here's a block breaker stolen from the world of directing. My director/screenwriter/hubbyman gave it to me last night, when i was stuck for the first time in 2 weeks.
go to the scene you're trying to write, or the last scene you wrote, and instead of banging your head against that, write what happened 45 minutes prior to that.
for me, i got a great connection to my character's mood and the actions in the piece i was writing before took on new meaning. at the very least, it will up your wordcount.
----------
50,139 / 50,000
Nov 22, 2008 - 16 39
Wow, that's really helpful! Thanks!
52,610 / 50,000
Nov 23, 2008 - 07 38
That's a good tip. I was doing something a little similar. When I couldn't write forward, I would write backward-- that it, finding an earlier scene that needed to be fleshed out more, or a scene that could have been logically "missing" from the sequence. Often writing more of the backstory (from your present point) would help to get me moving on the linear forward story.
80,250 / 50,000
Nov 23, 2008 - 11 12
yes, i often take myself to a seminal childhood moment-- first this or that, when the character saw star wars, or whatever, and write it out. it ususally gives some insight on something else that has happened or should happen, and away i go.