I’m in a perpetual state of flux. One week I’m on a roll and writing consistently. The next, it’s all stop and go, like that car chugging down the street with its engine about to fall out.
One of the toughest parts for me in regards to writing is the in-between stuff, specifically the light transitions. For example, I have scene one and scene two but scene 1.2 stumps me.
Stay with me here.
Some scenes end naturally and you jump right into the next scene. Some scenes have a definite obvious evolution to the next scene. But every so often, there are transitions that require a subtle touch. Those are the ones giving me problems. I write and rewrite it in my head until it makes sense or I nod off. This, at least for me right now, takes up a ridiculous amount of time.
This is not writer’s block. I call it writer’s flux, when you rapidly run through scenarios until one sticks.
How do you deal with your times of flux? Whether it has to do with writing, crafting, party planning, or strategizing the next take over?
I busy myself doing something related, yet not actually drawing. Like a few weeks ago, I felt very uncreative. So I spent my days getting my postcards ready, mailing them out, and tidying up my website. All things to keep me going, yet not actually drawing.
I try to plot out ahead a little, in a rough outline. There may be something you can use from a future scene, an idea, a suggestion, that'll link forward to it in the flux part.
I do laundry or bake, all the while running different scenarios in my head. Your cartoon is spot on! Sometimes I'll write a while scene but realize it isn't working, so I save it in an “extras” file for another time.
I often do a little rewriting until a natural flow occurs.
Yep I have writer's flux very often. I just try to go back and look at my story plan, and add a little bit more detail. I find that if I have a more definite guideline, it helps to move through that transition smoothly. Good luck!
It helps me if I decide where the chapter break is going to go and work toward that. Inbetween scenes are always hard because I wonder if I'm still keeping the reader's attention.
sometimes, i just skip the part that's giving me trouble. Come back to it later
I absolutely love the little cartoon – hilarious! Writer's flux, huh? I like it. And yes, I do have those moments. Sadly, I deal with them just like you described. Ha ha.
I'm with Falen, I usually skip it and come back later. Or a really bad habit, I stop and start something completely new. Hence me never finishing anything. ;P
I do it the best I can on first draft and move forward. My subconscious then has a lot of time to work on the problem before I get back to it on the next draft.
I live in flux, I write in flux. Sometimes things just go great, and you arrive on time and everything is great. Other times you're so busy, you're not home for more than 30 minutes before you have to leave again, etc.It's life.I embrace it because I want my writing to be part of my life. And my stories to reflect real life.So embrace the flux!!
Writer's flux… good term for it! Transitions are hard for me too. Often I have to just skip over them and move on for the sake of my sanity. So if you figure out a good technique, let me know!
Too bad there isn't cyber-Mylanta for writer's flux, isn't it?I love your profile picture. I have written a Native American fantasy, THE BEAR WITH 2 SHADOWS. And bears have always been favorites of mine.Come check out my blog : WRITING IN THE CROSSHAIRS : http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/Have a great week, Roland
Yes – I'm struggling with this right now. The transition parts are so hard. I know exactly where your coming from and I feel just like that cartoon when I'm writing right now. So glad to know I'm not alone. The only way I deal with it is to keep trudging along. I have skipped a few places where I was stuck, but I need to learn to work through the hard parts. Good luck working your way out of the flux.
With a lot of blue ink. This week has been frustrating to say the least, but you sort of plow through. Somehow.That's what multiple drafts are for.