Tips to Overcome Writers Block.

[Ramoney]

The two "Break Writers Block" entries on the blog were excellent and got me thinking about starting a thread where we can share tips on overcoming writers block. I'll start:

Weather permitting, I ride my bike to the park and sit under one of the big trees looking over a small pond and just stare at the water. When inspiration hits I race back to the house and start writing like a madman:D

How about you guys?
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[Who?]

When I find myself caught with writer's block, I generally do one of two things, depending on the context: If it's due tomorrow, I remind myself of my deadline and write, even if it feels like the pen's writing in my blood and not its ink; if I'm writing for pleasure, I let it go and write something else--I can always trust inspiration to strike in math class, where I am always at my most bored.

[DanielScocco]

The trick that helps me the most when I am blocked is to keep writing no matter what.

I just forget that the backspace key is there. I don't even look at what I have just written (else I would get the urge to edit...).

So that is it, just write and don't stop.

[Bob]

It's not that I brag, but I've really never encountered writer's block. I can write a lot on any subject. Of course, I couldn't say much about nuclear isotronic particle beaming and its effects on dolphin's skin, but, if the topic is even a bit familiar to me, I'll be able to write a lot about it. Sure, the net is a great resource - find out a little bit more about it, and voila. My problem is, when I write, I can't stop! I wish it would never end! Another problem of mine is that I keep forgetting beautiful sentences. So, when writing something in OpenOffice.org , I open KWrite (Linux notepad) and write additional "nice" sentences which will be included in text later.

[Ramoney]

It's not that I brag, but I've really never encountered writer's block. I can write a lot on any subject. Of course, I couldn't say much about nuclear isotronic particle beaming and its effects on dolphin's skin, but, if the topic is even a bit familiar to me, I'll be able to write a lot about it. Sure, the net is a great resource - find out a little bit more about it, and voila. My problem is, when I write, I can't stop! I wish it would never end! Another problem of mine is that I keep forgetting beautiful sentences. So, when writing something in OpenOffice.org , I open KWrite (Linux notepad) and write additional "nice" sentences which will be included in text later.

I wish I had Bob's problem :D
Great tips guys, keep them coming!

[ketty]

When I get stuck I ride my bike without music. It always gets me thinking again and I swear something about the activity gets my brain moving.

If all else fails I take a bath and pretend to be the hero of the story and see where it takes me.

[DanielScocco]

By the way here are all our articles related to the subject:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/using-writing-bursts-to-generate-ideas-and-enthusiasm/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/break-writers-block-choose-your-audience/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/break-writers-block-dont-begin-at-the-beginning/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-ways-to-kick-start-the-writing-habit/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/write-super-fast/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-start-writing-when-you-dont-feel-like-it/

[Nigel Harrison]

The best advice I got was "focus on the brick". The idea was to focus on a specfic point in your view or topic and just write. So, don't worry about describing the whole building, just focus on a single brick.

[shankarganesh]

What I do is ask questions in my mind about everything.

I write on computer/software related stuff a lot, so when I do something using a program, I ask questions. For instanc, when I use Nero CD Burner, "Is there a quick/alternative way to do this job? Are there any other freeware programs like this?" etc.

Basically, these questions then evolve as posts and I've had great success with these kind of articles that I've written.

They're great for 'how to' and 'tutorial' posts

[Alex]

Weather permitting, I ride my bike to the park and sit under one of the big trees looking over a small pond and just stare at the water. When inspiration hits I race back to the house and start writing like a madman:D


I think I would forget several of the ideas on the way back home. How do you keep track of your thoughts and ideas while you rush back home?

When inspiration hits, I like to write it down right away. Unfortunately I'm kind of disorganized and I often lose the small pieces of paper I use for my notes. They often turn up sometime later, so I get to use them, but still...

As I do other creative work besides writing, I know that there are several kinds of block. It is also very frustrating to stand in front of a white canvas and don't know where to but the first brush stroke. I sometimes use random generators to get a topic, theme or general plot line, and then I work on it. For me, the hardest part is getting started.

If I really get stuck in the middle, then I just give it a break if I can, or ask someone else's opinion. It's incredible how inspiring a little feedback can be. However, you need to be willing to accept negative feedback or this won't work.

[Ramoney]

I think I would forget several of the ideas on the way back home. How do you keep track of your thoughts and ideas while you rush back home?


Fortunately, the park is pretty close to my house(about 2 miles) and I always carry a small notepad and pen with me. When I'm out on the town, I carry digital recorder with me for those little "Note to self" blurbs that can appear out of nowhere. I look like a dork when I use it but it works :cool:


If I really get stuck in the middle, then I just give it a break if I can, or ask someone else's opinion. It's incredible how inspiring a little feedback can be. However, you need to be willing to accept negative feedback or this won't work.

Agreed. One of the things that I do is write up something and e-mail a few people asking them for feedback. It's a great way to get multiple points of view on what you write and can give you additional ideas to consider writing about.

[Michael Sland]

When I was blocked, I go to read some new blogs that I never knew before and leave comments. Writing and reading comments stimulate me to express my opinions. Maybe I could get inspiration to write on my own blog.

[Genuine]

Writers block, hmm.

I don't listen to music as often as I should, because I often find that a song (often with a quick beat) stimulates me to write. I also find that looking at my writing goals and writing on paper can help stimulate some brain juice.

Probably the freedom to write utter crap is very freeing. I'm very much a perfectionist, and this last NaNoWriMo really helped me to lose some of those inhibitions. I still remember the day that I wrote 5,000 words in one day. I had never written so much in one day before, and for me it was huge.

The funny thing is that with the freedom to write crap, you'll actually learn to write better. With 50,000 hard-earned words under my belt, I think I really learned how to flesh out characters, how to add complications to the plot. Now, I wasn't one of the (many) people who padded their novels with song lyrics and entries from Wikipedia, so I think that I learned a lot more from it than they did---not because I'm morally superior, but because I was forced to create plausible situations and resolutions, I just didn't have a flaming ostrich save my characters.

Anyway. Music for me is inspiring. Writing with a pen and some honest-to-goodness paper also helps.

Oh, and here's a fun one: write something that you enjoy writing. Transgress your own boundaries. A very natural romance and some scandal came when I learned that anything goes when you're writing, even if it makes you a little uncomfortable.

[philipop]

Hi,
I usually leave it for a bit then go back and if i still don't have any inspiration I go to my favourite park with my boyfriend and soon inspiration comes and i jot it down in my notebook to write up later!
Philipop :)

[ellanovella]

One of the best things to do is to perservere through a block. If you feel like no ideas are coming, try making a graph or something. You can map out an entire plot before you realize you've struck gold with an idea!

For me, the best ideas always come as I'm on the verge of sleep. Thoughts start floating around, and soon enough a couple smash together. I then write every detail I can down on a 3x5 notecard, which I keep by my bed. The next day, I can look back at my ideas and elaborate.

Also, I love listening to classical music. If I'm ever really stuck, I stop what I'm doing and freewrite about a song. Sometimes, if I close my eyes, a sort of picture forms that is the embodiment of how a song makes me feel. I then freewrite a small story or some ideas that match the flow of the song.

When I have free time, I sometimes sit down with a piece of paper or in Microsoft Word and make myself write for 10 minutes, without stopping or revising anything I have written. It's a great way to give ideas a run and to loosen the creative juices.


-ella

[TokeBernbole]

When I'm having a block, I come here! xD I try to read some posts and do a few replies, then go back to the ole work in progress. Also watching a little tv or a movie (which I rarely do) can sometimes give me ideas or inspiration. Sometimes I will go to my work (bar/resturant) and sit with my notebook, talking to people and occasionally writing when something comes to me. Loosen up with a drink or two (not too much, gotta drive!) and in a social environment actually helps a little. I will turn to a person," What do you think of this character name?" I live "in da country" so I like to go outside on a nice day and just sit. Mostly I just have a notebook that I jot all my ideas, notes, and pages for my novel. If I am feeling pent up or frustrated, I will write a poem. Distractions are a big problem for me, I can no longer write on the computer (even though I can type faster than I can write) I have to seperate myself from the internet, listen to music and go into my world.

[snaggipsy]

The only problem is that no way is supposed to be spaced. Great Job though
It reminds me a lot of when I have writers block I have it a lot, and at rare intervals ideas buzz out of my mind. So yeah...
-Sneh123