Writer's block, an owner's guide: Today I Wresearch

Last year, as reported here, I used National Novel Writing Month as an opportunity to meet tens of thousands of creative writers and to recruit a few dozen of them as research volunteers. It seemed to benefit their productivity, and it certainly benefited mine. I answered the research questions I had, including getting some surprises, and learned some other stuff too.

I’m doing it again, mostly digging deeper into one of the interesting things I discovered last time. If you’re thinking about taking part in NaNoWriMo, think also about signing up with me on this page. If you’re not, consider it. Of course you can’t write a novel in a month. But you can write a first draft.

Consider: if the draft is crap, first drafts almost always are. It’s part of the process. Some researchers recommend a deliberate two-step process: first write out all the things you want to say, without any regard for literary merit, and then go back and edit. They are two different mental processes, and trying to combine them may be one cause of blocking.

Consider also: if you don’t have an outline of your novel yet, you can still start. Saying you can’t is just a rule you made up for yourself, and you have the right to change that. Other researchers have pointed out that writers have more fun when they’re totally creating than when they’re following an outline. And exploring and having fun must be good for your productivity, mustn’t they?

Published on October 17, 2006 at 8:58 am. Linking to this article? Thank you! The permanent address is http://www.todayiwrite.com/journal/today-i-wresearch.html

3 Comments

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Comment by David Jung McGarva — October 24, 2006 @ 10:31 am
this is a great idea

Comment by mcguavajuice — October 24, 2006 @ 10:34 am
Ahh, validation! Yay! I can’t write from an outline to save my life (too much like my day job, and even there - well, I call it a “Table of Contents” in order to fool my brain into thinking it’s not an outline at all, just part of the book).

P.S. I never made that rule about outlines. But sometimes, in my darker moments, I come close to buying into the notion. I keep thinking I should try it, but it keeps killing the joy.

Comment by hollyjahangiri — October 24, 2006 @ 10:55 am

Today I Write