Writer's block - How do you conquer it?
Whether beginning a new story or stuck in the middle of one, how do you deal with writer's block?
I try to structure my writing around when I want to write - not when I need to write.
I know that's not always practical - but I think most creative enterprises need to happen in their own time, not ours.
Hope it helps!
The short answer is don't follow your plan, follow your imagination. Writer's block often occurs because you get stuck on a subject that you have elected to write about but can't seem to generate material. Step away from the process, let your mind settle on something else and write about that. You can always come back to the other subject when you can have more success. Jump around...write a political piece, do some poetry, try your hand at adventure...the point is getting outside your comfort box and see how your imagination flows! WB
I like both Wayne and Ilmdamaily 's answers. Perhaps have a friend "Ralph" you could introduce into the writting at the point of the block to totally destroy the situation then another "Mike" who enters the story to build up the story then while writting about these two the story might sneak out from behind its hiding rock and tip toe away in a direction.
Don't know, depends on how well you like writing about Ralph and Mike!
I try to have a good wank at least once a day. This relieves the tension and gives me that "internal space" that allows the imagination free reign.
Take a college level writing course. You may get more meaningful information there. Also go to the library and pick up books on Writing, like On Writing, King.
This is just my opinion (not intended to be snotty). WB is dual condition of part mental laziness, part lack of enthusiasm. The mental laziness of WB comes from our desire to Harry Potter-wand-trick a story into immediate existence. I've been guilty of this HORDES of times. Lack of enthus. of WB is due us not using writer/writing-related items as mental stimulus to spark our ambition to WRITE.
Solutions: 1-reserve a space in your home for writing. Keep the laptop, tablets, pens, pencils, drafts OUT in the open. This will allow you to instantly start writing whenever desired. No prerequisites like pulling out pads & pens. 2-download trailers of movies based on popular books, record them all to one disc, play this disc on your TV right before you begin to brainstorm. The sight of money-making films based on bestselling books will mentally stimulate your ambition to WRITE your own future bestseller-due-to-be-a-$$-making film. Don't underestimate the power of this. It worked for me: I wrote a book titled Dark Glass using this technique. 3-When WB comes, don't feel like you're obligated to write 4 or 5 pages of story. Simply write out more attributes of your characters or jot down single lines of dialogue (even if they're cliched). 4-Just WRITE SOMETHING, anything! No matter how bad WB may be, a single paragraph is HIGHLY POSSIBLE to write. Good luck.
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