It doesn't matter whether you're writing an essay, a screenplay or a memoir, when a phrase (argument/ chapter/scene) is not working, no matter what you do or how hard you try, and you find it’s all but impossible to move ahead… stop trying! Pull over to the side of the road, and take a look over your shoulder.
In all likelihood you’ve inadvertently turned down a wrong (linguistic, character, or plot) road and that is why you now find yourself facing a dead end (or cul de sac, if you live in the suburbs). No matter how much you struggle, you can’t clever your way out this one. You have to go back and see where you made the wrong turn. That’s the moment that needs fixing; the moment where you accidentally sabotaged yourself.
Write what you’re trying to say.
If you’re satisfied that your setup is sound and you still can’t find the words to express what you’re trying to say, pull back, hit return, and write: “What I’m trying to say is… “ Then just spew. Write down everything that you’ve been attempting to get out, without worrying about making it fit into the sentence or structure or story. Now look back at your troubling sentence. I’ll bet the answer is in your spew.
When you don’t know what to say…
If you found yourself unable to finish the sentence “What I’m trying to say is…”, then you probably don’t know what you want to say! The reason you couldn’t find the “right words” is that you haven’t yet settled on what it is you’re trying to express. In this case take TWO steps back, hit return and write, “The thing that confuses me about this situation (scene, chapter, moment,) is…” and spew on about that. An alternative prompt might be, “I can’t decide if… or…”.
If the wall is still there…
If none of this works, take THREE steps back from your computer, put on a jacket and head outside for a walk (or jog or bike ride) and muse on the topic, “What do I really think about this story (essay, book, script)? Do I honestly believe in what I’m struggling to say, or am I only saying it to move the plot/argument/theme/character development along? Is the direction I’m taking somewhere I even want to go? Is this moment true?”
These are hard, scary questions, and you can really only face them when you are away from the keyboard, preferably doing something physical. Physical activity allows your brain to relax, gives it room to think. You’d be amazed at how much you can get done on a simple walk (don’t forget to bring a pen and paper, or a phone with “memo” capability to take down all of your brilliant ideas).
And if nothing comes, or worse, the realization that you have to throw everything out and start over, well, at least you’re aerobically fit!
Happy writing everyone, and let me know your strategies for surmounting those brick walls!
In all likelihood you’ve inadvertently turned down a wrong (linguistic, character, or plot) road and that is why you now find yourself facing a dead end (or cul de sac, if you live in the suburbs). No matter how much you struggle, you can’t clever your way out this one. You have to go back and see where you made the wrong turn. That’s the moment that needs fixing; the moment where you accidentally sabotaged yourself.
Write what you’re trying to say.
If you’re satisfied that your setup is sound and you still can’t find the words to express what you’re trying to say, pull back, hit return, and write: “What I’m trying to say is… “ Then just spew. Write down everything that you’ve been attempting to get out, without worrying about making it fit into the sentence or structure or story. Now look back at your troubling sentence. I’ll bet the answer is in your spew.
When you don’t know what to say…
If you found yourself unable to finish the sentence “What I’m trying to say is…”, then you probably don’t know what you want to say! The reason you couldn’t find the “right words” is that you haven’t yet settled on what it is you’re trying to express. In this case take TWO steps back, hit return and write, “The thing that confuses me about this situation (scene, chapter, moment,) is…” and spew on about that. An alternative prompt might be, “I can’t decide if… or…”.
If the wall is still there…
If none of this works, take THREE steps back from your computer, put on a jacket and head outside for a walk (or jog or bike ride) and muse on the topic, “What do I really think about this story (essay, book, script)? Do I honestly believe in what I’m struggling to say, or am I only saying it to move the plot/argument/theme/character development along? Is the direction I’m taking somewhere I even want to go? Is this moment true?”
These are hard, scary questions, and you can really only face them when you are away from the keyboard, preferably doing something physical. Physical activity allows your brain to relax, gives it room to think. You’d be amazed at how much you can get done on a simple walk (don’t forget to bring a pen and paper, or a phone with “memo” capability to take down all of your brilliant ideas).
And if nothing comes, or worse, the realization that you have to throw everything out and start over, well, at least you’re aerobically fit!
Happy writing everyone, and let me know your strategies for surmounting those brick walls!