How to Get Over Writer’s Block

Jul
01
2009

I asked for help from other writers on Twitter the other night, when I was facing a bit of writer’s block. I’m reposting their wisdom here, because they are made of awesome.

merindab@SonjaFoust Write the crap until the good stuff comes out

merindab@SonjaFoust I’m playing with this right now http://www.geocities.com/po…

ducttapeavenger@SonjaFoust I tend to write with no plan whatsoever and see what happens. Usually end up with stories of penguin assassins & the like.

BCB_RT @SonjaFoust: In a writing dry spell. Give me yr best writing tip…<give yrself permission to write pure crap. U can’t edit a blank pg

BCB_@SonjaFoust The point is that when you look at it later, it won’t be crap. Let it not matter for now. Just. Write.

nancy777ca@SonjaFoust Read a book on the writing process or read a writer’s blog. That never fails to get my in the mood to write again!

melissablue13@SonjaFoust No you will hate me. Just start writing. About anything. Think of the wildest idea for a scene and write it.

cholby@SonjaFoust go for a walk. Always clears my mind and gives me the next scene

cholby@SonjaFoust I usually have the dogs around. They kind of jerk the ideas out of my head. Ohhh shiny!

KarenPinco@SonjaFoust Hmm. I could use some of that advice myself. But perhaps there’s someone in your life that needs to be tortured in a book?

jamieklee77@SonjaFoust not focus on writing the first paragraph, but start with the second. wierd, I know but it always worked for me.

Buckeye_BethM@SonjaFoust when I feel like that, I get a new notebook & write everything about the new story in it. By the end, I’m usually revitalized…

Buckeye_BethM@SonjaFoust …to work on one or the other. Actually, bouncing between 2 dift. stories keeps my energy going. Good luck…been there…:)

Thanks everyone! That was all fantastic advice, and I’m well on my way to beating this block!

What’s your advice? Leave it in the comments!

Written by Sonja in: On Writing, Unsolicited Advice |

(Anonymous)

Happy birthday, and thanks for the links. I am currently studying to be a librarian, so I’ll be sure to check them out.

Fiona:)(Reply to this)

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lectitans

Thank you! I hope you have a great day, too!(Reply to this) (Parent)

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jamarattigan

Happy Birthday, Kimberly!! Thanks for the links. MotherReader’s post yesterday was definitely interesting and important for all bloggers who review books.

Have a great day!!(Reply to this) (Thread)

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Sonja

Interesting, Lisa! That actually has the opposite effect on me. If I read something really good in the genre I'm trying to work on, I go, "Well, they did it better than I ever could have anyway. I give up!" ;) (Yes, defeatest of me, I know.)

Lisa Creech Bledsoe

My favorite way to get in a writing groove is to READ some really awesome writing. Preferably something in the vein of what I'm working on. So if I need to do some narrative work I read great narrative authors. When I'm needing to finish a poem, I read great poetry. Usually works for me, but it does take up time...