 For Authors: April 25, 2012 Issue [#5011] |
  For Authors
This week: Overcoming Writer's Block Edited by: Lonewolf  
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When you have writer's block, no ideas spring to mind when you are writing and you are stuck for what to write. Understand that writer's block is easy to overcome, and there are many ways to get over it. Do not stoop to the idea that you will never write again.
I'm Lonewolf , and hopefully you are able to find something in this newsletter that helps you overcome writer's block if you happen to suffer from it as I do from time to time. It is an honor and privilege to be your editor this week. |
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How many of you have sat with pen and paper, or with fingers poised over a laptop, craving to create (or continue) a writing project, but lacking even a single idea? That might sound strange to some people; after all, it would seem like one would only prepare to write if ideas were already bursting at the seams to be brought to life. However, getting stumped is a common occurrence for those wishing to make a regular practice of writing. It is at times like these that writing prompts can be beneficial.
Keep in mind that sitting down to write each day doesn't necessarily mean picking up where you left off on your novel, outlining a screenplay, or even creating a poem. Making journal and blog entries, or even just jotting down a detailed description of something, are great ways to keep a healthy habit of writing. Still, when even those wells of inspiration seem to have run dry, writing prompts can get the creative engine back on track. Here are a few ideas that might help.
1. Implement a writing schedule by carving out a time to write and then ignore the writer's block. Show up to write, even if nothing comes right away. When your body shows up to the page at the same time and place every day, eventually your mind - and your muse - will do the same. Graham Greene famously wrote 500 words, and only 500 words, every morning. Five hundred words is only about a page, but with those mere 500 words per day, Greene wrote and published over 30 books.
2. Many writers, understandably, have trouble doing this on their own. You might find a writing partner, and agree to hold each other to deadlines in an encouraging, uncritical way. Knowing that someone else is expecting results helps many writers produce material.
3. Try starting from another part of your story. If you are having trouble with the beginning, write the middle or end. After you have written another part of the story, things may start to fall into place where you were before. Writing out of order may require more familiarity with the plot so that everything makes sense from start to finish. At the same time, it may help you think out the details when you cannot decide what to do with your story. Writing a good ending while you think about the rest of your story will help structure it.
4. Write something totally different. It may surprise you how much you like it! A monologue, song, poem, or even taking a short amount of time to write a scene from a completely different story will get your writer's blood flowing again.
5. Listen to inspiring music. Preferably something that fits the theme of your story, or a certain point you've gotten to. If it's a romance novel and you're stuck on a scene that you want to put together perfectly for the two lovers, listen to something like 'Secret lovers' by Atlantic Star, or 'Spend My Life With You' by Eric Benet ft. Tamia.
6. Another idea is to work in a group in-particularly; campfires, provided here on writing.com. When you work with other writer's you tend to put yourself in a different atmosphere that can help generate innovative ideas for you to work on your own stories.Writing groups or classes are a good way to jump-start a writing routine.
7. One more idea that can be done is to close your eyes and put your finger down on a newspaper article, a page of a novel, a dictionary, thesaurus, or anything in print. You then create a work of fiction from whatever word you are so fortunate to discover upon opening your eyes. It may sound too simple or even silly, but you might be surprised how challenging and fun it can be to create from those impromptu cues.
Whatever your method, and whether you do an activity alone or with other participants, do something to stay active and inspired. In all honesty, there really is no such thing as writer's block, because even if you have to take a pause from whatever project you are working on there is always something for you to sink your creative teeth into to get the creative juices flowing.
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