| Ever sit in front of a blank word processing | | | | preliminary notes, and your original intentions. Have |
| document, cursor blinking on the screen, mind | | | | you strayed from your original project path? If |
| searching for what to do next? If so, you're not | | | | so, why? Has your project changed or evolved? |
| alone. Every writer struggles with where to start, | | | | If so, what are you missing? What new ideas |
| how to keep motivated, and where to go next | | | | have you hit on? How can you flesh them out? |
| with their work. These challenges are collectively | | | | Let go of your inhibitions, and let your ideas flow. |
| known as "writer's block" - the plight of every | | | | You may be able to locate your creative |
| aspiring scribe. | | | | hang-ups right away, or it may take some work. |
| So writer's block seems to be a valid lack of | | | | But as long as you stick with it, you'll be able to |
| inspiration or motivation, similar to what every | | | | overcome your challenges. |
| creative person deals with at one time or another. | | | | 2. Take a Walk |
| And the idea of writer's block conjures images of | | | | When the last place you want to be is in front of |
| tortured artists struggling to find the right words. | | | | your desk, you may need a change of scenery. |
| You want to write, but you can't - that sounds | | | | Taking a walk can benefit writers twofold. First, |
| like writer's block. Here's the thing: aspiring writers | | | | writing is exercise - it gets your blood pumping |
| chalk up their difficulties to writer's block as if | | | | (hopefully to your brain) and gets you moving. It |
| that's an appropriate excuse for not doing their | | | | gives you physical and mental space from your |
| work. But it's not. They let this thing called writer's | | | | project. Plus, walking uses a completely different |
| block prevent them from their goals and | | | | part of your brain than writing, so you can give |
| aspirations of publication for days, weeks, months, | | | | your creativity a rest, get outside, and reconnect |
| or even years. But they don't have to. | | | | with your world and your surroundings, where |
| The line between amateur wannabe and serious | | | | ideas and inspiration abound. |
| professional has been drawn. Serious, professional | | | | Second, the motion of walking is very rhythmic, |
| writers learn early on that throwing around | | | | which lends itself to meditation and allows you to |
| excuses in lieu of completing their assignments, | | | | let your anxieties go and clear your mind. As you |
| stories, or whatever writing project they're | | | | walk, forget about your writing and focus on the |
| working on puts them in the fast lane bound for | | | | feel of the ground beneath your feet. Listen to |
| failure. No matter how romantic the idea of | | | | your footfalls, feel your arms moving at your |
| writer's block actually seems, it only means | | | | sides, smell the air, and empty your mind of all |
| slacker as far as editors are concerned. (Please | | | | writing-related thoughts. Keep this up for as long |
| note that this isn't to say that some writers have | | | | as you can, thirty minutes to an hour would be |
| never experienced conditions and disorders that | | | | ideal, and when you return to your desk you will |
| impeded their work, such as clinical depression, | | | | feel rejuvenated. Just make sure you do return |
| illness, or alcoholism. But challenges like these will | | | | to your desk. |
| stop anyone, regardless of their profession or | | | | 3. Ask for Help |
| craft, so they don't count as writer's block either.) | | | | Writing is a solitary endeavor, but that doesn't |
| Now, if you're an aspiring writer and you're saying | | | | mean that progress happens in a vacuum. If |
| to yourself, "I have writer's block," understand | | | | you're stuck on something, why not ask for help? |
| that giving your lack of motivation a label - and | | | | Talk to your editor, mentor, or writing coach |
| using the word "writer" in it - you're making your | | | | about the challenges you're facing. If you're a |
| obstacle stronger. If you eradicate the phrase | | | | member of a writer's group, bounce a few ideas |
| "writer's block" from your vocabulary right now, | | | | off someone you trust. If you aren't in a writer's |
| and replace it with something less literary, like | | | | group, find one to join, or start one of your own |
| "lack of ideas," "inability to write," or "lack of | | | | - all you really need is a few like-minds. |
| professionalism," then the whole thing sounds | | | | You can even enlist the help of a non-writer |
| much less glamorous, right? You can still be a | | | | friend or spouse. Talk to them about your |
| writer with "writer's block," but you're not much | | | | concerns, and ask for support. The act of sharing |
| of a writer with the "inability to write." | | | | your problems, in itself, may relieve some of your |
| In other words, snap out of it! You don't have to | | | | hang-ups. You may see that the answer to your |
| let this thing everyone likes to call writer's block | | | | writing problem was right in front of you the |
| get in your way - now, or later in your writing | | | | whole time. |
| career. Because if you let it get to you, you will | | | | The End of Writer's Block Forever |
| fail at your writing goals. | | | | If you're serious about writing, you have to |
| So how can you beat your lack of inspiration? | | | | forget about writer's block. Because as soon as |
| Consider the following strategies. | | | | you start naming your lack of inspiration with |
| 1. Brainstorm New Ideas | | | | writing-related terms, you give it more power |
| If you're stuck, the best way to get unstuck is to | | | | over your success. Essentially, writer's block is |
| brainstorm. When writers lose steam and get | | | | nothing more than an excuse for not being able |
| stuck on a project, they might decide to abandon | | | | to do what writer's do - write. Serious writers |
| whatever they're working on. They begin to | | | | know how to manage their mental hang-ups, and |
| question their abilities, the validity of their | | | | keep writing despite them. |
| message, and the worth of their project. These | | | | The blinking cursor on the blank screen is a fact |
| tendencies only make the situation worse. But | | | | that every writer must face. How you handle it |
| you may find some relief in revisiting your original | | | | will ultimately make or break you. When you |
| intentions - the goals you had when your project | | | | leave writer's block behind for good, you will see |
| idea first came to mind. | | | | your writing, your creativity, and your confidence |
| Forget writing for right now, and really give your | | | | soar. |
| project some thought. Revisit your goals, your | | | | |