How do you beat writer's block?
Do you go for a jog? Read a book? Go to a movie? Come on, share your secret - we're dying to know!
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| The view from a walk with my family |
A published author told me once that sometimes you have to pull yourself away from your work to gain a fresh, new perspective. So, when I hit writers block and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get my way around it, I pull myself away. I live life, go hiking, work out, play with my family, do daily chores, read great books. Usually, when I least expect it POP the idea I had been searching for to push the story ahead comes to me.
And if that doesn't work, or I don't want to wait...
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| Hiking with my Rayna |
I agree--getting on with life outside the book is great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteGetting away and brainstorming...put together. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteHaving a brainstorming buddy is essential. I don't know what I'd do without mine!
ReplyDeleteI brainstorm with my sister-in-law. It's really helpful to have someone to do that with. I completely forgot to put that in my own post!
ReplyDeleteI bounce ideas off my sister who has been at this writing thing a lot longer than me. Super helpful having a sounding board!
ReplyDeleteYes, sounding boards are amazingly helpful. Plus, normal people don't just love to drone on and on for hours on the single topic of writing, but a brainstorming buddy is up for the challenge and enjoys it! Priceless.
ReplyDeleteI've read writers encouraging people to just sit at the computer and write, no matter what comes out. To keep at it until something forces it's way to the top. I've tried that, and sometimes it works. When you've got a deadline and you have to get something out, maybe that's the only option. But I find that, like you, when I'm stuck, the answers always come when I'm doing something else.
ReplyDeleteI went through a bout of writer's block and even did a post as well with different options or ideas. One of them, which really does help me is music. Music really stimulates the mind and helps you be creative. Well, at least that's my 2 cents worth. :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi~ I've done that too, just made myself write even when I didn't feel like it. And I did it, although it came out slowly. :) But, that was more of just not feeling like writing rather than a block. I rarely have a block. And the few times I can remember experiencing it was when I had to kill someone off, but couldn't decide who, and that's when my writing friend did some brainstorming with me, and then the time when the agent told me to make my main character deeper and I had no clue how to do that. In that instance, I had to step away for a while and do other things. I think it's different for each person, for each story and for each reason the writer's block crept up in the first place. :)
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