Writers' Block

[Zadon Mew]

Writers' Block; you know that goddamn awful thing that clogs up your endlessly beautiful ideas that used to seem they just poured out of your hands like blood. I've recently encountered a heavy case and need some help, what are some things you guys do when you're experiencing Writers' Block?

[Owl]

Personally I've equated writer's block with trying to come up with contrivances for the plot.

What the plot should do is flow naturally from the actions of the characters. Ideally the story should start with a premise and the plot should solely be based around the actions and reactions of the characters.

I've known writers who are prone to coming up with reasons why characters should do things and then eventually running out of places for them to go. Which I've seen lead to writer's block. Personally I feel this is writing the story backwards. Ideally for me a story should begin more simply and become more complex as you write and edit it.

[lindel]

As a free lance writer who commissions from time to time there is nothing worse then writers block

Sometimes I find 'sitting down' with the characters and talking to them can sort out a few things. If it's plot that's bugging you then write a different part of the story..the novel I'm trying to write has a chapter here, another chapter written in the middle and even the end written ..but missing chapters 2- whenever.

sometimes if you're really stuck asking someone for ideas can be helpful to. Sometimes I'll even leave a project for awhile and work on something else or RP just to focus on something else for a bit.

[Samurai Kai]

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Hell, I can't even RP with people online anymore. No ideas come, no matter how hard I try, and when I try it takes forever! I used to so easily back in the day, even write a little. It sucks, man. Nothing works... I have to try more vigorously, and even then, barely anything.

[LynxStyle]

A trick that works for me (may not help if you are on time constraints) is to put something to the side briefly, pick up a video game (I find EVE gives me lots of good content to write on), and then write a quick self-view of events that went on.

Was having some of the worst writers block when, for shits-&-gigs, I decided to go on a solo flight in EVE and write it up based on encounters, places visited, and general events of the night.  What started as a single boring paragraph quickly evolved through rewrite to be a short novel where the subject matter (space-ships) instead became Fantasy.  Enemy ships were written out as beasts with their specific fittings described out as natural weaponry or defenses, and even events as simple as "listed out of warp scrambler range and warped off" quickly evolved into fully flushed thoughts. 
"With a deafening shriek the Fly Catcher recoiled, the harpooned appendage previously embedded in my frigate's hull snapped back and flailing about.  The Repair Nanites flooded to the hull breach had done their job by both severing the appendage and soldering the damage in one go.  Navigation systems flickered back into life moments after and little time was wasted.  The Tormentor's engine groaned & whined as I forced it back into full thrust, burning away as the beast lurched forwards again, determined not to be robbed of its meal.  With a soft hum of hyper drive and a whoop of glee I watched landscape quickly turn to blurred lines, the frustrated shrieks of The Fly Catcher fading into just another howl carried along the wind in my wake."

Found going on that fun tangent helped get the creative juices and general writing flow back.  Specially with re-describing inanimate chunks of metal as living, breathing, beasts of lore.   Donno, may help.

[Sif]

I find that writers block always seems to lead to self doubt and the feeling that my writing skills are not good enough...

[Phox]

I always just keep writing through it, even if I'm writing crap and dreck. This too shall pass and that is why you have drafts of writing projects.

[Zadon Mew]

I always just keep writing through it, even if I'm writing crap and dreck. This too shall pass and that is why you have drafts of writing projects.

That is a fair point, I do that sometimes too XD