What to do about writer's block?

Question

I'm wanting to write a book. Possibly a young adult novel or at least an adult novel about a teenage girl but I can't think of anything that isn't cliche like those other teen books that are out like Gossip Girl. I want to do something different but I can't think of a thing. How do you think of an idea to cure writer's block?

Answer 1

You don't have writers' block, you just lack an original idea and you're not ready to write a novel. Forget about every teen gossip/clique/twilight book you have ever read and start thinking in your own voice. Start with a black and white notebook. Fill it with ideas, thoughts, doodles, clippings from newspapers and magazines, observations of people you see, anything. When the book is full, wait about a month and go through it. Cross out all the crap. There will be plenty. Take the interesting ideas and put them on file cards. Try hooking a few ideas together. Forget about a book for now. Think about short stories. Try using some of the cards to write some stories. Eventually an idea will lend itself to something longer. I know an author who got the idea for his latest book from a science section clipping he read. Ideas can come from anywhere. Try sitting in the food court at the mall and writing observations of people. This is an exercise I do with writing students. It opens you to observation and new ideas. I have seen many great short stories come from this process.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

I don't think that you have writers block, you just have a really good idea in there somewhere that needs to find a way out. Why not trying this, hopefully it will work:
Pick a random topic ie, flowers, kids, books, computers etc. and grab a timer. Start off by giving yourself 30 seconds and without lifting your pen from your paper write down anything that comes to mind when you think about your topic. It doesn't have to make sense, just don't lift your pen from your paper and don't stop writing. If you can't think of anything for a second, rewrite your topic. When your timer goes off, see whether you've written down a lot and if you have add 10 more seconds. Keep on adding but make sure it's by 10 seconds every time you write. And make sure that you don't pick the same topic more than once.
Hopefully this exercise works. Good Luck, and have a Happy New Year!

Answer 3

Despite what most people believe, teenagers do think about they're future, not just having fun.
My 15 y/o daughter likes the entertainment industry, like most teens: singing, dancing, acting, and modeling. Teenage girls are trying to find their place and you can write about that. You can also include that they do not have to be in the spotlight to be special.

You can ask some teenagers how they feel about school, their friends, and what they want to do in life.
Past, present, future: what they experienced, what they're doing now, and where they feel they'll be in the future.

A story about a girl who sees her future ahead of time would be interesting. Sort of like a female version of Back to the Future!

Answer 4

I like to take a walk in a park, or just... look out a window on a rainy day with some inspirational music (like wings for marie, by tool). Do something that relaxes you. Have you ever done something that just... lets your mind drift and drift? Do that. Find some nice alone time and just drift through your own fantasy world. I think you'll come up with some good ideas if you do that.

Answer 5

What about considering writing a story from a new point of view, like a fairy tale but from a different character. I know one woman did this with a man who was the son of the wicked witch in a fairy tale and his point of view on things.
I think there was another from one of the wicked step sisters too.