Thread: Does anyone else work this way?

When I wanna tackle a new story, and just can't seem to put one foot in front of the other, I tend to close my eyes and envision a movie playing in my head. I let it play out and whatever I see, I write down. Some of it ( most of it ) makes zero sense but then a part of it actually gives me something to work with. Anyone else do this?

Hi , yes I do something very similar. I "see" the entire scene in my head as if I'm watching a movie and simply write what i see. At some point, it takes off and i find i'm envisioning and writing almost simultaneously. Those are the great writing days when i get several hundred words out in one productive rush...

Sometimes I've found it's the only way to get through a knotty piece of character interaction. To quite literally, let them at each other and see what they do!

I have done this a few times as well. When I am struggling to move forward with a story I try and picture it in my head. It helps me to see what direction I'd like to go in and to envision the emotion that is played out.

I do this too, usually when I'm listening to music. I try and choose a piece that suits the atmosphere of the scene and close my eyes and envisage what I need to see. Not always a winner, sometimes I get too carried away with what's going on in my head and don't get round to writing, lol.

@Nenada: Haha, yeah, guilty as well. But it's refreshing to see what your creativity does on it's own nonetheless.

I've never done this, I think it's one of few techniques I've never used to try and get over my writers block. I think I've tried most of them though.
I think I'll try this one =)

Originally Posted by Nenada

I do this too, usually when I'm listening to music. I try and choose a piece that suits the atmosphere of the scene and close my eyes and envisage what I need to see. Not always a winner, sometimes I get too carried away with what's going on in my head and don't get round to writing, lol.

Absolutely with the music. It is amazing how a piece of music can inspire visions to put on paper.

Also with regards to the movie in the head strategy, I think that everyone does that. We all envision what is going on in our head. I don't see how you can write otherwise.

My major strategy for getting going on a story or a specific has been to just start with dialogue though. Fill in the details later but get the character interactions down.

'Creating the scene in my mind...' this is my primary way of writing a scene or chapter. I must be able to see the background, the characters (esp. the eyes) and how they move. This is one reason why I am inspired to write; transforming my ideas into words for entertainment reading. Watching appropriate movies related to my writing also helps a lot. It does take a lot of discipline and focus, so I do that most of the time when I am driving.

I think being able to use your imagination and visualize characters and scenes this way is very helpful. I do this a lot when trying to figure out a scene, and then I see it play out as I write. But when you're stuck, I think it's pretty handy, especially since you can kind of 'rewind' the scene as many times as you need so you can try out different angles and play out different situations.

what i would suggest and this is what i am partially doing is write the book you always wanted to read, so whatever it is you want to read or always wished, write eactly what you wouyuld like to readed or always wished to read. That is partailly why i am writing i know what a great book is and there really isn't any of the work out there. A book is work from a mind, a greatt work comes from a great mind lots of these writers have issues and stuff and the issues are put forth in their works. a begging practice could be writting the princess fairytale you always wished to hear as a child i am going to be writing one for kids.

Yes I love it when I am in those creative trances with the story playing in my head.