Breaking Writer's Block

One of the banes of most writers is the notorious "Writer's Block."  We just can't seem to get our ideas on paper, or can't get motivated to write what we are thinking.  Writer's Block, however, is rarely a block in your creativity.  Rather it is a block in your dedication to the craft.  It is too easy to be distracted in today's world.  In a world of instant everything, it's too easy to quickly find something else to focus our energies on.

Here are three ideas to help break writer's block for good:

 Write on a pad of paper, not at the computer

Your computer is connected to the internet.  It's too easy to click the Explorer or Firefox icon and start surfing when you should be writing.  At least when you are working on the first rough draft or outline, do it the old fashioned way.  Each page of paper you complete will give you a sense of accomplishment.   Even if you have to "trick" your brain by writing double spaced so it appears you have completed more than you actually did!  Yes, you can create "pages" when writing at the computer, but there is no pile of completed papers to handle or look at.  On the screen, it doesn't look like you are accomplishing anything.

The second problem with writing at the computer?  Auto correction.  It's too easy to delete, cut, paste, and rearrange partial thoughts before they are fully developed.  You end up angsting over two sentences, when you should be just getting the plot down on paper.  This ability to micro edit our work slows down the creative process, leading to Writer's Block.

Stream of Consciousness writing

A little writing trick I learned a long time ago.  Each day, assign ten or fifteen minutes of your day to write...NON-STOP.  No editing. No rewriting.  No pondering the mysteries of your muse.  Just write whatever pops in your head.  And if you can't think of anything to write, then you repeatedly write "I can't think of anything to write" over and over until something comes out.  It can be nonsense.  I can be chicken scratch.  it can be a recipe for brownies (ummmmmm, brownies).  But you just write.  Eventually you just develop the habit of always writing, and things start to blossom out of it.

Reread an old book like you are back in college

Not some self-help book or popular chick lit nonsense.  Grab an old classic and read it again.  Think about how the author uses words and setences to set the scene.  Examine the dialogue.  Pick apart the plot.  Read critically, like you use to do in school.  Part of the writing process is critical thinking, which is something we often overlook in our instant everything world.  We spend the day skimming headlines instead of contemplating events.  Reading critically helps rewire your brain to write.