Ask the Author: Vivienne Mathews
Answered Questions (4)
Vivienne Mathews
Ugh, writer's block is such a pain, isn't it? And it comes in so many forms.
If it's a problem with a character or a scene, visuals can be very helpful. Spider graphs, character sketches, and storyboarding are phenomenal for getting the smaller things out of your head and putting them in a form that's easy to organize with your eyes.
Sometimes you'll find yourself falling into a sentence structure rut, where you want to format every paragraph exactly like the last. Luckily, there are countless phenomenal authors out there who lead by example in showing you the many different - and often, more interesting ways - of phrasing things. Stepping away from the project and putting some time into reading rather than writing should snap you right out of it.
If the problem is with the plot, nothing beats old-fashioned outlining. That's where the work ethic of objective writing really matters. If you've ever watched a film or read a book and finished with an unscripted question mark hanging over your head, odds are, it's because the creator didn't put in the work of making sure the plot gave a solid foundation to the rest of the project. As a general approach, try sitting down and marking your starting point (first scene) at the top of a page with your end point (resolution) at the bottom. Fill in the center with bullet points. These should ONLY detail scenes that are crucial to getting from A to Z. Then, set sentimentality aside and ask yourself what works and what doesn't. If your story's skeleton isn't properly aligned, you'll know it.
The most insidious type (for me, anyway) is getting into the thick of it only to realize that a story angle or character moment isn't as fleshed out as you thought it was. In that case, don't be afraid to just walk away for a bit. Given time, your subconscious will suss it out on its own.
If it's a problem with a character or a scene, visuals can be very helpful. Spider graphs, character sketches, and storyboarding are phenomenal for getting the smaller things out of your head and putting them in a form that's easy to organize with your eyes.
Sometimes you'll find yourself falling into a sentence structure rut, where you want to format every paragraph exactly like the last. Luckily, there are countless phenomenal authors out there who lead by example in showing you the many different - and often, more interesting ways - of phrasing things. Stepping away from the project and putting some time into reading rather than writing should snap you right out of it.
If the problem is with the plot, nothing beats old-fashioned outlining. That's where the work ethic of objective writing really matters. If you've ever watched a film or read a book and finished with an unscripted question mark hanging over your head, odds are, it's because the creator didn't put in the work of making sure the plot gave a solid foundation to the rest of the project. As a general approach, try sitting down and marking your starting point (first scene) at the top of a page with your end point (resolution) at the bottom. Fill in the center with bullet points. These should ONLY detail scenes that are crucial to getting from A to Z. Then, set sentimentality aside and ask yourself what works and what doesn't. If your story's skeleton isn't properly aligned, you'll know it.
The most insidious type (for me, anyway) is getting into the thick of it only to realize that a story angle or character moment isn't as fleshed out as you thought it was. In that case, don't be afraid to just walk away for a bit. Given time, your subconscious will suss it out on its own.
Vivienne Mathews
Apart from getting paid to sit on your toches and make things up? There's a lot to be said for any kind of creative work. Be it writing or sculpting, woodworking or narrating, there's a vulnerability in molding something outside of yourself for all the world to see that is uplifting and grounding all at the same time. Without creative markers to illustrate how uniquely inspiring all the wonderful people of the world are capable of being, life would be quiet and a bit disorienting, I think. Art helps people navigate. It allows us feel connected to those we'd otherwise never meet, let alone understand. To be able to count myself as even a small part of that process is very fulfilling.
Vivienne Mathews
Writers write. We're an easy group to define that way. If you're interested in joining us, the first thing you have to do is write. The second thing is to write some more. And the third is to find a vice that won't kill you. Because, believe you me, you're gonna need one.
Vivienne Mathews
From a young age, I had to train myself NOT to spend so much time in my own head. I have a wonky creativity switch that stubbornly refuses to stay in the "off" position, so it isn't uncommon to find me struggling with a notebook and a gas pump at the same time because, "I have to write this down this second or I'll forget it!" Inspiration may be fickle, but it's never far away. For me, at least. I struggle far more with the discipline and work aspects of writing. Those things can be daunting. Not only because you're working under the fear that you might get it wrong, but also because writing can be more emotionally exhausting than people might realize. If Marshall's angry, so am I. If McKinley is broken over the potential loss of his daughter, I'm not just imagining it from afar, I'm sitting inside his chest, aching right along with him. It's a difficult position to willingly put yourself in. You have to psyche yourself up for that level of investment. Unless you're lazy, like me, in which case you just ask your spouse to shove you into the office and lock the door. It works, as long as the internet connection has been disabled.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more