W is for Writer's Block, of which I have enough to go around.

Ok, so my friend Dennis gave me a lot of great suggestions for blogs; and after almost twenty four hours, I had nothing.  I am feeling the same way I do when trying to work on my o1ther writing, and that is a lot like being stuck in the mud.  I have Writer's Block.  Wait, that begins with a "W".  Perhaps there is a way to help myself... 

These tips have mainly been ripped from the sites you will find listed at the end.  Some have some editing. 

01.  Tell yourself you have to write for only five minutes.
This is the trick they teach to runners. Okay, so you don’t feel like exercising today. Well, pull on your sneakers and tell yourself you have to run for only five minutes and then you can quit. Many times you’ll discover that the simple act of starting will give you enough momentum to continue. It works for writing, too.

02.  Give yourself permission to write badly — really badly. 
Many times we’re blocked as writers because we’ve raised the stakes too high. “This report will make or break my career,” we tell ourselves. “My income depends on this sales letter,” we fret. Those thoughts may be true, but set them aside while you’re writing. If you simply must beat yourself up, do it when you’re editing.

03.  Give yourself a break.  
Sometimes writer's block is simply caused by being stressed, tired, or just tired of trying to write.  Take a walk, get something to treat yourself with something small (like a smoothie or a walk), take a bath, watch something mindless on television, or just take a nap.  Many times, just offering yourself the opportunity to stop and not think too hard. 

Play on the jungle gym, crawl on the floor after your toddler for 20 minutes - not just for the exercise but also for down time from life's problems and to marvel in the joy of exploration.

04. Work on something completely different. 
If your novel is Blocked, work on a short story for a while instead. If your article is stilted, write a poem. The change in form will release you from the pressure of the prior exercise and who knows? You might even find you have another format to explore! Stimulate your brain with a new challenge

05.  Take a break from writing for others.
 If you’re writing for publication, the final outcome needs to be much different than if you’re writing for yourself. Stop worrying about readers, markets and publishers for a while; fill a page with something you want to write. A letter to a friend, a story for your children. Many writers keep blogs for this reason. Blogs act as a space to vent, work out issues, share thoughts and swap information.

06.  The fairy tale. 
Spend time rewriting your favourite fairytale. Choose a different point of view, or change the genre. This gives you the chance to let your playful side out, which is especially useful if you’re struggling with a demanding project.

I have actually done this one twice, and it did really help.  It was fun, I didn't have to figure out how the plot was going to or who the characters, and it mad me feel much more relaxed about tackling the longer project.  My first was a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", from the perspective of the wolf, against the evil little girl.  The other was a retelling of "Rapunzel", from the perspective of the witch, who is only trying to protect her adopted daughter.  They were actually two of the best things I have written, and they were also two of the least stressful things I have written.  I'm sure those are mutually dependent. 

07.  Prompt yourself.
Play the ‘what if’ game. Begin with one central “what if” and expand it. You can create complete stories using this method. What if your teenage son woke up to find he’d turned into a girl? What if you didn’t notice? What if he still went to school? What if he got into trouble?

Close your eyes, open a dictionary at a random page and stab it with your finger. Look at the word you’ve chosen and its definition, then write. Try to incorporate the word and meaning into your work.

Another good idea is to utilize writing prompts.  There are a lot of places online where you can get these.  They usually say something like, "A woman find a letter in her dead husband's desk.  It has another woman's name on it.  What does she do?" or "Use the words umbrella, hiking, marble, and fondly in a story".  They are often fun to do and can act as a warm up for your real project.

08.  Pick a strange subject to write about.
It doesn’t have to be something you know a lot about — in fact, it can be helpful if it’s a topic about which you’re mostly in the dark. Just use your imagination! Write about taxidermy, the best ways to seduce a married man, hats in the 1920s, someone called Esmeralda who sleeps on an oriental rug & collects books on medical abnormalities. Whatever you like. The only rules are that you challenge yourself & you pick a subject that is fun to you.


This is kind of what I have been trying to do with my blog -- though not really strange.  It has been successful.  I've written more than I have written in years.

09.  Daydream.
Whilst you finish off the housework or walk the dog, let your mind wander. Think about your project and answer any questions that arise. Even if you’re not the kind of writer who outlines everything in great detail, if you start with a fully fledged idea you’re more likely to reach the end.

10.  Get physical.  
Go for a walk or run, take a yoga class, play basketball, or even just stretch.  Exercise gets your blood flowing, relaxes tension in your muscles, and often allows you to have some fun.  Once you are done, you feel warmed up enough to get down to work.

BONUS:  I also found a page that had an article on how to determine what the cause of your block is.  
http://www.copyblogger.com/beat-writers-block/

Here are the sites where I got the great tips in italics:

http://dmiracle.com/general/20-surefire-ways-to-beat-writers-block/
http://www.fictionfactor.com/articles/block.html
http://www.ezyblogger.com/2011/03/writing-tips-writer-block/
http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-beat-writers-block