Hello again
Hi guys,
Sorry I didn’t manage to post anything while I was away. I always underestimate how hectic it is going to be when I go home to Australia. And I have been back a for a few weeks now so you might be wondering where is the new chapter. But the problem is, I have writer’s block really badly on this next chapter. I keep trying to write it and it is just coming out horribly (like awful, bodice-ripping trash). There is something I really want to do that I think will enhance the story but I just have no idea how to write it. Any advice on writing this sort of thing tastefully? It is coming out so badly at the moment and that wasn’t really what I wanted at all (or want to subject you guys to!). I know what I have written is awful… I suspected so myself and then I ran it past the boy and he was like umm…
So, hopefully I will make it past this hurdle and get on with the story. Sorry to keep you waiting guys but please be patient, I am sure I will manage to write this damn chapter some time soon!
No worries, Verity. Writer’s block hits us all every once in a while, and unfortunately, it hits hard
Hmmm… I don’t have any killer strategies for dealing with the dreaded block. There are a few things I try whenever I catch it, but all of these home remedies are fairly hit-and-miss:
1. Music. Try to find songs that remind you of the characters or of the situation you’re writing about, and just listen. Sometimes, maybe a line can inspire something.
2. Read. Try to read things that are vaguely similar to what you’re trying to write, and think about what things you like, and what things you would change. Of course, it’s sometimes difficult to find something that fits the right criteria.
3. Look at architecture. I’ve never met anyone else who actually finds this helps, but I think it’s probably the strategy that works best for me personally. I just find there are so many stories to be found in any given building, especially old buildings, and I often find that I just can’t help but be inspired when I’m examining archways and moldings and window frames.
4. Just give yourself time. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.
And then of course there’s 5. Just force yourself to write, but I don’t recommend that method. It often produces very mechanical writing, something you’d expect from someone who was only doing it for money.
As for sex scenes, which I’m guessing is what you’re specifically talking about, I find I’ve only ever written one that I was truly happy with. I think the difference between that one and my other little experiments with that sort of writing was that I was writing from the point of view of someone who had no previous sexual experience, and could therefore focus on the aspects of discovery and sheer awe instead of just “Oh, oh! So good! MORE!” Of course, that’s not always possible, given the characters the scene requires, but from what I’ve found in sex scenes I’ve read, the best ones are the ones that portray something else through the means of sex instead of just sex itself. I’m not sure whether or not that makes sense. I’m sorry, I’m in a rather whimsical mood right now.
So yeah, sorry if that didn’t really help. If I think of anything else, I’ll leave another comment, but I’m not going to pretend to be an expert or anything. Sorry
Thanks so much for the good advice Van! It was really nice of you to go to so much effort. I have tried the music thing already but maybe I need to get more creative (this is usually my first port of call). As for reading, I often feel more inspired in my writing when I read other people’s blogs. I guess I get quite excited again about the whole sims blogging thing. I was actually just checking out your blog because I hadn’t been there yet and it has already sucked me in to the story.
I never thought of the architecture thing but now that you mention I get quite inspired looking at castle and stuff when I am travelling. There is this village of traditional houses and farms in Stockholm where I live which always makes me feel inspired. Good suggestion
Some part of me is tempted to go with 5. I have done that one occasion when I really couldn’t get past it. But it is difficult to do when sex scenes are involved because that is something that you really don’t want to end up sounding mechanical
Ugh… I am stuck in such a bind here.
This is such good advice “from what I’ve found in sex scenes I’ve read, the best ones are the ones that portray something else through the means of sex instead of just sex itself”. I think you have totally hit upon the problem and why what I am trying to write is coming out so wrong. I am going to leave it for tonight and try again tomorrow with that in mind. Thanks so much, I really appreciate your advice.
This to me sounds like a question for Lothere. She’s the queen of tasteful bodice-ripping.
I wish I knew what to tell you! I usually skirt around actual sex scenes because it’s a situation that’s so ripe with the possibility of tackiness.
What I usually try to do in order to avoid sounding mechanical is to write similies and metaphors. Seriously. I imagine the scene, glance over the photos, pick an interesting detail and write a phrase comparing it to something else. Theoretically, it should give the reader something to relate the action to, create a sense of atmosphere and simply make the prose more colorful.
Wait, I am?? If I am the queen of tasteful Sim bodice-ripping then you can take it easy, Verity, because it is SUPER HARD for me too.
I’m going to stand out here and recommend #5 when all else fails. Butt glue. Apply to chair, sit, and let dry. Just write. It is OK if it’s mostly trash, because you can always throw the trash parts away once your gears get turning smoothly again.
I do like to read poetry before writing if I’m stumped. I often come across an image or turn of phrase that inspires a metaphor in me, and that in turn inspires a chapter. But it doesn’t work for every chapter — I like to read poetry before a Vash or Osh chapter, but I would never do that before a Gunnilda chapter, say. So I guess the broader advice here is to do something that inspires the same mood in you that you want to convey. Uh, in this case I guess that means go have sex?
Or read about it or something.
When it comes to writing about actual sex, I end up falling back on my own experiences. (Sorry but I can’t begin to imagine how a virgin could write convincingly about sex.) You need to actually express what it feels like rather than just a step-by-step catalog of what he did and she did. (That’s where it gets mechanical I suppose.) And just having people saying “Oh my God yes yes yes!” and writing “It was the most incredible feeling blah blah blah”, that contains 0% interesting content. Nobody is going to get hot reading that.
You have to have the sense of breath and bodies and blood beating just beneath the surface of the skin. Be thoughtful and take the time to find some non-obvious details to mention. Like while rereading all those kiss chapters today I rediscovered that part where Cearball “nudges Gwynn’s lips slightly apart with his” and found that super-sexy. And that was just a kiss! Plus if you use non-obvious details involving non-obvious parts of the body, you don’t have to find so many creative ways to say penis. (Or NOT say, rather.)
But it’s still really hard to do.
Thank you guys so much for all the good advice. Much to my relief and thanks to you guys, butt glue, reading poetry, going for a walk in the beginning of spring forest and Sigur Ros (who are a phenomenal Icelandic band that I cannot recommend highly enough. Judging by my lastfm they are my favourite at the moment) I managed to write the bloody chapter. I ran it past the boy who thankfully gave it the thumbs up. It didn’t end up quite as I had planned but it still leaves the option open in the storyline that I wanted. I still have a bit of fixing up to do and perhaps the metaphor I have chosen is a little cheesy but I am almost ready to move on thank goodness. I can’t tell you how happy I am right now. So I am going to leave it for tonight but the plan is, after some small changes I should prolly have it up tomorrow night. Couldn’t have done it without you guys *does a thankyou dance to Sigur Ros which involves a lot of twirling and jazz hands*. Oh dear… I can’t imagine jazz hands to Sigur Ros. Just not going to happen. They are too twinkly. Replace jazz hands with er… shuffling from side to side or something I don’t know.
I can’t wait to read it, Verity.
By the way, the almost-sex chapter with Valeriya and Harndall was super f’ing hot. SUPER HOT. So you must be doing something right.
I’m glad you’ve gotten plenty of help, Verity! I’m not good at writing it with The Sims 2… it’s just weird as hell. I can’t see these little characters as sexual at all. xb
I can’t wait to see what you come up with and it is certainly great to have you back.