how do you get rid of writer's block?

Question

I've been staring at my paper for about an hour now, and nothing new has come into my head.
Either that, or what I have in my head doesn't translate into writing!

Help me :)

Answer 1

i had the same problem while writing a research paper and when i went and talked to my professor about it he told me that theres no such thing, he then explained that whats really stopping me from finishing my research was that my mind was probably on many other things (which was true cuz i was in the middle of my finals) and that i didnt really set my mind to it and try and get it done. another reason could be that you dont like what you are doing.

the way i got through it was that i wrote anything that came to my mind on a piece of paper until i had all of these bits and pieces and i started putting them together like a puzzle. also by doing this you'll feel like u've started and so u'll be more relaxed and confident.

i also asked lots of questions on yahoo to get people involved, get new ideas, and tell myself that im working towards finishing.

another thing i do if i can is go to a senary that inspires me or relaxes me at least. my favorit time of the day is an hour before sunset when everything has a smooth orange tan. so during the easter break i took an assignment with me and i used to sit everyday by the river nile at this time of day. this was when i'd get most of the work done.

so try to relax and start getting any bits and pieces that are relavent to your work.

dont worry it will come, it always does :)

Answer 2

I would take a flip through some magazines such as the Writer. Take a drive down to Barnes and Noble. If you're not writing, you may aw well be wasting your time on something that might help you later.

The best quote I've ever heard with regard to writing was "When I started looking at my writing as more of a job than a romantic undertaking, I found that it was much easier to accomplish my goals."

You should also realize that the ability to write is not something you can have one moment, and lose the next. All that you're missing is inspiration. There will always be times like these, but you just have to work through them. Even if you don't care for what you've written, the important thing is to continue pounding out the necessities until you get to the point where things are flowing again.

Remember, "If you wrote yesterday, you can write today. It may not be exactly what you wanted, but you can write."

Too often we confuse the ability to write with our ability to write to our satisfaction. If you let yourself procrastinate once because of writer's block, it will happen again and, in time, it will become easier. Don't worry about the way the words come out. You can change all that later when you edit later.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

What are you blocked on? Is it the story as a whole? A single scene? The middle?

I found that if you get a couple of chapters in and then stop, it means you have no plot, or the plot is too weak. If you are working on a particular scene try acting it out as if it were a movie, sometimes you can see it better that way.

I have found that ideas rarely come when I am sitting writing. Most of them come from observations, conversations, etc. All of a sudden I'll have an idea, I carry a small pocket notebook for this purpose

I say, take a step back, staring at the paper is not going to make ideas come. It may even hinder the process as you are thinking to hard and dwelling.

Answer 4

Go out for a run or something to get your mind off what you are thinking. The brain is a strange thing and is not like a muscle. With a muscle, the harder you work the more work you accomplish. The brain works just the opposite, After you have been thinking for an answer for a long period of time it is as if the brain just locks up. That is why to get away for the topic for awhile. At least that is what I did when I was in college. It worked most of the time.

Go watch TV, steal a car, harass your little brother or sister, talk to your parents (that should shock them) anything but thinking about your problem.

Answer 5

If I'm great caught, I simply throw myself into an undertaking as opposed to writing that I particularly revel in. I love physical games, so I simply move out for a run or swim to filter the cobwebs. I honestly come throughout my high-quality recommendations whilst I run :) I additionally watch an excessively well movie that's very similar to what I'm writing approximately earlier than I move to mattress. I traditionally have a tendency to dream approximately the final factor I learn or watch, so when you watch a film or learn a ebook that's very similar to what you're writing, you can also dream approximately it. I discover that after I dream approximately a ebook or film, my brain twists it round, and I get recommendations from my desires. For instance, I write alot of myth, so like earlier than mattress I watch Lord of the Rings. Then, I form of dream approximately myth and such, then come throughout a few well recommendations. I wish this is helping! Writers block is exasperating, I'm presently pain from it : / So well good fortune!!

Answer 6

yeah go and do something else, let those creative juices build up and just think about the topic of the paper and what questions you would need to be answered if you really needed to read a paper about the subject you're writing about because the more stuff you can learn from reading it the more money you can make. Just try to put yourself into that hypothetical situation and you should be able to make something come out. Give yourself a day or two to think it over if you can, but don't wait too long.

Answer 7

Brainstorm on paper first. Just sit and start writing down any wild thoughts that come into your head. Spend an hour or two that way. Then read some of them back and see if you can't put them in some kind of an order that makes sense.

Is it your first paper back to school from summer vacation? Hard to get going sometime. You may just have to eventually push yourself to get started.

Pax - C

Answer 8

Try looking at other reports or books that you like and study the writeing style. That may help get what's in your head get on to paper. Watching TV can bring insperation but runs a risk of just distracting you more.

Answer 9

One thing you can do is sit down and write anything. Anything at all -- something about the weather, how your day went, anything. Then work your way toward the topic at hand.

You might try turning off the computer for a while. Some people do well listening to music, too.

Answer 10

Go watch a movie, go to sleep, then try again tomorrow. If it is still not working for you, it's probably a good idea to do some deleting and re-writing.