Exercise of the Week
There are a lot of exercises that encourage you to go ahead, get out of your chair, do this or that. But today is your day to sit still and see what happens. Set a timer for one hour and sit. You do not have to write, but I wouldn't be surprised if, somewhere in the next sixty minutes, you find the urge to write. The writing does not have to be good. It can be lousy.
This exercise does not have many variations. Your job is to simply sit at your writing table.
No, you may not leave the table. Stay put. Write about anything or nothing at all. Write about resistance. Write about chairs. Whatever you do, keep your bottom on the seat until the hour is up!
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Overcoming Writers Block
Kenneth Mark | On Staff Author
It happens to EVERYONE at some point and time. You get stuck, can't think of the next move. Frustrated with the work you have been working on, finding that no matter what you do the idea behind that work just won't progress any further than what you already have. Everything seems so cliche or not the way the character you designed would do it. For some reason you just can't wrap your head around that last line in the first stanza. Writers Block is a constant harrassing feeling that hits writers when they are stuck and cannot proceed.
Fortunatly there are several tips and tricks that have helped many struggle through this difficult time.
First, just stop. Stop working, stop thinking, walk away. Believe me it will still be there when you get back, the writing that is, the block hopefully will be gone if you follow these simple hints.
Try Experimenting. Writing in the same old place you do everyday, well it gets dull and dry and that can lead your writing to do the same thing. Try to write in different places, at different times. Take a look at our Creative Spots article. Its a listing of our readers favorite places to write. They tell us why they get inspired by their favorite places, its a great way to get outside the box, try someone eles's favorite place. Also try using different instruments. For instance if you find yourself always typing away on a computer, try leaving the electronics at home and head out with a notebook and pen. Pen and paper give you more freedom to let the creative mind flow. You can make lists, arange things in a variety of ways on the paper, also can sketch and draw out a scene or a character.
Freewriting is always a great way to break out of everyday routine. You can even do this on a daily basis. Take one sentance from a paragraph, maybe something from a book or article that you read and then fill in the paragraph behind it. Write a short story from that sentance or write about the sentance in question. Critique it, or specutlate about it where it came from why the writer choose that particular order of words, just let your mind run with it.
Create a Brain Map. In school everyone has done this at least once. Take a word, say a character or line or something that you are actually stuck on and then start branching out ideas and words from that center point. From those branch out further and further. This can help especially with characters, because you can see what you want from them. What you want to happen to them what you want to include in their apperance. From there you can try descriptive words to use other than the everyday word. Like Brown, you want your characters hair to be brown, so what other words can you use to say brown? Write them down. This can take you in a variety of directions and even can start something new all together.
Always be flexible, its hard after you have created this perfect sentance or paragraph to realize that no matter how hard you brainstorm it just isn't going to work in your story or poem. Be willing and ready to let it go and just get rid of it all together. Write it down on a scrap piece of paper and add it to an idea box to save for a rainy day. When your stuck or need a writing prompt, go to the box and pull out one sheet. This way you will have a line or paragraph that you know you already like and can start from scratch.
Be sure to re-read. Take the time to re-read everything at least twice. Take a printed out version or a copy if using paper and just write all over it. Ideas, things you wish you could flesh out more, oh and of course edit. Edit edit edit. Its the number one step in trying to get published.
Oh and lastly, Relax! The more you worry and stress over it the harder it is to concentrate and see clearly. Just take a break, grab some coffee and take a few deep breaths, if you follow these simple hints, your writer's block should be gone in no time!
