Help! I'm blocked.

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   ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years ago

   Do any other writers have any techniques for dealing with being blocked?  I have tried just doing it but I give up after five minutes of writing.

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      NatalieSackposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Creativity comes naturally to us when we are children.  We don't resist the urge to simply create like we do as adults, when we have myriad obligations pulling us away from creating.  Along those lines, I find playing gets me through a block.  Crayons and a coloring book work, reading children's picture books at the library, playing kiddie board games.  Somehow this clears that elusive channel creativity flows through.  I set aside an hour every Friday for this and have not been blocked since I started.  Good luck!

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      JohnMelloposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Take one word that you're trying to write about, write it down, separate the letters (i.e. O R A N G E ) into a list, and write a few words that go with each letter. Before long you'll have written a couple paragraphs and should be on your way

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   Pearldiverposted 12 years ago

   ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
   
   Stop searching for Inspiration.. it is an elusive creature that runs along side Love and Winning the Lottery!  And when you open your eyes... look at what nature does when it gets blocked by the unnatural world!

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      kimberlyslyricsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       

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         Pearldiverposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Hello You   You reminded me.... I also wanted to say how binging and bonking also help to get creative juices working

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            ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I don't know what binging is but I guess I know what bonking is and I am a bit too past that - nice idea though.

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you but an elusive answer.  What does nature do when blocked? Lie down and die away?

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   Eazy_Eposted 12 years ago

   Take a break from your project. Rest a bit. Get some sleep, read, eat. Then sit down and start writing; anything! A poem, just some random sentences, just write, it will get your creative juices flowing. When you are ready, try and write again. I'm sure you will get some more work done.

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you that is useful. and takes the pressure off somewhat.

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   JKennyposted 12 years ago

   Just relax and start writing whatever comes into your head, even if its absolute rubbish. I've often found that to be a good way to remove the 'cloud' from my mind. Writers block is nothing to be ashamed of, we all get it from time to time. Hope that helps.

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   Marketing Meritposted 12 years ago

   I agree with JKenny above. I sometimes find it difficult to write about a specific topic, usually because my mind is spinning with other things. So, I just write down whatever it is that is on my mind.
   
   You'll find that there is always something floating around in your head that you can write about. It might just not be what you were planning to write about at that particular moment in time!!

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   bbnixposted 12 years ago

   I would suggest, as often as not, our own minds get in the way.
   
   "Write what you know" seems to always be the foundational basis for writing for most writers, at least to some degree.
   
   Perhaps, a little notebook in your pocket while you live your life, experience your loves and likes, perhaps even those things that trouble you...note your feeling, reactions - observe, note the world around you.
   
   Take a literature class, a creative writing class, they're all about prompts and delving into things to write about. The best thing I ever did was become an english major, a few thousand years of literature do nothing if not inspire you to write, no matter in emulation or your own path...it's all good....just write...
   
   Good luck...

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I like the little notebook idea.  i too have taken courses in creative writing and the craft of writing at university. You are so right about 'our own minds getting in the way' - I will take a holiday from my own mind. Thank you for your response/

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   readytoescapeposted 12 years ago

   The best way I have found is to leave the "work" of writing behind and do something else.
   
   I usually go fishing and/or go out on my boat just to enjoy the Florida outdoors. Sooner or later the muse taps you on the shoulder.

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks - walking for me rather than fishing.

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   T.G.Tposted 12 years ago

   I find when I am at a stand still--I start a new project...silly stuff more often than not but it helps me. Sometimes I keep the other idea's for a rainy day but most of the time I just delete them later. But it is just enough for me to take a break from what I was stuck on and move forward. Best of luck and happy writing!

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you TGT - all of this encouragement is wonderful.

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   Fuggyposted 12 years ago

   Often I find for myself what causes writer's block is when I approach an idea for story or article and my ego tends to get in the way. I tend to trash really good ideas when I should either be writing them down to use at a later date in order to free up space in my mind. Or I put myself under a fallacy that the idea is not top par or will not be read by anyone. When it is just not a well developed idea or is simply not true.
   
   I start by typing it in word or on google docs. It may not seem like a great idea until I do more research and find it might be usable. I agree with the notebook idea cause some of my ideas come from everyday life. But even reading other articles, hubs, or even wikipedia can generate ideas.

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      ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Fuggy. I like those ideas - why not wikipedia.

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    mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years ago

    The answers section is great for giving you ideas, especially if you use the right hand side of the page to select a category you know you are familiar with, (makes finding a suitable question so much quicker).

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       ARTISTEWRITERposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you very much. That will be my next step.

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