Tag Archives: writer’s block

Tips for writers

How to Move Beyond Writer’s Block

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Toolkit
Being a blogger is not about the need to fit in and conform. I know, I feel that pressure from many sides, to be like those productive and popular and successful bloggers. You know, the ones everyone talks about, the gurus of the genre, whatever your niche. And yes, of course I want to stand out on the global web. I just don’t like being scraped. After all, my blog, like all the others is personal. Sure, I’m gifting you dear reader with motivation, a few minutes of peaceful introspection, or maybe a giggle on your coffee break. After all, I have to be ME. So here it is, the bald faced truth. I am weird. I’m a bit of a misfit, just like you. Because we are all so unique after all. I hope that my blog touches you and finds a little corner of yourself that you tucked away. It’s alright, you don’t have to show me. Just keep coming back. I love your company. And fellow bloggers, today, I am revisiting the tip part of my blog. Enthusiasm and Greta ideas are contagious, but so is writers block. So accept it, we are not perfect, and we have off days. Here are some ways to beat those “blahs.”

Alright, let’s start with some cold hard truths. Writing is really hard work. I know those non-writing folk among you think we just pick up a pen or sit at the keyboard, and magically, instantaneously, words fly out and transform into blog posts, poetry and prose. But it’s just not so. Though we like to consider ourselves tortured, creative geniuses to account for the words stuck floating in our minds, the truth is that writer’s block is a serious affliction. Authors must choose to get on with our work, so that we can impart words of wisdom and literary masterpieces to the masses. How do we do this? Because I blogThere are lots of ways, each one unique to the individual who is stuck under that rock. You will need to experiment. Find what works for you. We are all different after all, and sometimes, you need to get relaxed or maybe seriously wacky weird to continue your work. This probably holds true to other professions as well, so dear readers, even if you’re not a budding blogging author, keep reading.

My biggest issue is my inner critic. I know that being objective and critical makes my work better, but sometimes, I feel that the editor within is a gruesome beast. It makes some posts good, and others great. It is the essence of penning a poem that other authors claim haunting and Poe-like (a massive compliment to me, so thanks fellow prosers) and writing a post that truly sucks like a tart, sour lemon. So if I know my inner critic makes for better blogging, how do I keep her in my side? By befriending her. I write, I re-write, I edit. I listen to that gut feeling. She controls the redlined and chooses different words to make an impact. She is the ice in my iced coffee. We are a team. You know what I am talking about folks. To be successful, you need to follow the gut instincts and be brave. Different? OK, but make it count. Stand out and stand up. Different might be just the thing to bring in your audience, and push your ranking up the charts.

Alright, so now, there’s a plan. You outline your post or story and sit down to write. High school English class taught us all that outlines are the way to go. We even use this strategy when planning a trip run errands or to pack for that dream vacation. But, and this is a big but, that outlined plan can suck the life and joy right out of your penning hand. You get bored. Now, you’re stuck, sometimes mid sentence. The answer? Stop planning. Write gobbledegook mismatched rhymes if you have to, but stop following the outline. It’s like the child who always colors outside the lines. Creativity needs an outlet, and a step by step plotting of paragraphs just doesn’t always work. Sometimes, the jibber sigh leads to a weird sentence, a thought, something that snags your attention. Now, you have something to work with. Run with it.

In the same vein as the tossing your outline to the wind, step back. Stop thinking about your audience for just a few minutes. Perhaps, you have something on your mind. Something is sitting within your soul and you need to spit it out. Project. Write. Even if it turns out to be something irrelevant and unsuitable for your blog, you need to write it…NOW. Get rid of the thoughts so you can move on. It’s taking up too much rental space and evicting the great blog post before it has a chance to be written. Write what you want to write, even if you are the audience, then, go back, revisit and rewrite your awesome post. But get on with it already.

Coffee breakWhile you’re distracting yourself and writing for yourself, take a little break. Yes friends, a coffee break. When I’m totally stuck, I grab my favorite mug and brew some magic. Those beans relax me, maybe take away some stress, and I can write. Sometimes, I can on,y write for a few minutes, then I need more java juice. And then my brain opens up, the words fill my head and travel down my arm to my beloved purple pen. I’m focused and alert (hooray for caffeine!) in five minutes I have recharged. Sometimes I sit on the little balcony, my cute wrought iron chair digging into my short clad legs, and I watch the clouds. I listen to the car alarms and barking dogs until I can’t hear them anymore. Focused. The whole secret to being creative is not in the mythical ideas that become successful prose, but in productive thought and work. To be successful you must take a break every now and then. It helps your flow of unique ideas, just like taking a walk increases cardio good stuff. (Not a health article guys, so ease up). Don’t spend your break on social media. That is not truly relaxing. Five little minutes staring out of the window should do the trick. The modern coffee/cigarette break.

OK, so now you’ve relaxed, but you’re still stuck. How about digging out that old imaginary friend. Thinking about your audience and who reads your blog posts is seriously scary. So stop dwelling on your readers for a bit, don’t worry about what they want or expect to read tomorrow. Talk to your little friend. After all, your imaginary friend is your biggest fan, and she loves everything you write. Even if the grammar is inconsistency the ideas flaky. She love you. Talk to her. Ask her about her dreams and the challenges she faces as an imaginary friend. Be a good friend and perhaps she will feed you some good ideas. If you’re sweet and very lucky.

Primal scream

Still frustrated and blocked? Mind a blank slate? Scream. A big, primal, gut wrenching, from the depths of your soul scream. And curse. Be that drunken sailor you have always been told is unladylike. Be emotionally invested in your rants. Don’t worry about stepping out of bounds. You’re a writer, you’re  passionate. Now write it. Great writers do worry about picking the right words. We wrote to inspire our audience, to make you, dear reader, feel something. I want you to emote: laugh, cry, be outraged. Be passionate. And if you love what I’ve penned, please share with others. It’s polite. And I’ll be grateful. Writing is really all about emotion, and so is life.

Last, but not least on this topic, is to go back and retread your work. Read through your glorious, most popular posts. I know, you feel like your mojo has gotten up to go-go, but it happens. All writers lose momentum once in a while. It’s normal. (I keep reminding myself) sometimes, I look at a post and remember something about it that I set aside, a metaphor, a story; so I pen it in my notebook. I just start in the middle, In that juicy good part. Sometimes, the opening paragraph is a killer. It sneaks up ad murders your blog post. So don’t let it. Introductions can always be made a later date, when you’ve met everyone already. Look at that popular post again. You are good. You’re a phenomenal writer. Your talent is there, within you. It just needs a little glittery shove to get back in shape. Stay true to yourself, and you will do well. After all, nobody else writes like you, and that should be off to get your fears oiled up and moving again.

Motivational / Inspirational, Tips for writers

When Your Imaginary Friends Stop Talking

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Writer's Block

When Your Imaginary Friends Stop Talking (a.k.a. Writer’s Block)

I’m staring at the blank page before me. The red margins and aqua lines mock me. There are no words. I can only think of the coffee that is finally circulating through my system, hoping to awaken not only my physical self, but the sealed boxes in my mind. I am mute. Some days, like today, I cannot find the words. All my monsters and imaginary beings have abandoned ship, my inspiration silent. I know that all writers go through times like these; the frustration is horrible. What is there to do? I have a few secrets dear readers, and I am not afraid to share. Once in a while they fail, but often those imaginary monsters wake up with an opinion or an idea, and then I am off, pen running faster than the word train in my brain. (ha, I rhymed!)

So first off, let me assure that slamming my head against the wall, crunching paper into tight, angry balls and watching them pile up, and just dropping my weary head to the page do not work. The paper is silent, the pen dry. Prioritize. There are so many ideas cluttering the crevices in my mind, that none of them get air time. I find when I’m all cramped up like this I make lists. I start with groceries because that is easy. From there I expand into vacation spots, and trees (I know, but I have a thing for trees- they’re majestic and tall and curved with stories- but that’s for another post.) Which writing tasks do I need to accomplish first today? An outline, a random paragraph, perhaps some character development? When all else fails, that new medium for writers, social media, can grab a little time in the spotlight. There is always an inspiring picture for Pinterest, a quote I love to post on my Facebook page, or just simply checking my e-mail for writing tips from others. Sometimes a spammy ad in my inbox turns on the light and wake up my little monsters, and the voices start, the pen flies across the page,( unless you favor a keyboard) and Voila! no more writer’s block.

Next, I create some goals. I usually set mine up for the week, penning them into my calendar, but often, they need daily re-vamping. Writers need to be flexible, because you never know what opportunities present themselves. After all, writer’s block occurs mostly from our own self criticism. Sometimes I am so hard on myself that all thoughts are blocked and cannot move from the mind to the pen. (I’m old school first.) Most writers are a fickle bunch. It is imperative to have a goal, because otherwise let’s face it, we would be clicking on pins and quote all day. I never list my goals as simply “write” or “story edit.” It is far less daunting and more attainable if my calendar is broken into smaller, more do-able tasks. For example ; write a paragraph for current story, outline blog post, post to Facebook page, pin my last blog, etc.I also schedule myself time away from the pen and keyboard. A walk, coffee, meditation, lunch with a friend – these help keep the ideas fresh and flowing and the inner demons talking.

It is also important to remember my focus and my purpose. When I really get stuck, I try and remember why I write. I write to express myself, to share with and motivate others, to make people feel something, to educate (for other writers and bloggers?), and to let those demons have their say. All of this is both cathartic and rewarding, especially if you get published.

Another important thing to remember is that I am human and fallible. Some days will be truly unproductive, and I won’t meet any of my goals. And that’s OK. Sometimes we all need to stop, recharge and reboot.It is not an excuse for lack of productivity, but a brain boost. (See Play Hooky Like A Pro).

This next trick is MEGA important. Step outside and live your life. The random bike ride, self talk while on a quiet walk, adventures with friends and family – these are your stories. All writers are wired to see the world a little differently. We see in words and phrases and worry about the endings. We see stories everywhere we go. And yes, if you do something to inspire, anger or humor me, you might be part of a story. Call it my disclaimer, but I will never publish your name. Promise. Stepping outside my routine changes everything – there are more stories, more writing. Sometimes, I write for my eyes only – and that is alright too, as long as the words keep coming.

Last, but certainly not least, is to reward yourself. Break up daily tasks and goals and give yourself a pat on the back, a snack, a power nap (my current favorite) after you complete your goals. Any kind of incentive, (coffee, chocolate, a walk) that helps you complete your tasks make a pretty good chance of those imaginary friends opening up and starting to talk again. Then, with the incentive in sight, your words just might flow out a little faster.

I am a writer, as are some of you dear reader and friends. Writer’s block is so common for all of us. What are some of the ways you use to break free and get the words flowing? Share in the comment section – we can uplift each other and write on!