Have I lost my (limited) ability to write?

[Lazarus]

Hi all, bit of a random thought for a rainy Wednesday afternoon (at least where I live).

How come I've lost my ability to write?

In my teens I was able to write reams of fanfiction that I'd like to think is reasonably good even looking back at it today. No real planning or anything just sit there and do it! And it would all mesh into a (reasonably) cohesive story.

Nowadays, nothing!

All I can do is create extremely detailed story outlines in my head but even putting those down on paper* is a struggle, and actually writing any sort of scene with dialogue is nigh on impossible for me!

I'd like to think I have a little bit of talent, but I also seem to have writer's block that is lasting years! As I've said, I can plot a story in my head and am constantly refining one in particular all the time, but only in my imagination!

What's wrong with me!?

*for paper read computer!

[ares93]

Lazarus wrote:

---

Hi all, bit of a random thought for a rainy Wednesday afternoon (at least where I live).

How come I've lost my ability to write?

In my teens I was able to write reams of fanfiction that I'd like to think is reasonably good even looking back at it today. No real planning or anything just sit there and do it! And it would all mesh into a (reasonably) cohesive story.

Nowadays, nothing!

All I can do is create extremely detailed story outlines in my head but even putting those down on paper* is a struggle, and actually writing any sort of scene with dialogue is nigh on impossible for me!

I'd like to think I have a little bit of talent, but I also seem to have writer's block that is lasting years! As I've said, I can plot a story in my head and am constantly refining one in particular all the time, but only in my imagination!

What's wrong with me!?

*for paper read computer!

rain here to my friend.
and i know the feeling. the constant editing. but i can at least get it down on paper or a word document. but in the end, i edit it so much that i loose the energy to continue. for me its the language. although by swedish or hungarian standards my english is perfect, i read the fanfics here on TBBS and all i end up doing afterward is try to rewrite the entire thing. just as a example, one of my fanfics, Starship Kir'Shara. one of the three stories currently in progress, Momento Mori, i have completely redone three times. i'm constantly trying to get it up to a standard i deem good enough but then i keep raising the bar. it like a freaking OCD.

so you're not the one with writing issues.

[Admiral2]

Lazarus wrote:

---

Hi all, bit of a random thought for a rainy Wednesday afternoon (at least where I live).

How come I've lost my ability to write?

In my teens I was able to write reams of fanfiction that I'd like to think is reasonably good even looking back at it today. No real planning or anything just sit there and do it! And it would all mesh into a (reasonably) cohesive story.

Nowadays, nothing!

All I can do is create extremely detailed story outlines in my head but even putting those down on paper* is a struggle, and actually writing any sort of scene with dialogue is nigh on impossible for me!

I'd like to think I have a little bit of talent, but I also seem to have writer's block that is lasting years! As I've said, I can plot a story in my head and am constantly refining one in particular all the time, but only in my imagination!

What's wrong with me!?

Not a thing.

The fact that you're still thinking of ideas means you're not, strictly speaking, blocked. You're just a little hesitant to start hitting keys. But since you've written before, you'll eventually miss it enough that the hesitation will disappear, and you'll start up again. Always happens with me.

[BrotherBenny]

I got rejected eleven times (give or take) for a novel I wrote back in college and it has taken me five years to actually finish another piece of fiction.

Don't think about what to write, just do some free writing and see what comes out.

[Mistral]

You just need to up your coffee intake!

[TerokNor]

Hmm...I had it that a very stressful time thought off stole away my ability to write a story...(and even to develop ideas for a story, which you have no problems with). Now that the stress fades and I feel not constantly emotional exausted anylonger the creativity slowly comes back...but really very very slowly and while by now I can work a story out in my head again, it still is a struggle to put it into written words.
Are you or were you recently very stressed maybe?

TerokNor

[SeerSGB]

A few years back, I gave up writing. Anything, everything, quit freelancing for the papers, quit working on my original novels, fanfiction, the whole 9 yards. Thought it was time to "grow up" and "be an adult". A good two or three years went by, and I was in absolute misery. I had no outlet for my stress, no world to "escape" to and hang out in when I need to get away from people. Started writing again, bit by bit, little scraps on napkins and back of receipts-- ideals mostly. Slowly, I came back into writing. And as I stretched my legs again, I found I was a better writer for having "suffered" for the craft; I had more appreciation for it.

Still not back to where I was, but I'm getting there and I'm enjoying myself in the process.

Maybe it isn't so much a loss of talent, as it is you needing to step back and look at the big picture.

[Gul Re'jal]

I had a block for a few years. Not even any ideas in my head. But then... something was born and a few months ago I wrote first sentenced and after that it was an avalanche

You just need to make yourself write first words. Hopefully then it would unblock you and go on on its own

[SeerSGB]

Trick I use that seems to work: Write in a different genre. If you write sci-fi, write crime drama, etc. You're not looking to churn out "marketable" content, you're just looking to give your mind something else to focus on other than the fact you've got writer's block. It seems, from my POV at least, the more you focus on the block the stronger the block is.