I can honestly say that I only remember one day that I had writer’s block. That particular day was one of the most traumatic of my life and the stream of words was simply cut off. Not to be defeated, I wrote a poem about writer’s block and it “Primed the pump” so that thought began to flow freely once again. I have had other writers tell me that they have at times experienced writer’s block for days, even weeks at a time. Here are some very simple suggestions that may help if you find yourself in such a quandary:
Look at an assortment of pictures, when one captures your interest, write a poem or short story about it.
Take a walk and absorb the beauty of nature, write about your observations and emotions.
Go somewhere that you can observe people passing by, pick out a person or group of people and write about them, their possible lives, conversation or situation.
Think of the most joyful or painful experience in you life, concentrate on it until you actually begin to feel the emotion, write about what you feel.
Think about people in your life who have deeply influenced you, write about them, a tribute, a description, a criticism or confrontation.
Think about a creature of the animal kingdom, write about them or in your mind become them and write as if they are speaking.
Look around you, notice or think of an inanimate object. In your mind become the object and write about what that object might have to say if it could talk.
Think of the thing that most angers you, write about it, let all the emotion out.
Remember the most romantic or erotic feelings or experience you have had and make it live on the page.
Break away from your usual genre or style and write something completely out of character for you.
Open the dictionary or *Bartlett’s Quotations” write about the first word or quote you see.
Recall a dream you had that has never left your consciousness and write about it.
Make a list of various emotions, try to write about each one individually without using the name of the emotion, can your reader guess what you are describing?
Think of a mythical creature and write a fantasy about it.
Imagine yourself as an inhabitant or a visitor to another time or another earthly or alien civilization, write about it.
These are just a few things that might work, never give up and allow the block to remain until you become frustrated and give up writing for long periods of time. I find it very helpful to write something everyday, even if it's just a few short lines or a journal entry. Like most important things in life the gift of writing should be cherished and practiced. It's "Use it or lose it."
your informative article offers sound advice for those who write and face writers block
m
Whoever said we have to write on demand isn't a writer. Sometimes the mind needs to focus on something other than writing so the muse can come through.
Elizabeth
Debby