How do you get yourself to write when your emotions are a mess?

1. 63

   rclinton5280posted 12 years ago

   How do you get yourself to write when your emotions are a mess?
   
   I have been going through some difficult times, and I can not seem to convince myself to write. I feel like it would help me out, but the words just won't seem to come out.

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2. 60

   Nights Dreamposted 12 years ago

   I have found that when my emotions are screwed up, that is where some of my best writing comes from. It becomes an outlet and a way to look at situations from a different angle. I don't try to find the right words. I just let them flow. You may create some great and very realistic characters by doing this. By realistic, I mean your characters and writing will have the internal conflict of your life.
   
   I hope this helps!

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3. 67

   jdflomposted 12 years ago

   Try to just write to get into the groove of it. Don't focus on writing anything specific... let it be just run-on sentences of your inner thoughts if you have to. Don't worry if it's something nonsensical and/or personal, it will still help you get back into the habit of writing something you have plans for. Eventually, by doing this, your mind will start putting you in a good creative direction.
   
   I've been through difficult times as well and often found it hard to push myself to write; but whether it's hard times or just writer's block, when I open my mind and just write whatever, it helps me eventually get some clarity and focus and puts me back in the groove of writing. It can also be therapeutic for your circumstances.
   
   Hope things get better for you!

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4. 0

   Sergeant Pariahposted 12 years ago

   jdflom has a good idea. It's called free-writing. Just put pen to paper and don't stop writing. Give yourself a set amount of time, say 10 minutes. Don't pause for anything, like pausing to find the right words. Some of (or all of it) might just be nonsense but that is okay. The purpose is to clear your mind.

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5. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 12 years ago

   For me, at least, writing helps me get through difficult times. It isn't so much that I use writing as an outlet for my emotions, so much as it is writing distracting me from whatever it was that was bothering me. Writing involves critical thinking, problem solving and whatever part of our brain is the artistic part. So its easy to focus all of our energy into that project, thus diverting us away from the problem temporarily. It's kind of like a vacation for your over-stressed brain. However, I understand when the words just refuse to come out. In this instance, it might help to pick up something that is already moving. In other words, maybe go back to an old project and work on that, rather than trying to start something new. Or grab your favorite book and start writing the words you see inside. Get your fingers moving so that you can just start writing your own stuff naturally. Reading is also a booster. If you haven't read anything in a while, that might be why you're stuck. And I don't mean any reading, I mean reading in your specific genre. If you write poetry, read some poems. If you write romance, read some romance novels, etc. Immerse yourself in the writing and it will all come back to you.

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6. 0

   Catzgendronposted 12 years ago

   Have a tissue box handy and plug away.  I've had a few of those hubs that had me teary eyed, those that played on my emotions took longer to write because I had to take breaks from time to time.

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