Comments on: WIP Update: Stuck in the Muck

By: annastan

annastan — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:01:44 +0000

Sheila, I haven’t been on a long bike ride in a while. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks!

Lisa, oh yes, the On-Submission Monster specializes in sucking ideas away. I’m glad you were able to break free of him!

Judy, it sounds like you’re being really brave. You can do it!

By: Judy Palermo

Judy Palermo — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:39:49 +0000

I’ve been stuck — but now I think I’ve moved to paralyzed. I decided to make some major character changes to my MC’s parents. Especially Dad. This will change everything. I’m taking a deep breath tonight, and diving in to work tomorrow. Wish me luck.

By: Lisa G.

Lisa G. — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:26:54 +0000

Oh yes. I’ve been terribly stuck. Mostly because I’ve been so preoccupied with the whole “on submission” thing. But, I FINALLY broke through last night and started jotting notes on an idea that’s been stewing. You know what did it? A complete change of scenery and medium. I was volunteering at my daughters rehearsal and had 15 minutes of nothing, so I grabbed my new pen and paper set from my purse and started brainstorming and boy did it work! Now I can’t wait to get started writing it!

By: Sheila JG

Sheila JG — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:29:22 +0000

I’m stuck too. It’s funny how I thought I was done, then all these little things popped up – why would he do that? how do I work in that plant I left back in ch. 3? etc. etc. What works for me is a long bike ride – ideas seem to fall into my brain when I’m out in nature. It’s weird, sometimes I’m not even consciously thinking about my story, and all of a sudden a random thought will turn into a solution.

Good luck!

By: annastan

annastan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:57:31 +0000

Heather, I love that advice! I’m absolutely awful at drawing, but I actually rather enjoy it. I’ll have to give it a try – thanks!

Kayleigh, it sounds like you have a monster on your hands! But remember that once you have the core of your story figured out, you can always cut cut cut.

Karen, you’re probably right. I just need to give my mind some more time to figure things out. If only I wasn’t so impatient!

Kay, I’m with you! Sometimes life gets in the way and it can be overwhelming to even think about writing. But we’ll get there!

By: annastan

annastan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:54:08 +0000

Jon, you’re so right. It’s all part of the process. Hopefully I can dig myself out of this low!

Andrea, maybe there’s something in the air. The beginning of summer seems better for vacationing than writing, doesn’t it?

Laura, good call about the “what if” questions. Those always get my mind churning.

Marcia, you’re right that being stuck means there’s a problem somewhere. Now if I could just figure out where…

By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:48:02 +0000

I must be in good company–I’ve been mired down in my WIP this week, too. I struggled for two hours to write less than two pages yesterday. I’m just not sure how to get where I want to go next. Of course, life has been intefering this week, too. Two nights of little sleep, out-of-state guests, and finishing 4-H projects have cut into time and productivity. So instead of writing, I’m still procrastinating.

I hope find your way out soon. I’mgoing to keep slogging through it.

By: Karen Strong

Karen Strong — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:43:09 +0000

I just got over a stuck hump and the only thing that helped me was my subconscious. I “knew” what I wanted to convey but every time I tried to do it — it didn’t work.

Free writing helped too but I think my mind just needed to work it out and then I had a aha! moment (it involved getting rid of some subplots and a character).

You’ll get unstuck soon I’m sure.

Reading a good book helps too. It can be inspiring and get your own creativity moving again as well.

By: Kayleigh

Kayleigh — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:08:38 +0000

I’m stuck because my novel is too complicated. How complicated? 50+ characters, a dozen storylines and half a dozen points of view. Approximately.

By: Heather Wright

Heather Wright — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:07:03 +0000

When I’m stuck in the muck, I draw–my hand, my coffee mug, my telephone, whatever is handy. I’m not very good at it so sometimes I just doodle with lots of coloured markers. I find that my mind can’t dwell on anything else except where I’m going to put the pencil or marker next and for 20 or 30 minutes all the critical voices are shut down. It’s like a mini-spa for my brain. Another thing I do when I’m stuck is to get out from in front of the computer screen and take paper and pencil somewhere else in the house or to a coffee shop. A change of scene and tools can work wonders.