: 3,666

Edited another chapter for my buddy last night, so I was doing some writerly stuffs. T_T


For me, the thing that gets in the way of writing the most is RL. I tend to procrastinate on all things until they reach critical mass, so I'm pretty much always playing catch up. For instance, I have house guests arriving in a few weeks, and we are not done renovating the second floor and only have one bed in the house for me/my partner ... and soon, 4 more adults. D: So while I've made some small headway in preparing for the visit, I am already behind schedule and will likely spend the next few weekends working on the house like a maniac in order to be ready for everyone. I realize it would be better to just do small bits of things continually, but it seems I can never get far enough ahead to do that (and am always playing a mad game of catch up to break even instead).

[barbayat]

Sounds very similar to my "problem" I never get myself to write on something until the deadline is there. I can spend hours trying to prepare myself - I tell myself I need to do this - but until it is almost too late, I am not able to. I have a guest tomorrow and I wanted to vacuum - but well I am going to do this at the very last opportunity.

I really need to work on this - but I do hope that for some reason my winter depression* and tendency to get migraines when I feel stressed is a big part of those problems

*Luckily it is getting almost summerlike here - so I haven't had that problem this week hmm this week I did write a lot .... but the weather change is something I need to adjust too as well. Sometimes I feel like the princess that fairytale by Andersen who can't sleep on 100 matresses because there is one pea under the first one ...

[enemytosleep]

I did manage a bunch of cleaning and sorting today - and hey! I had a second bed delivered! \o/ his house may yet be ready for guests! XD But geez I would LOVE to get ahead with my life for once. D:

Ah, sorry to hear about your depression and headaches. *pats* Well, it's good that times are getting better as the weather improves, but that can be tough to deal with.

[crowdog66]

I wrote ~650 new words and finished/posted another chapter of "Impulse".

As far as blocks go, whether work-related or inspiration-related, I tend to have a very zen attitude: I let them happen and don't try too hard to force them out of the way, because I find that just distresses me and gets me bent out of shape. If I really feel a need to write but nothing's coming, I'll usually try to come up with even a single sentence or line of dialogue and see if that leads me anywhere, because often if I can prim the pump with just one good sentence that will start the words flowing. (The problem, of course, is that sometimes it takes a lot of tries to find that good sentence!)

[enemytosleep]

Nice!

I like your approach. :D It's one I try to take myself, but sometimes deadlines cause me to get a little anxious, despite the fact fanfic is supposed to be a fun departure from things. ^^;

[graychalk]

I haven't checked in for over a week (probably almost 2), and I haven't written anything in just as long (probably longer). ;_; I had relatives visiting the previous week, which usually translates to Very Hectic Days. Then on the same day they left, I came down with some kind of stomach virus with a high fever that refused to go/stay down. I only just managed to climb out of bed last night after 5 days of being... kinda like Nyanko-sensei and Natsume in your picture-of-the-day. :P And now I'm trying to catch up on other RL and work stuff that piled up while I was sick. I really hope I'll be able to get even a little writing done before March ends.

Um... I guess my current state is a good example of things that get in the way of my writing. RL does that a lot, in all sorts of ways. There's not much I can do about RL, but I admit I do plenty of non-RL blocking all on my own and this part I'm trying to overcome. I tend to worry too much about my own writing, and I tend to think about the story/writing than I do the actual act of writing. I have lots of writing issues that I'm trying to combat. :\

As for tips and tricks - one thing I've found that actually gets me writing something is to do drabbles or purposely set a small minimum of word count to, say, capture a moment, dialogue snippet, whatever. I find that I'm more willing to get something down when I set the expectations low to begin with, and I usually surprise myself with what I end up with. This isn't really for specific blocks pertaining to a current story/WIP/bunny, as it's more just a way for me to write something when I'm not writing at all. However, I also think it's easier to write in general once I get myself writing, regardless of story. So sometimes, by doing this, I do manage to get myself "warmed up" and able to move on to what I needed to work on. :)

[enemytosleep]

Well, first I'm glad you're feeling better! It's easier said than done, but try not to stress over fanfic while you try to catch up on RL. It'll still be here when you have time for it. :D

And I totally do the drabbles when I need to get started too! I'm actually going to post for prompts on my journal after the weekend, to see if I can't get things moving again.

[roane]

About 600 unexpected words so far on my Sherlock AU, which was nice. I think I'm going to need to give it more love, because this is one almighty big story I've got brewing in my head.

I think this whole "oh god I'm writing again" thing is so new that I'm still too excited to get blocked. It'll come, I know. I mean, I do have nights where it just doesn't work or I'm too tired or whatever, but overall, I still have so much excitement about putting down words that it's not hard to find motivation.

That's... probably not very helpful to anybody else. :)

[enemytosleep]

Hahaha, no, I don't think shininess will help many - but it's awesome that you're so enthused and able to enjoy (and make good progress on) your stories! \o/

[dhae_knight_1]

Blocks? I've had so many blocks this past week I feel like a freaking LEGO-convention! God!

I know why, though. I have too many things taking up space in my brain, and they're big and scary and important to RL, so they aren't budging any time soon. Which means I need to stop feeling guilty about the fic that just isn't happening at the moment and just add a little here and the as inspiration and energy coinside.

[enemytosleep]

I ... shouldn't laugh. I shouldn't. XD I sort of feel like a LEGO play set myself, this week!

And that's very good advice. I definitely think you should save your worry for RL things and enjoy fanfic when you have the time and energy. It'll all still be here when you need it. :D

[insignia]

Today, instead of angsting about my failure to write, I took a break. That's right; it's a break now! \o/

I have recurring personality problems that affect my writing along with everything else. What's mostly been in the way recently is my fear of making decisions combined with a guilt complex: I feel like anything I'm writing has to be the most complete text possible on the subject, and that every conceivable plot point has to happen. I obsess over patterns, and anything that's even slightly comparable to something else has to be combined with it. Leaving anything out feels like betrayal, but I feel just as bad about not being able to finish anything.

I've climbed out of this trap before, and I can do it again. Today I've moved up from the "I suck" stage to "I know how to stop sucking" :D What's most important right now is reminding myself (again!) that's it's okay to choose instead of feeling obligated to include every idea I get. So, yeah.

[enemytosleep]

Hee, breaks can be good! \o/

Mind games can be such a problem, I totally feel your pain and wish you the best in it all. Sometimes distance is the best you can do until you get sorted enough. ♥

[insignia]

Thank you! ♥ I think next week will be better.

[snowynight]

I write 3K on my current wip today. It's so near to finish I'm very happy.

I find a min. word goal for general writing helps, and when I 'm blocked on my wip this time, I put my wip down and do free writing. Somehow it moves through the block.

[enemytosleep]

3k, awesome!

Free writing can be good, yes. :D

[lilly_c]

Nothing doing today. The plan for posting was put aside for the day because I have had far too much RL crap to deal with and I'm fed up of said RL crap now.

Not had too many blocks this week. RL definitely gets in the way of fic sometimes. The only writing woes I tend to have is when I notice common dyslexic errors (there are several) and usually after I've posted. I get past it by keeping on writing and improving overall. I do write drabbles a lot and sometimes I get the 'but you only write drabbles' comments when I link back to something longer on my twitter. Sometimes playing in photoshop or colouring in a few pages in colouring books helps, it depends on how blocked I am.

[enemytosleep]

Ah, sorry to hear RL was ganging up on you today. :|

I draw when I can't write sometimes too!

[barbayat]

Hmm, I think about 100 words - 126 words - to be precise and not for a fanfiction unfortunately - but duty calls and I do need to get some time in for that paper (actually papers, *cough*) But I did edit a bit earlier in the afternoon before my headache got really bad (I had to lie down and sleep it off, so lost precious time *grr* Then, all I did was decide on new chapter titles but I think that was actually a good thing. The new chapter had a quote as a title and then I went back and found that choosing a quote from the main character works (or something said to him) much better than the original ones.

But see judge for yourself
old > new
The battle near sunset > These men were about to surrender
Clear Decisions > Stupid Boy
The new man > Another Colonial

I think the tone is better suited and they do tell the reader who is familiar with the movie (almost) instantly what scene is addressed.

I could talk endless about my inability to work on my papers but fanfic wise things have been great for a change. I hope with a few nudges next month I will be equally productive.

[enemytosleep]

Papers are important - but good job editing and sorting titles. \o/ The fiddly stuff takes time, too, even if it doesn't feel as productive.

*brain dead on a Friday night, my replies are lacking in luster!*

[barbayat]

Well, from what I see you are doing a wonderful shop - hopefully after I got my papers done I can repay the favour :D

I am probably going to write a bit fanfiction wise but the major focus has to go into those papers - got to hand them in by the end of the month. *sighs*

[enemytosleep]

Aw, thanks. ♥ I like encouragement and support when I'm writing and not scrambling with RL things, so I'm glad I can offer it to others from time to time. :D

Oo, one week left, get to those papers! *waves pom poms*

[bay_alexison]

Got a bit of writing done for my god_tier and also copy and paste some panels onto Scrivener so that I don't have to keep going to the website to look through them. I love Scrivener sometimes. XD Slowly trying to wrap up one scene that's getting me trouble, but I'll pull through. And oh, last night talked to Beta A about my FMA Big Bang and she mentions being busy with schoolwork but hopefully will get part two of Chapter Six done by Sunday. I'll check her up on her progress on that day then.

Don't know how many times I can say real life is one of the reasons I tend to not get much writing done, LOL. I would try to get something written, even if the word count is low. Sometimes if I'm not motivated to do one project I'll go do another one to mix things up a bit.

[enemytosleep]

I like switching between projects too, sometimes. Hope you can make good headway this weekend!

[linaewen]

This picture is how I felt yesterday after I finally got home after an impossible day doing the impossible with no energy! :-D

My block this week was being sick and having no brain. Not much to be done about that except wait it out!