Underground Writers Network Forum Seeking Advice

Jose A. Maraver	Seeking Advice 10 Years Ago Hi, I'm new here. After many, many years I took the plunge to finally put my imagination to use and write my first novel. I finished my first draft a few weeks ago. I still need to re write plot mechanics, combine two characters and add additional chapters. I am having a very hard time getting down to do this and lack the inspiration that I initially had. Any advice? is it normal to get writers block so damn early? Any words of wisdom will be appreciated. Thanks! Jose
WhereItResides	Re: Seeking Advice 10 Years Ago Yeah, writers block sucks and can hit anytime or anywhere. It doesn't matter how early into the process or how new one is to writing. It has no prejudice against those it strikes. What I find helps me the most to get over it, is just stop thinking about it. Stressing over it or trying to write without inspiration will lead to bad things. Just go and do stuff you like doing and pretend the story doesn't exist for a few days. Obsessing about a story is bad. Give your head some time to relax and you will probably find yourself with some new inspiration.
Witwoo	Re: Seeking Advice 10 Years Ago Hi, I'm new here. After many, many years I took the plunge to finally put my imagination to use and write my first novel. I finished my first draft a few weeks ago. I still need to re write plot mechanics, combine two characters and add additional chapters. I am having a very hard time getting down to do this and lack the inspiration that I initially had. Any advice? is it normal to get writers block so damn early? Any words of wisdom will be appreciated. Thanks! Jose -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had to do this so I could see what I was writing about. Sorry for the recap. Now then... There is a difference between writer's block and writer's indifference. I bet you suffer from the latter. The way that you've listed your to-do's definitely sounds chore-like. When I began my first novel, I wrote it first as a short story. It's not as daunting, and it helped me get to know my characters. That short story, in turn, became a sort of 'prologue' for my book. It worked well. Plot mechanics: Throw your story at everyone who's willing (or unwilling?) to read it. People tend to point out details that you haven't considered. Even if you don't adopt what they offer, it'll invigorate your buried ideas. Combine two characters? Island of Dr Moreau? I kid. Pluck that character(s) out of his/her current project, open up a new blank page, throw them in a crowd of people and see what they do. What do they observe? What do they see and feel? Will they feed pigeons? Read a book? Will they enjoy the crowd, or be repulsed by it? This will help you slowly assimilate two people into one, and you may discover new things about this character that makes you fall in love with them again. Hopefully, if you try these things, you will be more inclined to enjoy free-writing again, and not have to satisfy a checklist. Good luck.