We've all been there, staring at a blank page and drawing a complete blank. But sometimes opening up a blank page is exactly what I need, especially when I'm knee deep in revisions. I get all blurry eyed and can't find my way out of a scene that's just not working.
So, lots of times I open up a new document try to put those other words out of my mind and start from scratch. I figure if the words are important then they'll come back to me.
It really helps to have a fresh look.
How about you? What do you do when you're having problems fixing a a scene?
8 comments:
I do what you do sometimes, and write down what's in the way, but then I find I want to keep going with that so I try not to do it too often.
Most times when I'm having trouble with a scene, I clean something. The kitchen, the garage, whatever. The physicality takes me away mentality, and I usually find the answer to the problem after a couple of loads of laundry.
If it's still not working, I just leave it and work on something else. After a week (or two) I can go back to it with fresh eyes and usually see where I went wrong.
Especially in revisions!! Sometimes I get so tied into the words that are already on the page and not working, and "fixing" those words just makes it worse.... opening a new page with no words and starting again from scratch is exactly the thing I need.
Of course, some of those bad words and plots still hover around, but I'm with you.. clean paper, more hope for moving forward!
Yes! I'm an advocate of starting something fresh when you're working on revisions. It helps me with the creativ flow.
I step away from writing and go for a walk or something that almost always helps.
I sometimes do that, too. Or I might take part of the scene I'm working on and paste it onto a new page and go at it.
Sometimes I start with a blank scene, and sometimes I have to resort to a blank piece of paper and a pen. But freewriting and brainstorming are the best ways for me to get out of a sticky writing/editing situation.
I do the same thing - or if it's nice, go for a walk. Sometimes that will prompt a fix.
Hey! That's a great idea. Sometimes a fresh start can help you put the same ideas into better words. :)
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