Writer's Block—Tips From the Crew (Part 2)
After the first installment of our Writer's Block series was written and ready to go, more tips started coming in. It soon became obvious we had enough for another post. We start this one with a tip so common that I am surprised we didn't include it before.
You never know when something you see is going to spark an idea, whether its for a character, a setting or a whole story. The last thing you want to be doing in this situation is rummaging in your bags and pockets for any scrap of paper to jot the idea down on, before it vanishes or fades from memory. Being stuck on a train or writing on receipts is not an ideal situation. Be prepared with a pen and a small notebook, and you'll never have an idea escape you again.
When suffering from writer's block, any idea is a good idea. Anything that finally sparks the imagination should be used, no matter how silly it is. See where this idea goes. Who knows—it may turn into a fantastic story in a genre you never considered writing before. At the very least, it may break down the block and allow you to resume writing the story causing you trouble.
Always write in a specific genre or style? Give something else a try, something you may never have tried before. It's very easy to get comfortable writing in the same genre. The very act of switching genres may be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing again. Always write fantasy? Try crime or horror. Romance more your style? Why not dip your feet into the science fiction world? You'd be amazed where this change of creative scene could take you.
Music is a great source of inspiration. Put your iPod on shuffle and with the next song, listen intently to either the lyrics or the music. Perhaps you could take a line or two from the lyrics as your next prompt, or try and put words to the emotions portrayed by the music. Before you know it, your next masterpiece could be on its way!
Some writers never had writer's block because they've never stopped writing. Sure, there are times when it's harder than usual, but if you don't stop writing, you'll get through a tough spot. Once you've driven through the harder parts to write, it's a lot easier to complete the piece. It doesn't matter if you don't like it later—you can edit it! If you write something, you have something to edit. If you write nothing ... well ... what can you do with nothing?
Whenever a random idea for a story pops in my mind, I write it down on a piece of paper and drop it in this small box in which I gather all these ideas for stories. Usually these ideas are never attended to and are ignored. But they're useful when I feel writer's block ready to greet me. I pick out a random piece of paper from the box and start writing a new story based on the idea. I don't focus on making it perfect, and I don't worry about mistakes either. I just write it all out. Magically, it wards off writer's block for me.
Don't stress! Relax and get a cup of tea (or whatever your favorite beverage is) and imagine a tree, which is your writing. If the tree is not growing, go to the root of the problem. Search for existing descriptions (your own or from someone else) and see if that will help you think of a new description to get you out of writer's block.
1) Carry a Pen & Paper At All Times
You never know when something you see is going to spark an idea, whether its for a character, a setting or a whole story. The last thing you want to be doing in this situation is rummaging in your bags and pockets for any scrap of paper to jot the idea down on, before it vanishes or fades from memory. Being stuck on a train or writing on receipts is not an ideal situation. Be prepared with a pen and a small notebook, and you'll never have an idea escape you again.
2) No matter how silly an idea is, write it down
When suffering from writer's block, any idea is a good idea. Anything that finally sparks the imagination should be used, no matter how silly it is. See where this idea goes. Who knows—it may turn into a fantastic story in a genre you never considered writing before. At the very least, it may break down the block and allow you to resume writing the story causing you trouble.
3) Step Out of your Comfort Zone
Always write in a specific genre or style? Give something else a try, something you may never have tried before. It's very easy to get comfortable writing in the same genre. The very act of switching genres may be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing again. Always write fantasy? Try crime or horror. Romance more your style? Why not dip your feet into the science fiction world? You'd be amazed where this change of creative scene could take you.
4) Listen to Music
Music is a great source of inspiration. Put your iPod on shuffle and with the next song, listen intently to either the lyrics or the music. Perhaps you could take a line or two from the lyrics as your next prompt, or try and put words to the emotions portrayed by the music. Before you know it, your next masterpiece could be on its way!
5) Don't Stop Writing
Some writers never had writer's block because they've never stopped writing. Sure, there are times when it's harder than usual, but if you don't stop writing, you'll get through a tough spot. Once you've driven through the harder parts to write, it's a lot easier to complete the piece. It doesn't matter if you don't like it later—you can edit it! If you write something, you have something to edit. If you write nothing ... well ... what can you do with nothing?
6) Keep an Idea Box
Whenever a random idea for a story pops in my mind, I write it down on a piece of paper and drop it in this small box in which I gather all these ideas for stories. Usually these ideas are never attended to and are ignored. But they're useful when I feel writer's block ready to greet me. I pick out a random piece of paper from the box and start writing a new story based on the idea. I don't focus on making it perfect, and I don't worry about mistakes either. I just write it all out. Magically, it wards off writer's block for me.
7) Imagine a Tree's Roots
Don't stress! Relax and get a cup of tea (or whatever your favorite beverage is) and imagine a tree, which is your writing. If the tree is not growing, go to the root of the problem. Search for existing descriptions (your own or from someone else) and see if that will help you think of a new description to get you out of writer's block.
