How do I beat writer's block?

Answer 1

I can only tell you what works for me. Do free writing and write whatever comes to your head. Then after each sentence, ask yourself, "so what?" Then add a sentence that explains the original sentence. Keep building by asking "so what?" Continue like this until you have several pages. Then pick out those nuggets of "gold" and expand on that subject. It works best if you start writing about what is on your mind. This will insure that you are writing what matters to you on subjects that you are passionate about. Each day it will be something different. Spend at least 20 minutes doing this exercise each day and you will get into the groove.

If all else fails, read. Read the kind of books or articles that you like to write. Read until you feel like, "I can do this!" Or, "I can do better than that!"

Good luck.

Answer 2

I would agree with the majority, go and do something else more interesting instead, anything that will give your brain a reward for trying to be creative for you, then it will feel rejuvenated and will reward you for treating it so well. That Stephen King book is good as well, I enjoyed reading that a while back. Also, liked the person saying write about the writer's block you're having, good to keep a reflective journal of your journey, but this could make you insane, depends on your personality.

Also a thought would be to mess your synapses about, brush your teeth with a different hand than usual, answer every question with a question, only wear blue, wear a hat on your head all day and don't take it off, anything you think of that would amuse you, do it, amuse yourself, find out who you are again, why did you want to write in the first place? Think about who you are and what you're about.

Answer 3

Start living life again.

Writting is the art of expressing thoughts, processes, thigns that are perceived. A good writter is able to see, describe things in a different light, different angle. A good writter puts his thoughts down, and then the rest of the team - the editor, etc, are the ones that take care of spelling, grammer, having the right words in the right places - etc.

Too many people writting think that they have to worry about all that at once; yet fail to realize that some of the best writters have been writting little stories for years - and it wasn't until some time later that they grabbed a bunch of things and put it all in one book. It's extremedly difficult to write a book cover to cover, while paying attention to the flow of the book AND spelling, etc.

So, go live life. Put the book aside. Keep writting random things, go deeper into details of whatever - re-read what you have and instead of continuing on with the story take a stray path and "create the world" by adding depth to other elements of your story. If you're writting about Jane and Doe, and five chapters ago you used a pizzeria they stopped at - write on a different pad of paper a lot more about hte pizzeria. or their dog. Give elements that arn't directly related to the story a background, depth.

Once you've created a big enough world, it'll be a breeze to go through the rest of your story.


AND GO OUTSIDE! :D

Not even journalists can write if they don't go see what's happening!

Answer 4

I think it is different for everyone. I write endless letters/ emails to anyone foolish enough to know me.

There is a block shaped book called 'Writer's Block' by Jason Rekulak !SBN 0-7624-0948-7 and a follow up called 'Creative Block 'By Lou Harry ISBN 0-76242280-7

They are the size of paperweights and are full of ideas and exercises. They are quite fun, but I have to confess they haven't really helped me with the task in hand, just provide enough distraction to stop me getting wound up about it.

I have realised now that if I'm not in the right frame of mind I may as well try something completely different. at least I'm writing.

Good luck ( if you find something works for you let me know)

Answer 5

Start by reading other material for ideas.

Write an outline of plots or points you would like to make.

Write about your characters, the theme of your story, what kind of atmosphere do you want your readers to experience?

How are you going to write your text? Is it going to be in the past or present?

Will you let your readers know what your characters are thinking or will the readers have to discover them through dialog?

If you are writing non-fiction, try interviewing someone with an interesting job.

It is extremely important to take a closer look at your environment and try to notice what others don't.

Or you can go back to basics and brainstorm by just writing whatever is on your mind on a sheet of paper.

If you don't want your work to seem like someone else just try to write down the world through your eyes. It's not easy because there are somethings you may not like to mention in your life but sometimes that makes your writing original.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Try writing a short little story about a page long, using "Fortunately and Unfortunately" All you do is think of a person and write down a tale using fortunately and unfortunately twists to make it exciting and to add characters. e.g.
Lilly was riding her bicycle down a small country lane, when unfortunately, she rode over an upright nail in the middle of the lane and her tyre burst. She stopped and dismounted sighing to herself. She looked over her shoulder and she saw that fortunately there was a car driving past, she stuck out her hand and the car stopped for her. An elderly man asked her what was wrong, so she explained all about her tyre. He asked where she lived and he offered to give her a lift back home, but unfortunately there was nowhere to put her bicycle. E.T.C (hope this is helpful.)

Answer 7

I use posterboards and place them around the room with board pens and just write whatever random thought enters my head. Then I leave it for a day or so and look at it freshly the next day. The ideas in my head are there for a reason, sometimes finding the connection is another matter, but as random as the thought put it out on the paper - you can scrap it later. I normally can find a tangent to move on with that works.

Answer 8

Write about the objects around you. Use your most flowery prose to describe the mundane and the ordinary. Write a little about your childhood,embroider normality until it shines with your genius. Soon the words will cascade from your imagination like a universe of stars. I've written 4 books in the last two years, Literary agents have told me that they have no time to even open my synopsis. I'm going to blog my books and give away my life and all the flowers I've painted with a million words that flowed from my soul like teardrops in the rain.

Answer 9

I heard of a writer who used to get writer's block, so he would shut himself up in a room, naked, with nothing else but the typewriter. He felt that way he didn't have any distractions, and couldn't do anything but write.

Answer 10

There's no such thing as writer's block. Writing is putting thought to paper. You can only not write if can't think. Maybe the problem you have is that you can't align your thoughts to whatever it is you've set out to write. I'd advise you not to force it. Can't be forced. Write about something else for now.