As writers we often experience writer's block. We just don't know which way the plot should go next. Or we feel that an idea we were very enthusiastic about and envisioned clearly no longer excites us. Or a character that we felt we understood in a deep and truthful way is beginning to fade or stiffen. What has happened in these cases? I believe we have fallen out of the fictive dream.
John Gardner in his wonderful book on writing, The Art of Fiction, which I strongly recommend, describes the fictive dream beautifully:
"In the writing state--the state of inspiration--the fictive dream springs up fully alive: the writer forgets the words he has written on the page and sees, instead, his characters moving around their rooms, hunting through cupboards, glancing irritably through their mail, setting mousetraps, loading pistols. . . . When the writer writes down on paper what he has imagined, the words, however inadequate, do not distract his mind from the fictive dream but provide him with a fix on it, so that when the dream flags he can reread what he's written and find the dream starting up again. . . until reality, by comparison, seems cold, tedious, and dead."
We want to keep ourselves from falling out of this dream because, once we are out of it, it is difficult to re-enter. Sometimes we may never manage to find that magic space again. Coleridge's unfinished marvel of evocation, "Kubla Khan," is a cautionary tale for us all.
What then can we do to remain in the fictive dream? One of my suggestions to my students is to revisit the dream as often as we can, with as little a gap between visits as our lifestyle allows. This means we have to write--or at least contemplate our work-in-progress--regularly. My experience--with myself and my M.F.A. students--is that if you are away from the work for over three days, the intensity of the vision--and thus the intensity of the desire to capture it--begins to fade. I've seen this happen to extremely talented writers. They abandon one work and go on to start a new one, hoping to sustain the fictive dream. But unless they implement a plan to keep the new dream alive, it too will wither away.
The bottom line: create a writing schedule and stick to it. I suggest at least 3 times a week. Every day (at least the weekdays) would be preferable. At least an hour at a stretch. If it's possible to do it at the same time each day, it helps. (Once we develop the habit, it's almost as though we get hungry for writing at that time).
Some of you are thinking, I just don't have that much time. I have a lot of other responsibilities. How can I carve out all those hours from a life that's already hectic and over-scheduled?
I'll write about that soon. Stay tuned.
Different writers write differently--I'm very aware of that. I'd love to hear how you keep your fictive dream alive and well.
John Gardner in his wonderful book on writing, The Art of Fiction, which I strongly recommend, describes the fictive dream beautifully:
"In the writing state--the state of inspiration--the fictive dream springs up fully alive: the writer forgets the words he has written on the page and sees, instead, his characters moving around their rooms, hunting through cupboards, glancing irritably through their mail, setting mousetraps, loading pistols. . . . When the writer writes down on paper what he has imagined, the words, however inadequate, do not distract his mind from the fictive dream but provide him with a fix on it, so that when the dream flags he can reread what he's written and find the dream starting up again. . . until reality, by comparison, seems cold, tedious, and dead."
We want to keep ourselves from falling out of this dream because, once we are out of it, it is difficult to re-enter. Sometimes we may never manage to find that magic space again. Coleridge's unfinished marvel of evocation, "Kubla Khan," is a cautionary tale for us all.
What then can we do to remain in the fictive dream? One of my suggestions to my students is to revisit the dream as often as we can, with as little a gap between visits as our lifestyle allows. This means we have to write--or at least contemplate our work-in-progress--regularly. My experience--with myself and my M.F.A. students--is that if you are away from the work for over three days, the intensity of the vision--and thus the intensity of the desire to capture it--begins to fade. I've seen this happen to extremely talented writers. They abandon one work and go on to start a new one, hoping to sustain the fictive dream. But unless they implement a plan to keep the new dream alive, it too will wither away.
The bottom line: create a writing schedule and stick to it. I suggest at least 3 times a week. Every day (at least the weekdays) would be preferable. At least an hour at a stretch. If it's possible to do it at the same time each day, it helps. (Once we develop the habit, it's almost as though we get hungry for writing at that time).
Some of you are thinking, I just don't have that much time. I have a lot of other responsibilities. How can I carve out all those hours from a life that's already hectic and over-scheduled?
I'll write about that soon. Stay tuned.
Different writers write differently--I'm very aware of that. I'd love to hear how you keep your fictive dream alive and well.
hello chitra,
it's true that we must keep the dream wrapped around us while we walk in a different reality. but i smile when it is all working effortlessly and smoothly, when the dream kicks awake in the moments that are connected to both.
I like the idea that there is something operational we can do (i.e., stick to a writing schedule and not drift from our work/fictive dream for more than three days) to prevent writer's block. I think many of us fall into the trap of thinking that cutting through writer's block is an inspirational exercise, rather than an operational one. Can't wait for the thoughts on carving out time for a schedule!
Yes, Dorette, Those moments are gifts from the universe!
Thanks for you thoughtful comment, Michael. With writer's block, as with many other writing/life problems, prevention is far easier than cure; the operational tactic will hopefully prevent the block from happening.
Hi Chitra,
I'm assuming the same should apply to writing memoir / non-fiction, yes? Staying connected to the state of memory, the recollection of things past. I sometimes encounter the same problem with my memoir when I lose the thread of what I am writing, put it down too long. Then I can be tempted to jump to another memory of another time... another story. It all seems to come down to some form of discipline and commitment (like the scheduled writing) to keep the space open for writing to go deep and sustain the spirit of the story/memoir over a long period of composition. Does that sound right or do you see any difference in the process for non-fiction?
Thank you!
Laura
Yes, Laura. I feel quite certain that this technique to prevent writers block will help nonfiction/memoir writers. All kinds of creative writing require the continued activation of the imagination, and therefore the "dreaming" of what we are about to write. Remember, prevention is a lot easier than trying to overcome writer's block once you're mired in it.
Interesting thing happens with me is characters, themes or poems comes to my mind at odd hours .... I make them grow in my mind at that moment. create a story or concept instantly but sometimes miss out on noting it down and then it is gone...:)
I suggest it is always good idea to put down any inspiration the moment you have it....
Very good idea, Khushboo. I carry a writer's notebook around whenever possible.
Very good idea, Khushboo. I carry a writer's notebook around whenever possible.
Great thoughts, great advice! :)
I often try to "anchor" the fictive dream to something, which then helps me reconnect with it when inspiration runs dry or when my thought patterns are starting to drift away in other directions.
For example, the seed or spark that gave me the inspiration in the first place might have been a song or a line from a poem, a music video, a story told by a dance choreography, a photo or a certain combination of smell/sensation, a conversation I overheard or a scene from a film that moved me... Whatever the objects may be, I later often use them (or something that symbolises its energy/feel) to conjure up that same state of mind that first inspired me.
I also like doing a simple version of a "mood board": collecting images and snippets of text etc (from internet, magazines) that I feel reflect the energy of the story. I find that browsing through it now and then helps, makes the story feel more "real" somehow...
What seems to work best for me is things that involve several senses simultaneously, like touch + taste or sound + smell.
By the way, the ideas I had for things I'd love to see you write about here on the blog didn't go through on Facebook earlier, so I'll give you a suggestion here instead:
Is there something you've ever been afraid to write (about)? Why did it scare you? Did you end up writing it, or is it still unwritten?
Chitra, Thank you so much for all your thought and comments on writing! I wonder if you might comment on process as well..for instance do you devise a plot first (and stick to it or change it as you go along), or as Anne Lamott suggests concentrate on characters and let them write the plot? Do you write a whole book then back to rewrite or maybe do it in sections (chapters or scenes?)? Or maybe is it slightly different every book? Or is it different for more/less experienced writers? Thank you so much!
Joann
Very useful tips. But what about times when one's got loads to express but the moment you hold the pen, you turn blank. No matter how hard one concentrates & tries to pour down the thoughts, one doesn't get the perfect thing on paper?
Hi Vasudha,
Good question. Sometimes we block ourselves by trying too hard to be perfect. It helps if you turn the inner editor off and just focus on getting the thoughts or the story on paper. Tell yourself that you can always revise it later. See if this works for you.
Thanks, Magdalena, for some great techniques--the anchor, the mood board. And thanks for the question. I'll try to answer (but maybe I'm afraid of discussing what I'm afraid to write about!)
And sorry about the delay in answering--somehow I missed seeing your comment until now.
Thanks for the reply, ma'am! :)
Thank you Chitra. Great thoughts and also loved the followup comments. I just finished reading Bird by Bird, as per your advice. Thank you once again for everything.