Writer's Block

[grace86]

I've been writing a few pieces here and there, yet it seems to never fail that I always get stuck relatively early on and can't continue writing.

A friend of mine who also writes gave me the suggestion of writing down different sounds...haven't tried it yet....

What ways have you found successful in helping alleviate writer's block?

[hillwalker]

If you get stuck, the best solution is to set that particular piece aside. Never try to force the process - it just doesn't work that way. Your subconscious will keep beavering away without you realising it and hopefully you will know when you are ready to pick up where you left off.

To keep the wheels in motion just write down whatever first comes into your head - stream of consciousness; it doesn't have to make sense or follow any particular order.
If you can't even manage that, try to write down answers to questions like 'Why do I want to write today?', 'What did I see yesterday that has stuck in my mind?, 'Who would I like to be with right this minute?' Basically, anything to keep the pen moving.
Like practising a musical instrument, putting your pen to use every day is a good discipline.

H

[giventofly]

Rather simplistic, but I've often found that the best way to overcome writer's block is to just start reading a lot. I'll go back and reread some of my favs... some of the stuff that has inspired me to write, and it often kickstarts my creative spirit. Good Luck!

[grace86]

Hey thanks guys! I like both of your recommendations and will give them a try. The piece I wanted to get done is finally finished, but it took a few hours and then a twenty minute run to do so. I had never thought of writing as a musical instrument - having to keep in practice.

Thanks again!

[the-naturalist]

i've been writing a few pieces here and there, yet it seems to never fail that i always get stuck relatively early on and can't continue writing.

A friend of mine who also writes gave me the suggestion of writing down different sounds...haven't tried it yet....

What ways have you found successful in helping alleviate writer's block?

take a mental note of all your "blocks" ... Write them down ... As you go about your day, such as going to work, shopping, or whenever you are thinking of your book or blocks, a flash of insight should happen ... I was reading about the author mario puzo (the godfather), he got flashes of insight while he helped his wife unload the groceries

[Jassy Melson]

I hate to spoil anyone's indulgence, but writer's block is a myth; it doesn't exist; there's no such thing as writer's block. It's an excuse for lazy writers. If you're stuck on something, leave it alone, go on to something else, come back later. But don't sit there moaning and whining that you're suffering from writer's block. What you're suffering from is laziness.

[Virgil]

My advice to you Grace is to get a timer, set it to go off in an hour and in that hour write down everything that comes to your mind about where to go next - pure free form scribling. Write down everything, fast and furious, no grammar considerations, just thoughts and such. After the hour, set it aside for a day or two and come back to it in a day or two. See what you like, work it in. Something positive has to be in there and hopefully it will get you started again.

[LMK]

I do all of the above, free association writing, work on a different piece, read, or go out for a walk or do something physical even if it's clean out my sock drawer, then when you go back to it read a bit of what you had already written to get back into the voice and start again.