Amateur AND professional writers, please answer?

Question

I am an amateur writer, so I pretty much write stories for my own personal enjoyment. So: have you ever had a story stuck in your head? I am a very character-oriented person. I develop their personalities and then weave a plot around them, not the other way around. So I have these characters stuck in my head, and they've been there all week. I've begun to write about them, and I was on a roll, until I ran straight into a writer's block. It's extremely frustrating, because I know EXACTLY what is supposed to happen in my story: I know the beginning, middle, and end, I know every twist and turn in the plot, I even have some of the dialogue planned in my head. I know exactly where to take my story from here, but I just... can't. Is there any way to surpass this? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated, and whoever helps me to break through my writers block gets 10 points!

Answer 1

Well, you say that you know what exactly is supposed to happen in your story. If so, then just write it down. As is. Don't think about making that much sense, as long as you can understand it. It would sort of be like freewriting. Just write them in very simple terms, such as "He ran to her, then they left." Like directions, as if you were explaining your plot to a friend. Just telling. No need to show for now. If you have a sudden burst of inspiration, such as a line, description, anything that's perfect for a certain part of your story, write it down.

Just write. Write, write, write. Don't try to make sense now, just focus on keeping your story. Later, everything will make sense.

Answer 2

Sometimes, the best tactic is to get away fromthe writing. Start doing some mindless task that occupies your body but not your brain (mowing lawns works for me). I find that my subconscious keeps working on the problem until I get an AHA moment.

Then I can't stop writing.

Answer 3

it is called brainstorming , write any ideas that come to mind read yourself back after an hour of it  and the white page syndrome will disappear like magic  as I said write anything down even if it is just a word,  you will find that maybe just maybe you will have all that you need .. "break a leg"

Answer 4

This is what I do:

I write a sub-story about one of the characters.  I also have some characters that I've developed for one of my books, and whenever I get blocked in the storyline, I have an imaginary conversation with one of the characters, like an interview.  "Say Jack, what would you do if you were trapped in an elevator for 8 hours"?  Then, I think about my guy, and how he thinks, and how he would react.  I write it down like this:  "I'll tell you what I'd do.......", and I go from there.  A lot of times, I learn new things about my guy, and even if my "interview" has nothing to do with my storyline, I can work it in sometimes to give new dimension.

Answer 5

write anyway, even if all you write is "I don't know what the h**l to write."  Just do it.  Start anywhere and keep going.  The flow will start eventually.  Sounds like you got everything mapped out.  However, as someone who also writes for myself, sometimes a character or story will go in a direction you don't expect.  get your little fingers on that key board and write down a synopsis of your story,  then write what you think will be the ultimate first line.  It is in your head but to open the flow to your fingers, you gotta start.  Even if it sucks, so what?  you can change it later.  Just start.  By the way, this is advice I got from a published author who ran a class for writers.