Writer's Block Wednesday

Even famous writers have struggled with writer's block, as evidenced by this short video.

Writer's Block Wednesday

Unable to write? Feeling distracted?

Well, you could always step away from your project and go for a walk or something.  But that's really just another form of procrastination.  Try writing about what is distracting you.  At the very least, just start writing gobbledygook.  Eventually you'll tire of this and your imagination will take over.  Before you know it, you'll be back on track writing up a storm, or a cool summer breeze, depending upon the nature of your project.

Don't let the quality of your writing concern you too much at this point.  Don't allow yourself to get caught up rewriting.  Produce new content and keep going until you get to the end.  Then go back over it and refine what you've written.  There's time enough for polishing your prose once you've brought the plot to its appropriate completion.

Here's a short film on the subject:

Writer's Block Wednesday

Still facing writer's block?

Here are a few tips.

If you can, plan out what you're going to write.  You don't have to know the exact wording of the prose, but knowing that your main character needs to travel from point A to point C without going through point B, gives you a goal.  Now you know where your character has to get to, write that scene.

Write someplace without distractions.  Don't write with the TV on.  Don't go to a bar to write, where you may end up ordering more beers than writing paragraphs.  Sit your butt in the chair and write.

You don't want to end up like this guy:

Writer's Block Wednesday

If you want to beat writer's block, your best tactic is to plan ahead.  Devote a specific amount of time each day to writing.  Once you've done that, devise a writing schedule.  Set goals.  Work on your novel Monday, Wednesday and Friday and maybe on short stories Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday you can work on your blog and maybe freestyle Sunday (write whatever strikes your fancy). Stick to the schedule you design and you should be fine. It also helps to have a target word count (think 1,000 words a day). 

If you have it set in your mind what you are going to write about before you even sit down in front of the computer and start typing, then you are likely to struggle less with the actual writing. 

Here is one writer's take on writer's block.  There are a couple s bombs, but no more than you might find in a PG-13 movie.

Writer's Block Wednesday!

Today is the beginning of a new feature on the blog: Writer's Block Wednesday!

Everyone who's done any writing is familiar with the term, though there are those who don't like to admit it. It's that all too familiar state of being in which you just can't write anything.  It's a frustrating feeling, but there are ways to combat it.

Different writers offer differing opinions on how to deal with writer's block.  I'm of the opinion that you have to write your way through it.  Write through writer's block, you ask? Wasn't the problem being unable to write?

That's right.  And the only way to get back on track is to start writing and keep writing until you find yourself back on track.  Do this by writing about how you feel sitting in front of the computer staring at a blank screen.  Write about the frustration you're feeling. 

If that's not substantive enough for you, take it to another level.  Start writing about the room in which you are writing.  Describe the curtains, right down to the thread count if you must.  The important thing is to start writing and keep the flow of words running.  Eventually, you'll find your creative juices are coursing once more and you'll get back to whatever is your current project.

And here's a musical take on writer's block: