There’s no supervisor here to yell at us for talking! So join in and share what works for you, or if you are looking for solutions this is a great place to ask.

Hey role players

How many of you know what semantic satiation is? Did you know it happens in writing?

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71855/why-does-word-sometimes-lose-all-meaning

This is something I often think about, and struggle with, when I’m writing. It takes conscious effort to not fall into the habit of using the same words and phrases too much. I’ve read articles about how it “kills” the reader’s experience when you’re using the same words and phrases, and it does! I find myself checking out when I’m reading the same expressions and words over and over. Try it in your wiring, maybe going back once you’ve written your post and see if there’s a word you used multiple times. Then count how many times you’ve used that one word or phrase, you might be surprised. Replace those repeated words and phrases and it makes your writing more engaging for the readers.

I catch my characters “narrowing her eyes” a lot, and I’m still trying to find the acceptable number of uses I can manage before it’s damned annoying. Sadly, it’s just once.

My most overused words are smiled, gently, warmly, and sighed.

What are your overused words? Share with us your thoughts and how you get past this common issue!

 

Yes! ‘Like’ and ‘and’ are ones that catch me too. When I read through I always wonder what I was thinking.

 

'But' is definitely one that I've noticed for myself in the past. I have since made an active effort to restructure my sentences to avoid using it as much as possible.

'And' is a tough one, though. You almost can't get around using it, especially since it's a common conjunction that connects two (or more) related sentences together. On the other hand, 'but' is used moreso to introduce a contradiction or exception. I feel like there are more ways to get around that one. Or maybe 'and' just doesn't bother me as much.

 

Okay, so for “but”, depending on the use there’s yet or still. That one would send me to the thesaurus, I think.

 

#goals but, we all aren’t a sesquipedalian.

@Mitth_Fisto how many ways can you describe your character’s eyes without lapsing back to the same description?

 

Wow!! Thank you! Those are great!
So many of us all use the same terms to describe eyes, so I’m going to try and follow your example Mitth! All of those are really interesting to read and I didn’t check out on any of them.

What’s another abused word or phrase?

 

Smiles and chuckles! I’ve seen both overly used.

There are lots of good ways to express both of those, anyone want to give us a list?

 

Okay, I’ll do it: chortle, giggle, crow, roar shriek snicker, guffaw, titter, snicker. There’s more, but there so many options to use something besides the same words.

I just caught myself using “her” multiple times in a sentence. It’s a process, but I'm determined to keep checking myself.

 

@Jar-Jar Binks no, we are talking about ways to improve our writing for role playing.

 

You’re good! Maybe you’ll decide to try joining in again sometime.

 

Today I’ve been reading about writer’s block. Several articles list these reasons for WB: fear, perfectionism, self-criticism, or external pressure.

I know I fall into self-criticism, and often write and delete, write and delete a few more times. That usually means a lot of time staring at a blank document for way too long.

There are a lot of good suggestions on how to move past WB, what works for you?

Talking things over with someone helps me. Also, setting aside what’s got me hung up and moving to something else for awhile helps too. I tend to return later feeling better about the issues that had bothered me earlier.

 

Perfectionism and self-criticism are definitely my writing banes. And as you said, it can hold me up for long periods of time—I think the longest stretch I've had recently was 6 days? I also have this block in my head that if I'm having trouble with one reply, I can't move past it until it's done. It's almost like I get stubborn, causing me to buckle down on that one reply. I know that's not the best outlook to have, and I'm trying hard to break out of that, but it contributes a lot to my frustration.

I will say that watching a TV show or movie that reminds me of the scene or situation has helped me to overcome writer's block in the past. It allows me to get into the right mindset of the character and make connections that I can then put down on the page. Music sometimes helps, but I usually find that more of a distraction than anything. Talking it out with someone else and having an in-depth character discussion also helps me quite a bit.

 

I like the idea of getting inspiration from watching something! Good one, @HanSolo29.

I saw several authors online mentioning taking a hike or getting outdoors to think. For me that could make it worse, unless I can get to a place where I’ll clearly be distracted. Otherwise I’d just be gnashing my teeth with every step over what I’m trying to get on the page.

 

Hello, everyone! I am a friendly (and fiendish) face visiting from the Fanfic section. I don't have experience writing RPF, but I figured it might be fun to swap writing thoughts and tips anyway. So here are some of mine:

On the subject of semantic satiation, I must admit that I had never heard the term before, but I have definitely observed that phenomenon where a word repeated over and over can lose all meaning. Become nonsensical. Even feel like it is no longer a word. So it is useful to have a precise term to pair with that phenomenon.

As far as words that I tend to use a lot, they would be things like "softly," gently", and "gingerly" because writing hurt/comfort stories is one of my guilty pleasures in life. In terms of character gestures, I would say my characters are prone to squeezing and clapping each other's shoulders, pinching the bridges of their noses when they are frustrated, massaging their temples when they are stressed, clenching their fists or jaws when they are angry, and furrowing their foreheads when they are confused. Also, their lips might thin and their eyebrows arch. Those are the major facial expressions my characters are capable of making. Or that I am capable of thinking to give them within the limited confines of my creativity

In terms of writer's block, for me, it tends to be a lack of inspiration either on a particular story or with writing in general, which I will tend to blame on my fickle and flighty muse. I am a mood writer (and a mood reader for that matter). I have to be in the right mood not only to write but to write that particular story.

So most of my tips for beating writer's block are about giving myself a jolt of inspiration.

Jolts of inspiration for me can be things like prompts and challenges. It can be holidays, the changing seasons, my travels, and my life experiences. It can be music. I have written stories inspired by song lyrics before, and sometimes I like to write while listening to music that fits the tone of the piece I am trying to write. So sad music for something tragic. Upbeat music for something happy.

I also find that sometimes I just need to recharge my battery. To step away from my notebook or my computer screen. To take a shower, which tends to jumpstart my creativity. Or to eat. Because sometimes I can spend hours immersed in my writing without realizing it until I start to get hungry. My stomach crying out to me that it needs fuel.

I also find it helpful to work on multiple projects and stories at a time so if one isn't working out for me, I can shift my focus and inspiration to another project or story without getting too frustrated.

I also let ideas for my writing marinate for days, weeks, or even months. They can be in the back of my mind. Picking up extra flavor for when the time is right to write them.

Sometimes I also just acknowledge that I'm not in the mood for writing on a particular day and that's okay since it is not my job. It's a hobby. I can take an off day. Or even an off week if I want to. Sometimes stepping away for awhile is the best cure for my writer's block.

I think a lot depends on the individual writer what is the best cure for writer's block.

 

I can totally relate to the shower! For some reason that a good thinking space.

Also, I do thrive when I have a list of posts, or combo replies, for games. I’ll start with what I’m most excited about and work my way through them.

Welcome @devilinthedetails! Come visit anytime.

 

Thanks for the welcome, Lady B!

I think of many of my greatest ideas in the shower. The trick is remembering them when I get out

I always have a list of prompts and challenges I've accepted that I can work on given that I tend to horde prompts and challenges with all the self-restraint of a squirrel gathering acorns in the fall

So, really I have no excuse for lack of inspiration, but still lack of inspiration can vexingly strike...

 

Ooo... some great suggestions, @devilinthedetails, thank you for sharing them!

You can add me to the list of people who do a lot of brainstorming in the shower. That's where I get a lot of my ideas. If I'm struggling with something, it works almost every time without fail.