Tips from Janet Fitch: What to do when things go wrong

2007_0821outerbanks070044

Posted by Lindsay 10 months ago

"The easiest thing to do on earth is not write."
(William Goldman)

This week, Janet Fitch, the author of White Oleander and Paint it Black, will be helping you hack through writer's block. It's miserable, but every writer goes through it and trust me, asking questions of a published author (who has already been through everything) is a huge help!

If you write one of the questions that Janet chooses to feature, you'll receive the (now legendary) Figment tote. Ask your questions in this thread, below. She answered last week's questions on the blog, here!

Find out more about Janet by browsing her profile or looking at her website.

Next week, Janet will be answering questions about the artist's calling, or "what is art for?"

Last updated 10 months ago

10 months ago Cat Raindrop replied:

"Ask your" actually :P
Can I ask more then one question to Janet?
10 months ago Zina ♥ replied:

What do you do to get rid of writer's block?
10 months ago Zina ♥ replied:

About how much time do you take off during writer's block?

Are there any special places, people or things to help end the writer's block?
10 months ago Zina ♥ replied:

How often do you get writer's block?
10 months ago Zina ♥ replied:

How often do you get writer's block?
10 months ago Cat Raindrop replied:

Often I have an idea in my head and I'm ready to write but I just get bored. I know what's going to happen and I've already written the next couple chapters in my head but I just can't stay focused and write it. I'll frantically type/scribble words down but after a couple sentences I stop working and am in just kind of a lull.
Has this ever happened to you? How do you keep going easily?
10 months ago Kali De Lo replied:

I've heard one of the best solutions to writers block is to keep writing.
10 months ago Leafia Dream replied:

Someone told me that writer's block doesn't exist.
She was a published writer and everything.
I'm not sure if I believe her.
10 months ago Roberta H. Shapiro replied:

What does "writer's block" mean to you? I know that when I have the legendary "disease," it's not the inability to write, but the inability to write something that I'm proud of.
10 months ago Fish Fingers and Custard replied:

When you write, do you try to convey a deeper message to readers, or is what you write so plain and simple that it is nothing but a plot?

Do you suggest adding controversial topics in writing, such as abortion or LGBTQ ideas, because of the backlash you might receive?

Do you usually write down the entire plot before writing, or at least outline it, so when you get writers block you can bypass it? Or do you fly free, and hope you don't get writers block? Which do you suggest to do?

Last updated 10 months ago
10 months ago Åɳɳḭε replied:

I wonderfully realized that my questions from last week were for the wrong subject, so I'll paste them below xP

When you're in a writing slump, do you prefer to force yourself to write and possibly produce less than satisfactory results, or find ways to inspire/motivate yourself in order to write something you could actually be proud of?

How do you find inspirations to make your writing/plot/characters unique? At this point, a lot of things can seem similar to other literature, so how do you find a way to make it different? Do you take personal experiences?

How do you motivate yourself to keep deadlines? @___@ Do you like to set yourself a fake earlier deadline to work harder or do you procrastinate until the end, or do you just write whenever the ideas come?
10 months ago Marie J. replied:

Have you ever come with a random scene for a story that is absolutely perfect and you really want to use it, but it just doesn't fit in?
10 months ago Amelia the PhoenixQueen replied:

What do you do when you feel as if your writing in itself isn't good enough for the plot you're trying to do? How do you overcome your self doubt?
10 months ago Kelsi "Nightcryer" Skye replied:

Basically, how do you get through writer's block? Is there anything you do like write on other things, free write or something like that?
10 months ago Zara the Shikara tara replied:

Should I eat peanut when I get writers block?

What is the most frustrating thing about writers block?

Last updated 10 months ago
10 months ago E.R. Graham replied:

I am inspired, but how do I get the willingness to actually write?
10 months ago Ella LS The Epic replied:

What do you think causes the infamous "Writers Block?" How many types are there? And finally, (I know this has probably been asked before but,) what are your methods to getting past it, or stopping it from happening in the first place?

A writer in need of help,

L S hanna

Last updated 10 months ago
10 months ago perfoliate replied:

What part of your writing career/written work has been hardest to get through?

(erm not really on the topic. I'm a big fan by the way :))

Last updated 10 months ago
10 months ago Amelia the PhoenixQueen replied:

Which is harder, publishing your book and going through all that, or finishing the book completely including editing and fixing plot holes and filling in gaps and fixing the beginning?
10 months ago R.J. Hathaway replied:

How do you get the will-power to start and finish a story and overcome the writer's block? Do your characters ever push you to write, but you just can't find the muse for them?
10 months ago Emma A, The Next Stephen King. replied:

Do your family members ever help you with writing block?

Do you think that writing out the plotline before you start writing would help? Or just making up as it goes along?

Are there any songs/artists you listen to to help inspire you out of writer's block?

What inspires you to get out of the infamous writer's block?

I'm having writer's block whilst asking this question. Any suggestions?

Last updated 10 months ago
10 months ago Hannah Clove replied:

How do you define writers block? What does it mean to you?
10 months ago Hannah Clove replied:

Do you eat special foods to get rid of writer's block?
10 months ago Celine Dirkes replied:

Do you get the opposite of writer's block, what I call buildup? Or is it just me?

Buildup: When you haven't written in so long that the charachters and plots are taking up so much room in your head you can't concentrate on anything else.
10 months ago Mækir Vilemist replied:

Should you force yourself to write if you have writer's block?
10 months ago Storm Adrian. replied:

When you have writers block do you think it's better to just try and keep on writing, or to wait until your writers block goes away?
10 months ago ♥ Asian Swag ♥ replied:

What do you do when you write a piece, but then realize you absolutely hate it? Do you keep it the way it is (You are your worst critic), or change everything?
10 months ago Tom Stack "JellyBean" Sjöden replied:

Before you start a novel, do you create your characters on paper or do you just make it up as you go?
10 months ago Arkady Adler replied:

Is it worth it to force yourself to write during writer's block? I mean, is that one paragraph you manage to write the one you always delete? And if so, should you still force yourself, just to learn perseverance/get over your case of writer's block?
10 months ago Kennedy V. Lang replied:

How do you crack writer's block enough to leak a few good words?

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