| People with a talent for writing are a courageous | | | | may have a virus. You take it to the repair shop |
| breed. Enthusiastic and self-motivated, they | | | | and don't even ask if or when they'll look at it or |
| weave words together into fiction stories that | | | | get it back to you. |
| take us to magical and mysterious places. Writers | | | | Your family notices your house has never been |
| also produce a variety of non-fiction books, | | | | cleaner, you're reorganizing every nook and |
| articles and classes that help us improve our daily | | | | cranny, getting rid of ten year's worth of clutter. |
| lives. So what if you're an author and your | | | | The lawn is expertly manicured, the flowerbeds |
| creative juices stop flowing? | | | | bursting with colorful blooms. You offer to help all |
| How to give yourself a case of writer's block | | | | your neighbors plant their gardens. |
| Set a deadline. Soon. Convince yourself that if you | | | | You avoid staying home altogether, running |
| don't finish the story/novel/article by a certain | | | | errands all day, every day. Hauling your armchairs |
| date you'll never get it published. Ever. | | | | in to be reupholstered becomes a priority; having |
| Take on every writing project you can find. All | | | | the dog groomed twice in one week doesn't |
| with looming deadlines. Promise your publishers | | | | seem like enough. You decide to go have dinner |
| editors that you'll finish every one of them by the | | | | with your mother-in-law more often, even though |
| end of next week. | | | | she lives in another state... |
| Set astronomical goals. Everyone needs to | | | | How to reopen the floodgates of creativity and |
| formulate goals and strategies for success, but | | | | let the words flow |
| you decide you must write five thousand words a | | | | Relax. Read. Writers are often voracious readers, |
| day, every day, for a month. After the first day | | | | so pick up a book from your to be read pile. |
| you've already broken half the buttons on your | | | | Fresh inspiration is waiting for you between the |
| keyboard from pounding them in frustration. | | | | pages. |
| Try to edit every sentence to perfection while | | | | Join on-line social groups dedicated to books and |
| you are writing. Replace every word at least | | | | writing. Or spend more time with the groups |
| twice. And while you are editing, change the | | | | you're already on and reconnect with like-minded |
| story's main character from an eighteen-year-old | | | | people. Countless authors have experienced |
| girl to a twelve-year-old boy. A few days later | | | | periods of writer's block, and their support and |
| change the character back to a girl. Finally realize | | | | encouragement will infect you with creativity. |
| this is insane, delete the whole story and start | | | | Visit a library. Chat with the librarians, ask which |
| over. | | | | books they enjoy, and get their feedback on the |
| Even though you are working on three short | | | | most requested books. Check out a book or two |
| stories and two novels you keep getting terrific | | | | you normally wouldn't select. Ideas are waiting to |
| ideas so you start three more novels. You'll never | | | | be discovered! |
| make it past page three on any of them because | | | | Find a local writer's club and attend one of their |
| you've lost the ability to focus. | | | | meetings. They often have critique groups. If |
| Fiction authors--decide that even though you've | | | | you're willing to show them a sample of your |
| written two successful mystery novels you have | | | | work in progress they might spot a stifling plot |
| to try a new genre. Right now. You start penning | | | | problem you didn't even notice. |
| a historical romance set in ancient Rome, without | | | | Did one project stop your writing cold? File it |
| first doing any research. This project also stops at | | | | away. Don't think about it for at least six months, |
| page three. | | | | or maybe never again. Were you trying to switch |
| Non-fiction writers--decide that you simply must | | | | genres or cover unfamiliar topics? It is true that |
| write about the hottest new Marshal Arts craze | | | | it's easiest to write about what you know--so get |
| even though your expertise is in quilting and | | | | busy writing about what you love! |
| crafts. After researching for several weeks you | | | | Be honest with yourself. Brutally honest. Are you |
| realize your mistake and this time the project | | | | trying to keep up with the latest best-selling |
| stops after the third paragraph. | | | | novelists who crank out a new book every four |
| Already published? If you've received one | | | | months? Everyone has his or her own speed and |
| negative review be sure to dwell on that instead | | | | writing style. Even if you manage to complete as |
| of all your great reviews. Convince yourself that | | | | many books as your author idols are yours |
| the next project may get even more bad | | | | polished and ready to publish? Sacrificing quality |
| reviews so you'd better rethink the whole writing | | | | over quantity shouldn't be your goal. |
| idea. | | | | If you're blocked due to a lack of story or article |
| Not yet published? Your spouse/family/friends | | | | ideas, turn on the television or read the |
| proclaim you aren't a real writer and you should | | | | newspaper. Common themes are in front of you |
| stop fooling yourself. You finally agree with them | | | | every day, so choose one and build a story |
| and give up. If one or more publishers have | | | | around it. Try focusing on the emotion instead of |
| rejected you, convince yourself that failure is | | | | just the action--love, hate, jealousy... |
| your middle name and vow never to submit your | | | | Go out and have fun! Did you stop writing |
| work again. Ever. | | | | because that's all you do? Take a day off. Visit |
| Symptoms you can't ignore | | | | local attractions like museums, botanical gardens, |
| You know writer's block has you tight in its | | | | or the zoo. Absorb new scenery through your |
| clutches if you get up in the morning and refuse | | | | five senses and brainstorm ways to describe and |
| to turn on your computer, even to check email. | | | | share these experiences--in new stories, books |
| Excuses become your mantra. You're convinced | | | | and articles! |
| the problem is the computer's fault. After all, it | | | | |