[ SECRET POST #3297 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3297 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 030 secrets from Secret Submission Post #471.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 1 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ], [ 1 2 - posted twice ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

01. http://i.imgur.com/kPGfwmC.jpg

[kallanda_lee]

Write anyway! Fanfic is actually what broke my last case of writer's block.

[(Anonymous)]

This! At least, you're writing something and it might just remove your writer's block.

[elaminator]

Not a writer but I definitely agree that writing anything in OP's situation would probably be beneficial. Any talent takes work and practice, so maybe OP just needs to get back into the swing of things.

[(Anonymous)]

I disagree. Writing fanfiction teaches you lots of "bad" habits that, while common and valid in the fanfiction community, will harm your chances at managing to write something publishable. If the OP wants to get serious about publishing their original stuff, they should try to slowly wean themselves off fic, so to speak. I'd suggest trying to write AU stories involving their favorite characters and trying to avoid fanfiction tropes and conventions while doing so.

[kallanda_lee]

That's only if you can't actually differentiate between fanfic tropes and other writing. The practice is good either way.

[a_potato]

Exactly this! The best cure for writer's block is to, well, write.

OP, if you're not actually writing your original fic right now, then writing fanfic isn't going to sap energy away from that. What it is likely to do, however, is warm up your writing muscles and get you back into a groove. Give it a shot!

[dharkapparition]

Agreed. Every time I get stalled, I pull out a WiP and dust it off. sometimes, just reading through notes helps.

[(Anonymous)]

I've felt that before, and I've found the best cure for it is writing a fic and posting it. You get an instant reminder of why you stopped writing fic in the first place.

[(Anonymous)]

If you want to write, you have to write. It doesn't matter what. Otherwise your writer's muscles will atrophy and your dicipline will fall apart.

[(Anonymous)]

Write it, don't post it online, and then scrub the names off, voila!

[(Anonymous)]

You can do both (as long as you don't write fic epics).

Just divide your writing time between both to avoid spending too much time on the fics. It may be just what you need to overcome the block.

Use the fanfic ideas to restart writing, have some fun and then go back to your original fiction.

[(Anonymous)]

Basically same here. I stopped writing fic to focus on original stories and got disheartened by how rusty I was. I've been thinking of writing some fic to complete something and feel CAPABLE of completing something.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe you've frozen up because your writing is now "serious business." That can be a real problem.

Maybe, in fact, you just don't like this idea, and this piece isn't working. However the fact that you've not written in so long is a big problem.

Writing isn't about that perfect someday novel, it's about doing it. And frankly, it should be fun. If you hate writing it's not likely to be fun to read (I'm sure there are exceptions, but, well...)

Anyway I think you should go back to fanfic until you have more practice and a stronger idea of what you want to write. Also, I think even when you do transition to it slowly, like mostly writing fanfic and some original till you're writing half and half, then mostly original. You'll know when you want to stop writing fanfic altogether, if ever.

They do use different writing "muscles," but frankly all writing practice is beneficial. You'll be keeping the words flowing, finishing things, learning subconscious things about plot and story flow, character growth, etc.

Also, I'd suggest you try to hook up with some good, professional books about writing to keep learning (hopefully the kind that inspire rather than overwhelm, as I feel that might be an issue for you).

Bear in mind this is free advice from the internet. :)

[(Anonymous)]

This is the best comment in this thread!

[a_potato]

Well-said!

[dinogrrl]

Basically this!

Frankly, I just write whatever is pulling my interest the strongest at the moment. I've found that for me, trying to put a stopper on one thing in order to focus on something I have zero drive for ends up damaging my interest in everything. When I write what I'm inspired to write, I can knock out almost 40k words in a week. When I force myself to turn to a story I'm not so keen on at the moment...lucky if I get a thousand words a night, and the entire time I'm beating myself up over it.
Yes, there will come a time when you just have to grin and bear it and work through the tough spots. But there is no shame in doing something different or fun to take a break. In fact, it can be useful to rest certain parts of your mind by doing a different activity - is science trufax. Ask Einstein about playing violin to help figure out physics problems some time :p.

Anyway, maybe look into local writing groups? Or online groups? They may be able to help you focus your writing in general, and especially for the original story. Local libraries or schools will often host such groups, so maybe check their websites out.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe you just need to get a particular fanfic out of your head. I've had situations like that, where a story demanded to be written, and I couldn't write anything else until I did that particular one.

[(Anonymous)]

How about writing some original short stories?

Work on getting some ideas how without have the weight of a full length novel lingering over you like a foreboding cloud.

[sabotabby]

This happens to me all the time.

[(Anonymous)]

Like others have said, write the fic then! Writing something is definitely better than writing nothing, and it may inspire you to go back to your original work.

[spacebabie]

Get journal type book or two actually. Write down all your fanfic ideas in one and when original starts developing write that in the other. This was my New Years resolution to either write down or draw something each day and I bought a couple of journals and a sketch book.

[(Anonymous)]

I follow a number of pro writers on twitter, and more of them are working day jobs in addition to writing than not. Yes, it's going to feel like you're burning the candle on both ends, but maybe part of why you're feeling blocked might be because you don't have *enough* constraints against your writing time.

[mrs_don_draper]

Writing fic is better than writing nothing. Hell, you might get an idea for your original work in the midst of writing fic! You need to get those creative juices flowing, or at least stretch your writing muscles before they slowly disappear completely.

[(Anonymous)]

This! My first novel was an idea I got as an AU setup for a fic with my then-OTP. I can't see it hurting at all.