Blast Writer's Block Away with 10 Strategies!

Everyone gets it. There are no immunization shots for it. However, the important thing to remember when faced with writer’s block is to know....it is curable. The following strategies will boost your immune system and help you rebound better than ever.

1. Do not pressure yourself. In other words if you force your brain to write on command you could experience performance anxiety.

2. Work on another project or play some relaxing music. Music by master composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and the like have been reported to be “music for the soul.”

3. Keep a notebook with you at all times to record thoughts, memories, jokes, dreams and so forth. Having simple items like this available when writer’s block rears its ugly head will provide you with multiple writing prompts to jump start your creativity.

4. Read a great book by a favorite author. This will do wonders and give you an itch to write for yourself. It will give you “I can do this” attitude.

5. Change your writing environment. If you are glued to your computer, take pen and notebook to your local library and write away. What better place to be inspired than in a room full of great books.

6. Get rid of the little dictator in your head that keeps pounding in your brain. Stand up and walk away. Do anything but write. Doing something physical like walking or jumping jacks is a great way to stimulate your creativity.

7. Take a ride to the park and meditate on nature. Think how awesome our world is and be thankful.

8. Write out of your genre. If you write fiction, write a short article on non-fiction. A little research on a subject unknown to you is one of the best ways to stimulate your creative mind.

9. Relax. The more you worry the harder it is to think clearly. Remember you are what you think.

10. Just do it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t worry if words don’t make sense at all. In most cases after you have written about a half page your mind will begin filling up with ideas faster than you can type. The excitement builds and you are writing again!

Write it down,
Carma

When Your Butt Hits the Chair

Your hands are poised over the keyboard, elbows are bent. You feel the raised hyphen on J and F as you position your fingers over the keys. The printer is full of paper, computer is on and cursor is blinking at the top of the page.


The second hand taunts with Tick... tock...... tick.... tock.....

Hands are poised over the keyboard, You double check your finger position as you feel the raised hyphens again over F and J. Your elbows are still bent, printer is still full of paper, Word doc is open and the cursor is beckoning like Ahab's finger... type... type... type... type...


AAArrghhhhh!


Does this happen more often than you would like? Me too.


When this happens to me I go looking for prompts and motivation either by reading one of my books or online. I ran across a few neat sites that may be able to do the trick for you if you haven't heard of them yet. Let me share them with you.


Creative Writing Prompts

As always the Writers Digest is always a great resource.


And The Teacher's Corner

Write it down,

Carma

The Sound of Writing

Thanks to Terry Whalin of The Writing Life for sharing this video from You Tube.

Click and enjoy.

Pictures ARE worth a thousand words. I would like to be able to commandeer those words, wouldn't you?



Write it down,
Carma

Are You Stuck in a Rut? Here's a Ladder

That’s not very helpful. Giving you a ladder really will not help you get out of a rut or learn why you got in the rut in the first place. Hope Wilbanks at Hope Writes wrote an article titled “Writing Ruts – What not to do when stuck”

Her four suggestions of what NOT to do are 1) Don’t Hide, 2) Don’t stop writing 3) Don’t throw it all away and 4) Don’t bury yourself in work.

Read her article in its entirety below:

In "Writing Ruts: What To Do When You Get Stuck", I shared some things every writer can do to get "unstuck." Now I want to briefly talk about the things you should not do when you're feeling stuck. It's all too easy for a writer to self-sabotage. So if you're feeling low on inspiration, or if you feel like you just cannot write another word, stop right there.

What Not To Do:
1. Hide. Let me tell you, I understand how it is when you can't write. You don't want anyone to know about it. You want to retreat and pretend like everything is okay and you're writing everyday. Don't pull away though. Keep in touch with those who will encourage you and cheer you on through your block.

2. Stop writing. Whatever you do, don't stop writing. I know you think it's impossible, but you can write, even when you don't feel like you can. Keep a journal. Write out your frustrations by hand. Write about how you can't write. Write how it makes you feel. Sometimes all you need is to work out those inner frustrations.

3. Throw it all away. I've heard way too many writers talk about how they threw away their rejected manuscript. Rejection hurts. But don't throw away all your hard work, just because someone said, "No." Just get up and try again.

4. Bury yourself in work. Writers on the other end of the spectrum think that if they bury themselves in what I call "busy work" they'll eventually be able to write again. If you can't write, then don't punish yourself by doing other things to keep yourself busy. Do something productive, or write in your journal.

If you're feeling stuck, I hope these tips help you out. Remember to be gentle with yourself. The inspiration will return. In the meantime, stay focused and be encouraged!

Do you need an article like this for your business? Hope Writes articles, blog entries, newsletters, press releases, and more for small business owners.

Write it down,

Carma

Does Your Blog Sizzle?

The subject of writer’s block has been bantered around a lot and there is even debate as to whether it even exists. I am not going to say one way or the other but occasionally I need a jump start. Thanks to Anne Wayman at the Golden Pencil for listing those 101 Great Posting Ideas that will Make Your Blog Sizzle from Philip Liu who writes the I Help you Blog blog. With a list like that you are sure to have a great supply of jump starters.

Then a few days ago Liz Strauss invited Joe Hauckes over to speak at the SOBCon Virtual Conference March 12 Joe wrote about Why Navigation is Important to You and Your Readers.

This is just two examples of how much information and sharing are going on all over the blogsophere. I have something with a different twist. I am sure there are books lying around your desk right now. Pick one up and turn to…let’s say…page 123. Go to the third paragraph and read. What does it say? What is the name of the book and Author?

I just reached up and grabbed a book I’ve had for quite a few months. The name of the book is “Warlord, No better friend, No worse enemy". Author is Ilario Pantano (with Malcom McConnell). The third paragraph says:

“Then I pulled on the fully modified Kevlar vest, loaded with my ammo and gear. Heavy. It would be hard to run far wearing all this. Even with the insulated roof, the GP tent was hot and I was sweating from the effort. And this was only the end of March. What would July and August be like?”

Did your paragraph make you want to get back to reading or did it spur new ideas?

Write it down,
Karma

P.S. No fair to search for a favorite book. Just grab the first one you see.... I'm watching.