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So, you want to be a writer. You write stories, poems, short stories- whatever, and you give them to your friends or shitty writing group, and you receive their shitty feedback.
Well, I've got massive writing block right now, and can't write now. (Yeah, it's that bad. I'm resorting to shitty puns). Since I haven't contributed much to this website other than the occasional classic one-liner or flash fiction piece, I thought I would give back by reviewing the TL.Net's would-be writers.
You might be asking yourself what my credentials are. Don't concern yourself with that. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. (Besides, my comments on your work are still subject to your own opinion: you can choose to follow them or not.)
Rules Of Submission:
•Your piece must be complete.
•Your piece must have thought put into it. I'm not reviewing casual work. I will be putting a lot of thought into the review.
•I reserve the right not to review all submissions. I anticipate receiving mostly worthwhile submissions, but I know I will get that one or two that is unreadable.
•PM me for my e-mail address. After you receive it, send me your work in the text body of the e-mail. I will not be opening attachments.
What You Get:
•One more person read your work.
•Solid and articulate writing advice, with an emphasis on style, word choice, concept expression. I'm not going to be plotting your novel, but I will offer suggestions on alternative events that will better help carry the story along.
•A PDF document of your work with my comments.
What I Hope To Get:
•Discover a new, talented writer.
•Get my writing mind turned on.
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Belgium9947 Posts
I'm not a writer, so I'll just sit in this thread and wait for the first Klazart joke to be made.
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Writer's block... I never get that. What's it like? All writing is just translation. Have you run out of things to translate?
I think writer's block is bs. It's an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up.
All this "I reserve the right" crap... More laziness. Maybe do something first before you say you will. Or at least have a better resume... like an example of your work, so if it's shit one don't waste his or her time writing to you.
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Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often.
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On October 17 2009 03:04 Chef wrote:
Writer's block... I never get that. What's it like? All writing is just translation. Have you run out of things to translate?
I think writer's block is bs. It's an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up.
All this "I reserve the right" crap... More laziness. Maybe do something first before you say you will. Or at least have a better resume... like an example of your work, so if it's shit one don't waste his or her time writing to you.
God, what a dreadful post. I mean it starts out seeming to be nice enough, then goes on to call writers block bs, then goes on to call the OP lazy and more than likely not to do what he's said based on nothing.
I think this is a great idea and a nice gesture.
P.S Writers block is very real >(
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On October 17 2009 03:04 Chef wrote:
Writer's block... I never get that. What's it like? All writing is just translation. Have you run out of things to translate?
I think writer's block is bs. It's an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up.
Are you a writer?
Writer's Block is simply a distinction between being able to write fluidly with little effort, and the alternate spending of hours on attempted writing but everything turns out like shit. In fact, i'd say the pieces i've spent the most time on are the ones i've thrown out, because i only spend that much time on something when i have Writer's Block.
It's the same with any art. Sometimes i can pick up a pencil and astound myself at what i've drawn, and other times i throw out a sketch that i've worked 4 hours on.
edit - well i looked at your blog and you're clearly creative/like to express yourself.
i can't believe you never get writer's block. i am so jealous. 
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On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often.
My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example.
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On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often.
LOL
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hello, i'm a writer. i question your credentials
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On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example.
i think you may be missing the point.
why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster?
I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable?
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On October 17 2009 03:21 Mora wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:04 Chef wrote:
Writer's block... I never get that. What's it like? All writing is just translation. Have you run out of things to translate?
I think writer's block is bs. It's an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up.
Are you a writer? Writer's Block is simply a distinction between being able to write fluidly with little effort, and the alternate spending of hours on attempted writing but everything turns out like shit. In fact, i'd say the pieces i've spent the most time on are the ones i've thrown out, because i only spend that much time on something when i have Writer's Block. It's the same with any art. Sometimes i can pick up a pencil and astound myself at what i've drawn, and other times i throw out a sketch that i've worked 4 hours on.
I write a lot of random short stories, and I'm slowly working thru a novel. For me, the amount of time I put into something is proportional to how good it is. I spend hours and hours on every chapter I write, and I get exactly what I put in. I spend hours on work I write as a gift to a friend to make it something nice. I spend about 20 minutes on random StarCraft stories I post on TL and they're relatively crap (I think the only appeal is that they're in the StarCraft universe, tbh).
I don't know. I don't understand writers block. If you have something to say, just write it and perfect it. If you don't have something to say... Go experience life until you do. Of course if you don't have anything to talk about your writing is going to sound contrived and turn out shitty. But if you have something to write about... Which I think is where the phrase "writer's block" is used most... You get into the middle of an idea and you don't know where to go from there.... I don't understand how that happens. Maybe because I usually think out everything before I even start writing. But in my experience people who complain to me about writer's block typically just want an excuse.
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you're one of those people that give opinions without really thinking them out. you're just as pretentious as the OP and half as talented
On October 17 2009 03:33 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:21 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:04 Chef wrote:
Writer's block... I never get that. What's it like? All writing is just translation. Have you run out of things to translate?
I think writer's block is bs. It's an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up.
Are you a writer? Writer's Block is simply a distinction between being able to write fluidly with little effort, and the alternate spending of hours on attempted writing but everything turns out like shit. In fact, i'd say the pieces i've spent the most time on are the ones i've thrown out, because i only spend that much time on something when i have Writer's Block. It's the same with any art. Sometimes i can pick up a pencil and astound myself at what i've drawn, and other times i throw out a sketch that i've worked 4 hours on. I write a lot of random short stories, and I'm slowly working thru a novel. For me, the amount of time I put into something is proportional to how good it is. I spend hours and hours on every chapter I write, and I get exactly what I put in. I spend hours on work I write as a gift to a friend to make it something nice. I spend about 20 minutes on random StarCraft stories I post on TL and they're relatively crap (I think the only appeal is that they're in the StarCraft universe, tbh). I don't know. I don't understand writers block. If you have something to say, just write it and perfect it. If you don't have something to say... Go experience life until you do. Of course if you don't have anything to talk about your writing is going to sound contrived and turn out shitty. But if you have something to write about... Which I think is where the phrase "writer's block" is used most... You get into the middle of an idea and you don't know where to go from there.... I don't understand how that happens. Maybe because I usually think out everything before I even start writing. But in my experience people who complain to me about writer's block typically just want an excuse.
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On October 17 2009 03:33 Mora wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example. i think you may be missing the point. why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster? I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable?
Sure. All valid points.
However, what does one put at risk by sending me something to review? The offer is for me to do all of the work. One can use my comments or discard them.
Further, I don't see anyone else offering to read other people's work constructively. Sure, one can post his/her own work in a blog, but that rarely generates helpful responses.
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I guess everyone thought they would be getting "more" out of the title. It's almost like making a thread about about sc. Ex "So you want to be a progamer?" but in reality it's a C- guy on iccup who is willing to review you're replay and tell you what you did wrong. Lol
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I'm pretty sure writer's block is real and that it has ended a few careers.
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Self-fulfilled prophecies. THERE IS NO MORE TO WRITE ABOUT! ahahhaha.
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On October 17 2009 03:53 Chef wrote:
Self-fulfilled prophecies. THERE IS NO MORE TO WRITE ABOUT! ahahhaha.
hahaha
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"Well-known writers who have suffered from block include George Gissing, Samuel Coleridge, Ralph Ellison, Joseph Mitchell and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Writers who overcame block and published new work after a hiatus of decades include Harold Brodkey, whose novel The Runaway Soul appeared some 30 years after it was first projected, and Henry Roth, whose first novel, Call It Sleep, was published in 1934; his second, Mercy Of A Rude Stream, did not appear until 1994."
Clearly all those fools were just making excuses, or hadn't "experienced life" enough.
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On October 17 2009 03:41 A3iL3r0n wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:33 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example. i think you may be missing the point. why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster? I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable? Sure. All valid points. However, what does one put at risk by sending me something to review? The offer is for me to do all of the work. One can use my comments or discard them. Further, I don't see anyone else offering to read other people's work constructively. Sure, one can post his/her own work in a blog, but that rarely generates helpful responses.
i came to the same conclusion which is why i gave you the benefit of the doubt.
After reading your previous blog posts, it was clear that i'd be wasting your time. I like to express myself but i would be audacious in calling myself a writer. I'd be delusional to call what i do 'writing'.
I hope someone takes up your offer (presuming that the writing and the critique get posted here on tl.net)
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Canada9720 Posts
any aspiring writer's "shitty" writing group would include published authors, and undergrad students already accepted into MFA programs (if the workshop was at all worth its time). do you boast either of those qualifications?
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why don't you write about the best clan of all time.
i.Sky)
that should clear your writer's block.
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Canada9720 Posts
and writer's block is certainly real. dostoyevski said he would die happy after finishing the brothers karamazov. nick drake said he "had no more to say" after writing the songs for pink moon
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Chef, you must have a very methodical and boring writing style, I know exacly what the OP is talking about.
if you write seeking to pass something pre conceived, like news, or a pretty general idea like story about two marines drinking in the bar then getting attack then running away only to find more zerglings and die, its pretty easy to just put some time and thought on it and receive decent results.
But when you are trying to come with pretty original ideas and insights and are trying to add to the original plot on the fly (not only in what the plot is, but on how to transcribe it to the person) a Writer's block is pretty much a temporary inability to get inspired to the point where you need to brainstorm
Normally great authors dont need to brainstorm anything, they are the storm.
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On October 17 2009 03:59 Mora wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:41 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:33 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example. i think you may be missing the point. why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster? I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable? Sure. All valid points. However, what does one put at risk by sending me something to review? The offer is for me to do all of the work. One can use my comments or discard them. Further, I don't see anyone else offering to read other people's work constructively. Sure, one can post his/her own work in a blog, but that rarely generates helpful responses. i came to the same conclusion which is why i gave you the benefit of the doubt. After reading your previous blog posts, it was clear that i'd be wasting your time. I like to express myself but i would be audacious in calling myself a writer. I'd be delusional to call what i do 'writing'. I hope someone takes up your offer (presuming that the writing and the critique get posted here on tl.net)
Go ahead and send me something. By the looks of it, I'm not going to have any takers.
Also, I wouldn't post the story and critique without the author's encouragement. This blog is just the advertisement.
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i'm going to be honest: you said 'no causal writing' (when i don't even know the distinction between casual/serious/professional in this context) and you're writing ability/fluency with literature intimidates me.
If i had any constructed prose that i would not be embarrassed to show you, i certainly would.
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On October 17 2009 03:59 Mora wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:41 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:33 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example. i think you may be missing the point. why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster? I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable? Sure. All valid points. However, what does one put at risk by sending me something to review? The offer is for me to do all of the work. One can use my comments or discard them. Further, I don't see anyone else offering to read other people's work constructively. Sure, one can post his/her own work in a blog, but that rarely generates helpful responses. i came to the same conclusion which is why i gave you the benefit of the doubt. After reading your previous blog posts, it was clear that i'd be wasting your time. I like to express myself but i would be audacious in calling myself a writer. I'd be delusional to call what i do 'writing'. I hope someone takes up your offer (presuming that the writing and the critique get posted here on tl.net)
Hahaha, you're the best.
On October 17 2009 04:03 D10 wrote:
Chef, you must have a very methodical and boring writing style, I know exacly what the OP is talking about.
if you write seeking to pass something pre conceived, like news, or a pretty general idea like story about two marines drinking in the bar then getting attack then running away only to find more zerglings and die, its pretty easy to just put some time and thought on it and receive decent results.
But when you are trying to come with pretty original ideas and insights and are trying to add to the original plot on the fly (not only in what the plot is, but on how to transcribe it to the person) a Writer's block is pretty much a temporary inability to get inspired to the point where you need to brainstorm
Normally great authors dont need to brainstorm anything, they are the storm.
All the writers I've ever liked have led extremely interesting lives. I think that's what makes a writer good. Not having a magic talent brain that's better than any other.
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On October 17 2009 04:19 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 03:59 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:41 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:33 Mora wrote:On October 17 2009 03:29 A3iL3r0n wrote:On October 17 2009 03:11 Luddite wrote:
Wow, a guy on an internet message board will criticize what I wrote? I better hurry up, opportunities like this don't come a long too often. My offer is one of thoughtful advice, not the pointless "internet" criticism of which your post is a great example. i think you may be missing the point. why should any of us think you are any more qualified to give critique than the any other random 'internet message board' poster? I had already given you the benefit of the doubt, but surely you can understand why one might just think your offer is somewhat haughty and outright laughable? Sure. All valid points. However, what does one put at risk by sending me something to review? The offer is for me to do all of the work. One can use my comments or discard them. Further, I don't see anyone else offering to read other people's work constructively. Sure, one can post his/her own work in a blog, but that rarely generates helpful responses. i came to the same conclusion which is why i gave you the benefit of the doubt. After reading your previous blog posts, it was clear that i'd be wasting your time. I like to express myself but i would be audacious in calling myself a writer. I'd be delusional to call what i do 'writing'. I hope someone takes up your offer (presuming that the writing and the critique get posted here on tl.net) Hahaha, you're the best. Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 04:03 D10 wrote:
Chef, you must have a very methodical and boring writing style, I know exacly what the OP is talking about.
if you write seeking to pass something pre conceived, like news, or a pretty general idea like story about two marines drinking in the bar then getting attack then running away only to find more zerglings and die, its pretty easy to just put some time and thought on it and receive decent results.
But when you are trying to come with pretty original ideas and insights and are trying to add to the original plot on the fly (not only in what the plot is, but on how to transcribe it to the person) a Writer's block is pretty much a temporary inability to get inspired to the point where you need to brainstorm
Normally great authors dont need to brainstorm anything, they are the storm. All the writers I've ever liked have led extremely interesting lives. I think that's what makes a writer good. Not having a magic talent brain that's better than any other.
Chef, I love your passion. However, not all great writers have led exciting, event filled lives. Thomas Mann, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath come to mind. (But as your post said, the writers you like all have.) Yes, being a good writer does come from having superior talent. That's like saying anyone can become a progamer. The best have a combination of superior talent and work ethic.
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You're out of your fucking mind if you think writer's block isn't real
Tossing my hat in the ring to review some writing stuff, amateur, professional... whatever. I'm bored and my own writing is sucking ass now.
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I'm studying broadcast journalism and in the phase of trying to improve and enable myself to succeed in the basic mechanics writing skills so that I can become prepared into the real world (life after college). But, I question your writing credentials and how you led into this massive writer's block phase you seem to have right now...
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On October 17 2009 04:18 Mora wrote:
i'm going to be honest: you said 'no causal writing' (when i don't even know the distinction between casual/serious/professional in this context) and you're writing ability/fluency with literature intimidates me.
If i had any constructed prose that i would not be embarrassed to show you, i certainly would.
Well, why not send it to me anyway? If the problems are as simplistic as you portray, I bet I could give you some effective advice.
I'll admit that I have posted some overly negative comments in response to some of the writing blogs, but my own amusement is not the point of this offer 
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United States24641 Posts
Where do you go if you are a writing noob and want to get better? Whether it be creative writing... or whatever? That's obviously not the point of this thread but I'm sure some of you guys have suggestions.
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Korea (South)11575 Posts
Read. That's it. Plain and simple, go to the library, or Barnes and Noble and read. Don't read fiction like Harry Potter or Twilight. Read non-fiction books, anything you're interested in, Language books help as well, and as well as pyschology books.
Learn as much as you can, so when you write, you'll be able to come up with things that will make sense and you'll get a better feeling of the language as it is. That way you're not just using redundant words consistently.
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Braavos36374 Posts
Chef, your posts about writers seem to value life experience very highly, so how can you possibly think writer's block doesn't exist and say that its "bs and only for an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up" when you don't even know the many number of famous, brilliant writers who have had it? I mean, its just ridiculous to think how you can make such a blanket stupid statement and then defend it in this thread. You tend to do this a lot -- make largely ignorant, dumb statement without experience or information because you think your opinion is canon. Remember the time you said "online dating is only used by virgins who can't interact in real life" when you had no experience or information about it?
As for the OP, I bet you receive very few submissions because frankly, saying something like "I'm not going to provide credentials or evidence but trust me I'm good" is like someone coming onto this website, giving strategy advice, and being like "I don't play iccup but trust me i'm awesome at Brood War." Why would anyone want to submit their writing or get strategy advice from someone like that?
Do you know how many people try to write novels? Everyone. Do you know how many of these people would say "trust me I'm awesome at writing" (cough you, cough Chef) but actually have no idea exactly how bad they are at writing? Everyone.
To become a good writer, the first real step is to understand that you are not actually a good writer. Not many people are good enough at writing to realize that.
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On October 17 2009 05:15 Hot_Bid wrote:
Chef, your posts about writers seem to value life experience very highly, so how can you possibly think writer's block doesn't exist and say that its "bs and only for an excuse used by people who just don't feel like opening up" when you don't even know the many number of famous, brilliant writers who have had it? I mean, its just ridiculous to think how you can make such a blanket stupid statement and then defend it in this thread.
As for the OP, I bet you receive very few submissions because frankly, saying something like "I'm not going to provide credentials or evidence but trust me I'm good" is like someone coming onto this website, giving strategy advice, and being like "I don't play iccup but trust me i'm awesome at Brood War." Why would anyone want to submit their writing or get strategy advice from someone like that?
Do you know how many people try to write novels? Everyone. Do you know how many of these people would say "trust me I'm awesome at writing" (cough you, cough Chef) but actually have no idea exactly how bad they are at writing? To become a good writer, the first real step is to understand that you are not actually a good writer. Not many people are good enough at writing to realize that.
qft
unfortunately someone like chef is probably too delusional to really understand what you just wrote
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I agree partially with Chef, but at the same time I can understand why someone who managed to write a great piece could get very worried that his next work will not live up to expectations, so he's not free to just write what's in his heart.
Some people feel the pressure, some don't know what pressure is.
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Korea (South)11575 Posts
I have to side that there is no such thing as a real writers block. Everyone can come up with a story, a middle and an end. We did it as kids all the time telling ghost stories etc...
Writers Block is just your mind, being blank and not knowing what the hell to happen next. The best way to get rid of writers block is to re-read your story and the exact moment where your mind trails off, delete everything after it. Thats it. Just delete it. The reason you have writers block is because you're just bored and out of ideas on where to go with it. So just get rid of it.
Also, it's not a bad thing if you delete it and there were a few parts that you really liked. Just re-write it. You are the original creator, so you can re-write it and make it even better. If you ever have writters block, delete what you have written and just start over. There's a reason why you're bored with the story, and if you as the writer are bored with it, then sure as hell the audience will be too.
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Remember the time you said "online dating is only used by virgins who can't interact in real life" when you had no experience or information about it?
No.
I remember thinking Kennigit meant dating over the internet, not online dating services that set up dates with people irl. I don't remember saying anything about virgins who can't interact in real life either, but you're very good at misquoting me. I think your hate for me helps you to invent things about me.
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On October 17 2009 05:15 Hot_Bid wrote:
Do you know how many people try to write novels? Everyone.
I find it very interesting, coz I never seriously thought about writing, even tho it sounds interesting.
And I only know one person that writes, and he's one of those wannabes that try a different career every week and claim they're gonna be famous.
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i think writer's block is quite often used as an excuse for laziness, as the best writers are the ones who work the hardest on their craft. denying its existence is just silly.
on experience/imagination: i've never trusted anyone who has said 'write what you know.'
on being a noob: reading helps, but less than most people think. there's no substitute for practice. everyone starts as a noob, but if you are passionate about improving you will get better. there are many terrible books written on how to improve as a writer. i'd skip those.
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Braavos36374 Posts
On October 17 2009 05:27 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +Remember the time you said "online dating is only used by virgins who can't interact in real life" when you had no experience or information about it? No. I remember thinking Kennigit meant dating over the internet, not online dating services that set up dates with people irl. I don't remember saying anything about virgins who can't interact in real life either, but you're very good at misquoting me. I think your hate for me helps you to invent things about me.
What about that ridiculous circumcision thread where your position was basically the polar opposite of accepted medical science? Am I "imagining" that one too?
From Wikipedia:
Causes of writer's block
Writer's block may have many causes. Some are essentially creative problems that originate within an author's work itself. A writer may run out of inspiration. A project may be fundamentally misconceived, or beyond the author's experience or ability. (A fictional example can be found in George Orwell's novel Keep The Aspidistra Flying, in which the hero Gordon Comstock struggles in vain to complete an epic poem describing a day in London: "It was too big for him, that was the truth. It had never really progressed, it had simply fallen apart into a series of fragments.") [1]
Other blocks, especially the more serious kind, may be produced by adverse circumstances in a writer's life or career: physical illness, depression, the end of a relationship, financial pressures, a sense of failure. The pressure to produce work may in itself contribute to a writer's block, especially if he is compelled to work in ways that are against his natural inclination, i.e. too fast or in some unsuitable style or genre, and he or she is not willing to adapt. In some cases, writer's block may also come from feeling intimidated by a previous big success, the creator putting on him/herself a paralyzing pressure to find something to equate that same success again. The writer Elizabeth Gilbert, reflecting on her post-bestseller prospects, proposes that such a pressure might be released by interpreting creative writers as "having" genius rather than "being" a genius [1]. In George Gissing's New Grub Street, one of the first novels to take writer's block as a main theme, the novelist Edwin Reardon becomes completely unable to write and is shown as suffering from all those problems. [2]
Recently, the writer and neurologist Alice W. Flaherty has argued that literary creativity is a function of specific areas of the brain, and that block may be the result of brain activity being disrupted in those areas. [3]
Notable blocked writers
Well-known writers who have suffered from block include George Gissing, Samuel Coleridge, Ralph Ellison, Joseph Mitchell and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Writers who overcame block and published new work after a hiatus of decades include Harold Brodkey, whose novel The Runaway Soul appeared some 30 years after it was first projected, and Henry Roth, whose first novel, Call It Sleep, was published in 1934; his second, Mercy Of A Rude Stream, did not appear until 1994.
Chef, you said that
On October 17 2009 03:33 Chef wrote:
I don't understand writers block. If you have something to say, just write it and perfect it. If you don't have something to say... Go experience life until you do.
Are you really arguing that some of the best writers of our century just "didn't experience enough life" and "should go experience life" until they have something to write? What about people that write great fantasy or sci-fi? Clearly, F. Scott Fitzgerald just didn't have enough life experience amirite? He's just "using it as an excuse" because "he can't open up???"
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Braavos36374 Posts
On October 17 2009 05:28 benjammin wrote:
i think writer's block is quite often used as an excuse for laziness, as the best writers are the ones who work the hardest on their craft. denying its existence is just silly.
on experience/imagination: i've never trusted anyone who has said 'write what you know.'
on being a noob: reading helps, but less than most people think. there's no substitute for practice. everyone starts as a noob, but if you are passionate about improving you will get better. there are many terrible books written on how to improve as a writer. i'd skip those.
Writing is one of those things, much like video games and sports, where people vastly, vastly overestimate their ability. I know there are 100 people reading this right now who are nodding their heads "yup, I know people like that, but I'm not one of them" when they actually are one of them. Yes, you.
edit: to be absolutely clear, i'm not claiming to be a great writer at all.
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They probably felt what they had left to say wasn't good enough or was too mundane. Without an actual account of their thoughts and feelings, it's really not a convincing point.
Are you saying famous writer's aren't capable of not wanting to write anymore?
EDIT: You seem to be implying I have a very high opinion of my writing. I don't. I have a really long way to go, and I know by the time I finish my book, the last chapter is going to be 1000 x better than the first chapter, and I'll have to rewrite everything. You learn how to write better by experience. It isn't innate.
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On October 17 2009 05:10 micronesia wrote:
Where do you go if you are a writing noob and want to get better? Whether it be creative writing... or whatever? That's obviously not the point of this thread but I'm sure some of you guys have suggestions.
Local uni writing center will help you (and probably won't check your id. you're not a student anymore, right?)
Local book stores and libraries probably have information about writing groups even a poetry group can help just expand your vocabulary a bit more and expose you to different styles
just read an assload, and not just from the genre you're aiming to write. if you own the books youre reading, get a sticky pad and mark off pages or passages of interest... hell it could even be the way that one sentence was constructed that intrigued you.
the more you read, the more youll be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of certain writers, and your own. certain guys are horrendously bland writers (abuse the fuck out of cliches, write run ons without recognizing it, etc) but they could be awesoem story tellers. you will hear english majors harp on about how Stephen King and JK Rowling are horrible writers technically (specifically), but it's difficult to argue against their storytelling abilities.
other fields, like journalism, or stories grounded in fact, you might find a guy can't write for shit, but is a damn good interviewer, evidenced by the information they're able to pry from their subject. The Ice Man: confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo is an extremely interesting book, simply because he's able to get so much outta Kuklinski (who was out of his fucking mind btw) but it is so inredibly poorly written it made my eyes want to bleed. Every sentence is constructed in the same manner. he repeats things verbatum that he used earlier, without even putting effort into saying it in a different way.
it's kind of like being a business owner. you want to look at what other people are doing, emulate (but with your own twist) what works, and learn from what doesnt work.
the last and probably most important thing is to have thick skin, but be totally open to constructive criticism. i saw so many people walk out of classes crying because of somewhat harsh (but dead on) advice, and others disregard prefectly good advice because they think their own shit doesnt stink (hot bid is totally correct on this)
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This thread has gone from off-topic to cancerous.
Look, TL.net has a lot of talented users and I was hoping to receive some submissions from those people along with anyone else.
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you could read the crack-up by f scott fitzgerald to get a better sense of his writer's block
and of course people overestimate themselves, it's because writing is so part and parcel with every day life that people expect to be able to do it well without much effort. it's annoying, i guess, but i don't worry about it too much. all i worry about is improving.
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Braavos36374 Posts
On October 17 2009 05:38 Chef wrote:
They probably felt what they had left to say wasn't good enough or was too mundane. Without an actual account of their thoughts and feelings, it's really not a convincing point.
Are you saying famous writer's aren't capable of not wanting to write anymore?
EDIT: You seem to be implying I have a very high opinion of my writing. I don't. I have a really long way to go, and I know by the time I finish my book, the last chapter is going to be 1000 x better than the first chapter, and I'll have to rewrite everything. You learn how to write better by experience. It isn't innate.
No, I'm saying that there exists a condition where a writer is actually hindered mentally from writing. I don't doubt some people use it as an excuse, but so many great writers have claimed to have it. It's a phenomenon that's existed for so long, are you really saying that all of these people are just lying about it?
Are you really arguing that certain people don't have an innate talent for language and writing? That you can only learn how to write better by experience? Come on. Some people are geniuses, you can't chalk up all of it to life experience.
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On October 17 2009 05:27 CaucasianAsian wrote:
I have to side that there is no such thing as a real writers block.
On October 17 2009 05:27 CaucasianAsian wrote:
Writers Block is just your mind, being blank and not knowing what the hell to happen next. The best way to get rid of writers block...
What the fuck?
I am still baffled that people think writers block doesn't exist... holy fucking shit
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On October 17 2009 04:40 Hawk wrote:
You're out of your fucking mind if you think writer's block isn't real
Tossing my hat in the ring to review some writing stuff, amateur, professional... whatever. I'm bored and my own writing is sucking ass now.
I'm taking you up on your offer. I'll PM you what I have when I get home.
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It's a phenomenon that's existed for so long, are you really saying that all of these people are just lying about it?
To me, it's less absurd to believe that than to believe someone has ever actually truthfully thought "I've written everything I can write." It's really not hard for me to believe a writer can feel tired and not want to write anymore, then describe it as writer's block. But that's not really writer's block. That's "I don't feel like doing this shit anymore," and a week later saying "I still don't feel like doing it, I give up."
The idea that a person couldn't come up with the next part of a story, or even just a new story in general, is ridiculous. That doesn't make sense, no matter what conventional wisdom tells you.
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On October 17 2009 06:12 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +It's a phenomenon that's existed for so long, are you really saying that all of these people are just lying about it? To me, it's less absurd to believe that than to believe someone has ever actually truthfully thought "I've written everything I can write." It's really not hard for me to believe a writer can feel tired and not want to write anymore, then describe it as writer's block. But that's not really writer's block. That's "I don't feel like doing this shit anymore," and a week later saying "I still don't feel like doing it, I give up." The idea that a person couldn't come up with the next part of a story, or even just a new story in general, is ridiculous. That doesn't make sense, no matter what conventional wisdom tells you.
You sir, have never trully writen, you just put words in the paper.
edit: so it doesnt sound completely shallow.
Think of it as making music, yes a musician can just keep writing tunes and jamming sounds, but masterpieces appear in a burst of inspiration, then are hardworked into existance, its the same with writing.
If you are trully making something inspiring, (and inspired) its not enough to just sit on the chair and give it all you have, you need something more, you need to let the writing flow through you, sometimes this energy flux is simply not there, and its not about having nothing more to say, its about losing that grasp in what you wanted to say.
The mind is much more complicated than the mediocre assumptions you made about it.
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A wise person once said "once you give a name to something, it becomes real and you give it power".
Writers block wouldn't be half as scary if it wasn't called that.
You could draw parallels between this and that guy who froze in the freezer that wasn't even turned on.
You don't feel like writing for a few days and someone(or you yourself) says "writer's block".
Only then you're fucked.
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I consider my whole life to be a part of the writing process. Putting the words on the paper is the last step ^^
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On October 17 2009 06:19 Chef wrote:
I consider my whole life to be a part of the writing process. Putting the words on the paper is the last step ^^
huh?
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Canada9720 Posts
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Well it's better than saying I use the energy flux from my bones to impregnate my mind with swirling spirits of my ancestors so that I can communicate properly with the collective unconscious of humanity and translate what they tell me into a language you humans call, English.
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United States24641 Posts
On October 17 2009 06:23 Chef wrote:
Well it's better than saying I use the energy flux from my bones to impregnate my mind with swirling spirits of my ancestors so that I can communicate properly with the collective unconscious of humanity and translate what they tell me into a language you humans call, English.
You may be writing creatively, but your use of energy flux is wrong either way.
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You realize Siegmund Freud first started talking about psychic energy right ? because its not about crazy mojo, its about how our friggin minds work, we when you get past the bio chemical view, we are a thinking creatures, and we have several divisions on our psychic apparatus, and the bases for his theory is that we have a basic energy that powers these psychic processes and there is a science to how it works.
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On October 17 2009 05:36 Hot_Bid wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 05:28 benjammin wrote:
i think writer's block is quite often used as an excuse for laziness, as the best writers are the ones who work the hardest on their craft. denying its existence is just silly.
on experience/imagination: i've never trusted anyone who has said 'write what you know.'
on being a noob: reading helps, but less than most people think. there's no substitute for practice. everyone starts as a noob, but if you are passionate about improving you will get better. there are many terrible books written on how to improve as a writer. i'd skip those. Writing is one of those things, much like video games and sports, where people vastly, vastly overestimate their ability. I know there are 100 people reading this right now who are nodding their heads "yup, I know people like that, but I'm not one of them" when they actually are one of them. Yes, you. edit: to be absolutely clear, i'm not claiming to be a great writer at all.
i love your writing. t.t
seriously, it's cause of people who are as articulate as you that i continue to write and be inspired to improve.
while i realize articulation and writing are different things, the latter becomes much easier when you have the former.
hot_bid<3ing
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On October 17 2009 06:28 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On October 17 2009 06:23 Chef wrote:
Well it's better than saying I use the energy flux from my bones to impregnate my mind with swirling spirits of my ancestors so that I can communicate properly with the collective unconscious of humanity and translate what they tell me into a language you humans call, English. You may be writing creatively, but your use of energy flux is wrong either way.
I used the word mockingly, see D10's post.
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Braavos36374 Posts
On October 17 2009 06:12 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +It's a phenomenon that's existed for so long, are you really saying that all of these people are just lying about it? To me, it's less absurd to believe that than to believe someone has ever actually truthfully thought "I've written everything I can write." It's really not hard for me to believe a writer can feel tired and not want to write anymore, then describe it as writer's block. But that's not really writer's block. That's "I don't feel like doing this shit anymore," and a week later saying "I still don't feel like doing it, I give up."
You don't know what writer's block is. It isn't some disease where the writers say to themselves "I've written everything I can write." Obviously they still have more to write, they are writers. If they didn't believe that, they'd quit writing. Writers struggle with writers block for years sometimes.
They just can't write at that particular moment. For whatever the reason, their creativity or drive or whatever is stopped. Lots of writers have block just for a few days, or even a few hours. The worst cases have it for years, even for their entire lives. None of these people say "I've written everything I can write." They have plenty of things to write, they just have problems doing it. They don't want to have writer's block.
If it was just someone being lazy, how can you explain a writer losing his job and being unable to pay the bills or put food on the table for his family for years (this happens, it ruins careers) as "just being lazy."
The idea that a person couldn't come up with the next part of a story, or even just a new story in general, is ridiculous. That doesn't make sense, no matter what conventional wisdom tells you.
The fact that you say this makes it so, so obvious you are very ignorant about the writing process. It's never as easy as simply "coming up with the next part of the story." You make it sound like anyone can just write a classic.
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Hot_Bid, can you re-title my blog to, "Chef's Thread About Writer's Block"? Thanks.
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Braavos36374 Posts
Sorry for derailing, but frankly his first post in this thread has nothing to do with what your OP says and makes a really ridiculous statement that is very hard to resist arguing with because its so very very wrong.
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Let's use the Dictionary.com definition:
writer's block
–noun
a usually temporary condition in which a writer finds it impossible to proceed with the writing of a novel, play, or other work.
Origin:
1945–50
You keep saying 'lazy,' as if it's the term I'm using. Ctrl+F "Lazy" Hmmm... I used the word "Laziness" to describe the quality of the OP, due the fact that he's not willing to review anything, but that it HAS to be quality... well if it's quality why would anyone risk showing it to some random on the internet?
I think I what nite had to say. Once you call it writer's block, it feels legitimate. If I don't come up with the next part of a story right away, I don't call it writer's block... I just think some more. Writing is supposed to take a long time.
Stephen Fry once wrote something brilliant about writing:
I began writing seriously when I was about thirteen. Out streamed poetry, stories and novels, the latter of which were always aborted early, usually half way through the second chapter. It took my friend Douglas Adams to encourage me to go further and he did this by pointing out that the reason I had never managed to finish a novel was that I had never properly understood how difficult, how ragingly and absurdly difficult, it is to do. “It is almost impossibly hard,” he told me. It is supposed to be. But once you truly understand how difficult it is,” he added, with signature paradoxicality, “it all becomes a lot easier.” It was many years later that Clive James quoted to me Thomas Mann’s superb crystallisation of this “A writer,” said Mann, “is a person for whom writing is more difficult than for other people.” How liberating that definition is. If any of you out there have ever been put off writing it might well be because you found it so insanely hard and therefore, like me, gave up and abandoned your masterworks early, regretfully assuming that you weren’t cut from the right cloth, that it must come more easily to true, natural-born writers. Perhaps you can start again now, in the knowledge that since the whole experience was so grindingly horrible you might be the real thing after all. Of course finding it difficult and managing to complete are just the first stages. They are what earn you the uniform and the brass buttons, as it were. They don’t guarantee that what you complete is any good, or even readable. That is quite a different kettle of wax, a whole other ball of fish.
What you're describing as writer's block is basically writing in general. Thinking for long periods of time isn't being blocked. It's just what writing is. Staring at a blank page until your head bleeds. Writer's block implies that blank page doesn't get filled, ie "impossible to proceed." The idea of calling it writer's block just makes the term meaningless.
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Well, its the internet, you cant really expect that all threads you post will focus the discussion on the OP
chef: you have no fucking idea what you are talking about is so annoying i want to punch your face.
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On October 17 2009 07:11 Hot_Bid wrote:
Sorry for derailing, but frankly his first post in this thread has nothing to do with what your OP says and makes a really ridiculous statement that is very hard to resist arguing with because its so very very wrong.
I understand. I was just frustrated.
Also, let's not all rip on Chef. Everyone has their own path. You've got to appreciate his energy.
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I regret my first post, I didn't think anyone would be that offended by it. :X On the bright side, a lot more people will see your offer now.
Gotta give you props that you didn't ban me from your blog, at very least 
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lalala
i've been writing for 3 hours and i am determined to finish.
lalala i'm frustrated.
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I liked you better as PsycHOTemplar lol
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On October 17 2009 08:14 Mora wrote:
lalala
i've been writing for 3 hours and i am determined to finish.
lalala i'm frustrated.
writing is retardedly hard to do sometimes haha. In spurts its easier though.
In response to this blog though, TL should get a bunch of people to compete in nanowrimo this year
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4 hours... :O
and i'm liking it less and less. lol
edit - okay! time for a coke break. afk lol
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
On October 17 2009 07:02 A3iL3r0n wrote:
Hot_Bid, can you re-title my blog to, "Chef's Thread About Writer's Block"? Thanks. lol..
I don't know why people are nitpicking a simple offer. If you want to find out if he is a good at what he does, you will know pretty fast when he gets back to you.
Send e-mail. You will get my submission : )
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I've had writer's block on and off for a year now. The most difficult part about writing anything is finishing it.
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I am happy of any constructive criticism, so I would like you to review my work. I have already sent you a PM.
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On October 17 2009 05:39 Hawk wrote:
just read an assload, and not just from the genre you're aiming to write. if you own the books youre reading, get a sticky pad and mark off pages or passages of interest... hell it could even be the way that one sentence was constructed that intrigued you.
I love doing this. Recently, I have began to really appreciate just the way certain sentences are structured and the diction within them. Writing can be very powerful and beautiful.
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I know this blog is kinda buried now, but with Nanowrimo approaching in a few days, I figured I'd bump this back up.
For those who have never heard of it.
National Novel Writing Month happens throughout the month of november, and is designed basically to give you a word count to reach, and write with/around fellow aspiring writers and to have fun. The word count is 50k words in a month, and is extremely hard to do. If anyone's interested, we could form a mini TL group to force eachother to keep going at it.
www.nanowrimo.org
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EPT
