what do you do when you get writers block?

Started by misterx, Sun 27/07/2003 14:50:57

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misterx

working on my story for my new game, and well have writers block  :-[

any tips on getting over this ?

DGMacphee

Just start writing, even if you write complete garbage.
ABRACADABRA YOUR SPELLS ARE OKAY

DGMacphee Designs - http://www.sylpher.com/DGMacphee/
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"Ah, look! I've just shat a rainbow." - Yakspit

Barcik

I'll say the complete opposite. Go refresh yourself, walk the dog, watch TV, play sports, get laid. The options are infinite.  :)
Currently Working On: Monkey Island 1.5

Scummbuddy

Do everything it says at the end of that Monkey Island game.  

Wash your dog
Start and alternative rock band
Smell some flowers....


No seriously, just take your mind to another thing, or immerse yourself in the time period. Such as, if you were writing a pirate game, oh boy another one, you could read all about them in your library, or go visit the Caribbean or the Florida Keys.  Stuff like that.
- Oh great, I'm stuck in colonial times, tentacles are taking over the world, and now the toilets backing up.
- No, I mean it's really STUCK. Like adventure-game stuck.
-Hoagie from DOTT

evenwolf

Quit taking your project so seriously, and rip characters, stories, and concepts off of other stories.

Then legally change your name to George Lucas.
"I drink a thousand shipwrecks.'"

DGMacphee

I'm bitterly against doing other things when I should be writing -- usually this just leads to more procrastination.

I sit down, start writing, and ignore all critical thought until I've finished.

Then I rewrite -- several times and until I'm happy.
ABRACADABRA YOUR SPELLS ARE OKAY

DGMacphee Designs - http://www.sylpher.com/DGMacphee/
AGS Awards - http://www.sylpher.com/AGSAwards/

Instagame - http://www.sylpher.com/ig/
"Ah, look! I've just shat a rainbow." - Yakspit

Captain Mostly

#6
I usually throw totally un-workable plot twists in my characters's faces to spice things up. Then I spend the rest of the game trying to explain what's going on...  Until I get stuck again, and throw another EVEN MORE UN-WORKABLE plot twist in...

Although now that I've told you all this, perhaps people will start to ponder exactly how clever RL&BAT really was...

EDIT: How do you do that Larry Vales smily again... I forgot... it's still available yeah?

Esseb

#7
It used to be := on the ezboard forums. Not sure if the image is on the ags site, it might be still at my tbns account.



Edit: Nay. I'll upload it to my domain later.


http://www.esseb.com/images/lvsmiley.gif

Hobbes

Just rewrite what you have so far. Tinker with the story, write new stuff. Even if it is just one sentence a day, keep it moving. The problem with writer's block is that with all the procastrinating you do, you lose sight of the project and soon find yourself forgetting about it all together.

The block is only as big as you make it. Stay away from your written material for a day, and you can come back to it. Stay away for a month, and you've risen the bar so high for yourself, it's hard to get back into the flow. So, get writing!

MillsJROSS

Writers Block is usually caused because you've writtens something that doesn't lead to anything else. Writing should flow naturally, if it's blocked it's because of something you have already written. Look back and scrap something you're not sure you like, or you're  not sure you can bring to an interesting conclusion to.

Sometimes, though, you just need a break from your story. Get out for a little while can be good. Try a freewriting session, too (Which is just writing as fast as you can, whatever you want. It feels good to get some of your ideas out in rough form, and it makes you feel like you've accomplished something).

-MillsJROSS

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