The Snoozing Muse
September 27th, 2006 by Marsha Moyer
I feel kind of bad about this.
I was asked to become a contributor to Writer Unboxed in order to offer encouragement and inspiration to other writers. But lately, I’ve felt in short supply of those things myself. My novel-in-progress has run aground just past the halfway mark. I’ve tried reminding myself that this has happened at some point during the course of every book I’ve written, but somehow that knowledge has failed to banish the panicky feelings and sleepless nights.
So I’ve decided to go interactive here. Yes, I’m letting—or rather, imploring—you, gentle readers and fellow travelers, to write this week’s post for me.
What do you do when your muse refuses to cooperate? How do you juice up your imagination when it’s gone as dry as the Sahara? In short, how do you keep the faith when faith itself, much less creativity, is in short supply?
I look forward to hearing your answers. (I assume my muse does, too, but we’re not speaking at the moment.)
P.S. I’ve just picked up The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear by Ralph Keyes, a book I first learned about on this website. I’m only on page 4 and I’m breathing a little easier already.
Next week: My addiction to writers’ self-help books.
I have that same problem with first drafts, it happened in the first one I wrote and is currently happening with the second, and I imagine it will continue to happen.
As for getting the muse to cooperate, I type questions onto the page, usually about whatever I’m stuck on, and then I keep typing answers until the right one shows up, and if I’m having trouble with more than one element I’ll just keep typing questions and hope the answers will find a way out through my fingertips. Sounds goofy but it works for me.
God, Marsha, it’s bad enough to have writer’s block, but to have it with a deadline looming must be a nightmare.
Here’s what I do, and I don’t know if it’ll be helpful, but I take a break, a short one. I give myself permission to not get up early, to watch crummy movies, and do stuff that I wouldn’t dream of doing because The Work is waiting for me. And I try not to think of the unfinished MS breathing heavily on my workspace ready to devour me.
Then when my break is over, I sit down with a pad of paper and start focusing on the conflict in the story that has me stumped. I always come back to the conflict–internal or external, whatever, because for me I get hung up on what happens next, and the story will only reveal What Happens Next if I get at the root of the conflict. I settle on something, then write past it. By the end of the draft I either love my decision or hate it and chuck it, but at least I’m closer to where I want to be.
I watch movies, documentaries, or read books related to the vision I’m going for.
For me block is always related to my excitement/eagerness for the project and the work. And the only way I can kickstart those is to remind myself why I like the concept in the first place… So I’d advise to try and tap into whatever it was that got you excited in the first place. With a little of that excited vision coursing through your veins again, you’ll forget all about the drudgery.
Marsha, I also found the book Unstuck by Jane Anne Staw to be helpful.
Unlike Eric, I find that I block when I’ve made a wrong turn somewhere, so for me finding that misstep is key.
First I might try a change-up. I’ll write the scene I’m stuck on in a different POV, in first person instead of third, or I’ll toss my characters into a new setting…or myself in one; I may go to the living room and use my AlphaSmart or grab an old-fashioned notebook and pencil.
I like to go back through what I’ve already written when I’m stumped. Sometimes I’ll read it all aloud. It helps me to follow the momentum of the story, and sometimes that momentum is enough to get me through whatever road block I’ve encountered while writing fresh stuff.
Another trick I use is to force myself to write…badly. I wrote perhaps the worst piece of crud scene yesterday that I’ve ever written, but wouldn’t you know, today my muse is chattering up a storm: Wow, that stunk. (I feel her smirk but tolerate it because I know what’s coming next.) Why don’t you try the scene in the music room? You know, that scene doesn’t even belong there-move it here. What you really need at that point in the story is XYZ. You’re turning the character into a cardboard likeness of herself; where are her quirks? Where is her personality? Try this…
I also can’t say enough about Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel for offering new ways to attack a stale scene - reversing the motivations of characters, increasing conflict by finding a way of making character goals matter more, exploring new hurdles you can throw at your protagonists, etc…
I think it was Kath who once advised me that the most reliable trick for overcoming block is simply to show up in front of the manuscript on a regular basis. I’m getting better at that.
Good luck, Marsha!
I read Keyes’ book a few years ago and LOVED it. (I have an addiction to writing books, too!)
For me, taking a few days off helps tremendously. If you try and push and push and it only makes it worse, it’s time to back away for a day or so. Let your mind relax and breathe.
since i have this problem on a regular basis and have’n't found the ultimate solution, i’m not sure i am in a position to give advice to anyone. but i have found that when i am stumped and seeking a solution, i will myself to dream a solution. I am amazed at how much my dreams illuminate my blocks. i also recommend repetitive mantras such as ‘I will write today…I will write today…etc” sometimes things work, sometimes they do. the directed dreaming i recommend.
Thanks for the advice, y’all (as well as the additional book recommendations). Reading through your comments brings up several issues for me that might make interesting posts in the future. A big one: the difference between writing for oneself, without pressure of expectation, vs. writing under contract for an established audience. Another, the difficulty of learning to balance writing with having written: i.e., cranking out a new novel while simultaneously doing what it takes to tend the business of the ones that are already out there (marketing, web stuff, etc.). Good food for thought here. Gracias.
Thea, I do something similar before going to bed. I tell my subconscious to think up a new scene for me to write while I’m sleeping. Sometimes it works–but not this last time. I ended up reading the last 75 pages, and I thought up 3 new scenes as I read.
Good luck!
Edie, I do that too. I often think of a solution before I fall asleep, and then the challenge is in remembering it! I’m usually good for 1-2 idea nuggets at night. It’s been a while since I’ve had a massage, but that’s another setting where the conscious mind kind of shuts half-off and you can dive into those knotty, subconscious story issues a little more deeply.