09-07-2015, 09:39 AM
Hi PJS,
Ah, writer's block, the doldrums of creativity.
Well, the most effective and immediate solution is to write. Just write anything an everything no matter how insignificant or useless. Write stream of consciousness, ask yourself questions and answer them, write how annoyed you are about not being able to write. Just write anything. Part of writer's block is that you build up the need for greatness in your mind, and then anything that doesn't fit the expectations is suddenly not worthy to bequeath your pages. The pages turn into pedestals where no words are worthy enough to stand. So break down the wall, smash the pedestal, vandalize them with nonsense. Bad writing can be improved, but there's no editing in the world that can spruce up an empty page. Let your words run wild for a bit, then when they've had a good romp, rein them in and remind them that they work for you.
It could take a while (days, weeks) for this to work, but it should eventually.
Solution number two should probably be used in tandem with number one, and that is read. Read, then read, then read. Writers write, and writers read. It is essential. Try branching out to a different genre than you usually prefer. Perhaps you will discover a new writing style that sparks your interest and gets those creative juices flowing.
Solution number three, go for a walk. Or do something out away from that taunting white page. Perhaps the experience will give you something to write about. If not, at least it gave you a break from thinking about it and you will return refreshed and ready for a new try.
There are other little tricks and rituals you could try (I am partial to "the dance of the muses" but can't go into detail here), but the only one that really works every time is to just write words. Hope that helps!
--Quix
Ah, writer's block, the doldrums of creativity.
Well, the most effective and immediate solution is to write. Just write anything an everything no matter how insignificant or useless. Write stream of consciousness, ask yourself questions and answer them, write how annoyed you are about not being able to write. Just write anything. Part of writer's block is that you build up the need for greatness in your mind, and then anything that doesn't fit the expectations is suddenly not worthy to bequeath your pages. The pages turn into pedestals where no words are worthy enough to stand. So break down the wall, smash the pedestal, vandalize them with nonsense. Bad writing can be improved, but there's no editing in the world that can spruce up an empty page. Let your words run wild for a bit, then when they've had a good romp, rein them in and remind them that they work for you.
It could take a while (days, weeks) for this to work, but it should eventually.Solution number two should probably be used in tandem with number one, and that is read. Read, then read, then read. Writers write, and writers read. It is essential. Try branching out to a different genre than you usually prefer. Perhaps you will discover a new writing style that sparks your interest and gets those creative juices flowing.
Solution number three, go for a walk. Or do something out away from that taunting white page. Perhaps the experience will give you something to write about. If not, at least it gave you a break from thinking about it and you will return refreshed and ready for a new try.
There are other little tricks and rituals you could try (I am partial to "the dance of the muses" but can't go into detail here), but the only one that really works every time is to just write words. Hope that helps!
--Quix
The Soufflé isn’t the soufflé; the soufflé is the recipe. --Clara