Breaking writers block

[essayel]

It seems to be everywhere, this stultification of brain and slowness of fingers. Lots of people on my flist are complaining about it. But yesteday I saw something that looked fun and I'm going to try it.

Holly Lisle, a published author of fiction and a 'how to write fiction' course, has offered to act as a pacemaker for anyone who wants to write a novel. In addition to her normal workload she's going to try and write a short section every day, just 250 words or so, of a novel that should end up about 250,000 words. There's no pressure. You just have to try and match that 250 words count - if you miss a day no problem and no need to double up the word count the following day. If you want to do more that's fine. If you go on holiday or have guests that's fine. If you lose interest and give up, well that's sad, but it's your choice.

So I've signed up and I'm going to post the hairy and unwaxed results for people to poke fun at.

The story is set on the Scottish Borders, though it will probably be wildly inaccurate from an historical point of view - sorry history buffs, and there will be - um - paranormal elements and lots of music.

* waves at metallumai* it's that story, okay. Just hope I can pull it off.

I'll post links when I think of it but here's the first bit.

Anyone want to join in? 250 words a day? That's about 3 RP comments. Easy.

Comments

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

Hey, "paranormal elements" and "lots of music" sound good (and "historically inaccurate" does not matter as long as it does not reach the level of the Llamas of Troy, so..).

I like that story beginning a lot, especially Davy's somewhat one-sided conversation with his means of traveling/walking provisions/sort-of-friend.

May I friend your writing journal to see how the story continues (in case you continue to post bits of it)?

As for 250 words a day... I can do that in German, perhaps, but I think I would get too lazy to translate them into English every day for everyone to read. So, hmpf. :-/

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Of course you may friend. Pleased to have you. And it's the best way to see new bits because I'll be pants at remembering to post links.

I cant promise every day, but I'll do my best.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

but that's about three years!!!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Yeah *boggles* but the guinea pigs don't have to make that commitment. We just write for as long as convenient or until the story ends. 50,000 I think I could do. That would be about 6 months at 300 words a day.

And i can always wander off if my muse demands pirates instead.

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

No poking in fun from me - I like that beginning.

(Are there any warnings (ducks for cover, LOL), for things like het, etc.?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Oh it's not fandom. If it's original fiction nobody gives a toss. People who read original fiction for the fun of it as well as fanfic tend to be quite grown up and sensible.

That said maybe I ought to put in a warning re: my blind spot about the common apostrophe? My right pinky twitches from time to time whenever it feels a ' might be fun.

There will be het, but on the other hand since I'm totally pants at het smut it shouldn't be too warning worthy.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I'll do it. How do I sign up?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/index.php/write-a-book-with-me/ - that's the rules, and you just sign up to her latest post with that tag and post whatever you've done to each successive tagged post.

To further break down my tendency to over think and overplan I think I might use Dr Wicked's Write or Die (http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html) application. That's fun too.

I'll look out for you. Good luck.

[bitchy-brat.livejournal.com]

Oooohhh! I could probably do that since I've got a story plotting in my head (thanks to one of my rp pups). I just don't know if I'd start at the beginning or somewhere in the middle?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Start wherever you like. Lisle says that as long as they are words it doesn't matter what sort of words there are. I've seen someone using this to write an outline for a story and another promising to edit 500 words of a completed novel each day.

It seems infinitely flexible.

If you do I wanna link to it.

[cweb.livejournal.com]

I might give this a shot...if I can think of something to write about:)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Have a go and see what happens. You don't have to let people see if you don't want to. Some people are writing fan fiction.