Writer's Block

[avatarnumba2]

ideas to help with creativity...to help stop writers block from taking away interest in writing:
POSTCARD
think of someone you dislike very much...think of why you dislike them then send them somewhere far away or weird...like...pluto...now write a postcard...either from them or from you to them...
start with
A postcard arrived today...

SAILBOAT
draw a picture of a boat...just a silhouette...and write inside..about a boat...
try it with different objects such as a story about a flower.
Or a chair... Once upon a time there was a chair named charlie...

LITTLE RED CABOOSE...
Write a short story about a little red caboose...using the adjectives, up, left, right, down...

[cloud]

Hmm this sounds interesting. >:(

[malynwater]

I guess everyone can just add on exercises to help with writer's block - good idea Joe! *karma*

(I'll sticky it so it's not lost)

[paper]

This actually helped me alot, thanks! ^^

[malynwater]

Here's a weird one: if you find yourself staring at a blank sheet of paper, or blank computer screen, do it for 10 minutes. Do it again tomorrow, and the next day, for 10 days. You won't be able to stop yourself from writing something before your days are up.

[Scooz TJQ]

I generally like to read a story, whether it be a short story or 700 page novel. It's good to see other writers' as it might give you some of your own.

I also love putting references in my stories, so I read up on old mythologies and legends and see if there is something in one of them that corresponds well with my story.

Other than that, a hot cup of chamomile tea (or cold during the summer) and some good music sometimes help boost my musejuice drive.

[co]

The theory of not writing anything no matter how much you want to has worked wonders for me in the past. Also lost me a few good ideas as well :)

I have one I do religiously that always works though - it's tedious, but I love both writing and typing, just for the sake of doing them both.

I always, always write the original copy on paper, then as I get a a few solid pages, I go and type it up. As I type, I always change things. Usually smll things - grammatical corrections, wording, whether it be adding to the setting or taking out unneeded words/sentences.

Eventually, and even sometimes immediately I end up deciding to take whole parts in different directions. The constant reading and re-reading of a piece always sparks new ideas. Sometimes the smallest most insignificant part can turn into something good.

This is just my experience. It's a bit unorthodox, but hopefully it made sense and helps some people :)

[scarletcougar]

I use that method too for my writing, C.O. And it works just the same for me!

ANOTHER IDEA:
Keep a character diary. What would your character be thinking on a random given day. Sometimes just getting into the head of some other character and writing an entry is great! It sparks the writing at least.

[malynwater]

oooh, I do that too C.O. ^^

I also listen to music that relates to what I'm writing. Like if I was writing a battle scene, I'd have all this battle scene music from different movies on one playlist.

[avatarnumba2]

DREAM DIARY: this one is fun...you find yourself not getting any ideas... get a journal and for a week or so jot down ALL you can remeber from your dreams... do they give you any ideas?

SPOILED ROTTEN: think of 6 nasty things you might find in your fridge and write a story about them.... try to start with...Every time he mentions Paris....

[Mika Hayami]

(Awesome idea...karma!)

Not to sound weird or anything, but I seldom get writers' block because of these tricks. You could say that they work as cures and preventatives.

ZTAD, I do that all the time for love scenes. Kya, so much fun! >.<

I love the dream diary, Joe. I do it all the time. The ideas are so spontaneous and my mother (being a technical and not creative writer) envies me for the crazy ideas that go on inside my mind when the lights turn off. Similarly, my friends think I'm twisted. O.o

Here's a great one: Whenever you feel stumped and don't know what to do, write a character bio. Granted, not an overly simple one...something substantial that deals with the character's unique past and personality. Think up some really different appearances. Who knows? One of your writers' block bios may end up being another Harry Potter, Avatar Aang, Bella Swan, or Silas Marner.

[mobo]

There is no such thing as "writer's block". That's just a word used to describe what it's like when you don't feel like writing/you find it hard to write at the moment for some reason. It is not an excuse for not being able to write, though. If you think that you have "writer's block", you don't, because it doesn't exsist; you must force yourself to write something. What starts as a trickle of words can quickly turn into a gushing torrent if you pick away at the right pieces.

[yoshiheath]

I love the postcard idea. it really helped.

[avatarnumba2]

lol thats a really good one ---katara the flamingo? lol --- i did it with harry potter ;)

[hajtom]

Well I ain't much of a writer but I do like writing things I find interesting.

So thanks for all the tips guys. Well if I have nothing to do I like writing organizational structures also like to make codes(as in law) or a set of laws. I like to think I have my own country and I like writing set of rules which is populist as possible or creating order. In short I like constitutions. Hhehehe! I Know I am wierd. :)

[rose]

when i have writers blocks, i usually start writing another random story or such and then when im writing like the second page of it, sth from this current new story will be a perfect next part for my old one... or id just randomly pop up wit sth in my head and be like, 'omg! i can use tat in my story!' this isnt always a good idea cuz then u have lots of unfinished story files all over ur comp (or room or w/e) but u can also switch... like currently i have 3 little stories... the ones for my writer blocks, and one official big story saved on me comp... and i always go to one of the three when im stumped... u can also have one story for battle, one for love, one for sad stuff... or w/e and write in each topic whenever ur stumped on tat specific subject.... ooook, im done rambling, and im prtty sure none of u got tat... srry ^^"

and i rlly liked ur dream diary idea, dandy =) ima try tat soon... (yesh, im stumped on my "big" story)

[avatarnumba2]

okay well heres another idea: well its not really an ideea.
okay...start with the idiom "I dont usually hit the ground running" then right whatever comes in your mind...a project for science which you didnt do well on or just your opinions....

here's mine:

I don't usually hit the ground running. It would be a rather stupid thing to do too. If you fall and dont absorb the shock, you'd probably break a leg. Its just not smart. In the end you'd end up going slower with a a brocken leg than with a slow start. Unless someones chasing you. Then you'd probably be caught before you get the chance to jump.But what if, just perhaps, you were pushed off? Well then you'd probably fall on your face and you wouldnt have a chance to run. But of course perhaps you jumped off the cliff...on purpose.....well that's not good, you'd probably not want to get up... in which case you wouldnt mind if you hit the ground running or not. But thats not good at all...don't do that. But maybe you were GOING to jump, but then you decided not too...but you tripped. Well then that just sucks then. I'm sorry.
It's all in the perspective you give it...and thats the way the cookie crumbles. [but perhaps if you already ate that cookie...it couldn't crumble]


and there's an example of my messed up mind

[don't plagerise this please!!! i have to use it for my english homeowkr!!!]

[aikidude]

when I have a writers block, I take a blank sheet of paper and start jotting down random words and phrases, ignoring stuff like coherent sentences, storyline, stuff like that and making sure nothing makes sence. Sometimes there is brilliance amidst the rubbish(ooh nice one gotta remember that.)

[zukomyprince]

i have a lil journal next to my bed...i dont write in it...but at the end of the day i jot a few words [like 5] of any ideas i had...that way when i have time to sit down and write i have some creative thoughts already started and i can add to it....

but the most important thang is when the mood does hit that i dont stop until i capture it all....cuz i can go months with out writing anything and then i will write two or three really good stories all in one month....thats just how Inspiration rollz with me


but i have to have mood music to write

[...-FTW-...]

when i took a creative writing class over the summer the instructor told me something really useful that will hopefully help out.

When you're writing you have to sit down, and immerse yourself in your mind, be distracted by nothing else. When you look around you see a lot of things around you, when it may seem like there's not much you have to lift up your mental filters. You have to see more than just the brown chair beside you. Take five minutes writing as much as you can about that brown chair. you will soon find out that it was more than just a simple brown chair. Take the words you used to describe the chair or whatever you chose and start inserting them into your story, sentences will start form on their own.


idk, that method has helped me a lot. hope it does the same for someone else.

[Mika Hayami]

@FTW: Uncanny, I took a creative writing class over the summer, and that's what my teacher said. ^^'

Anyhoo, I also try to take in more of my surroundings. Whenever one is exposed to a large amount of people (i.e. school, work, social gatherings, etc.) the air is just bursting with muse. So many people have their own story, and to try and think of just what kind of stuff might happen in their lives may help you. Don't pry...just speculate. It works, trust me.

And another tip from an experienced daydreamer: If you're too lazy to write or don't have the time, you don't have to give up on the story. Develop the idea in your mind until when you do want to write it on paper, you have a completely new world that you have been mulling over for a large amount of time.

[...-FTW-...]

hahahahah that's really funny flam. but i agree totally with what you said, i listen to conversations all of the time.

and the whole thing about just visualizing the story, it's my favorite part of writing.


oh, and just by curiosity and checking for some strange chance, your instructor didn't happen to be a professor from Washington and Lee University? i am guessing most likely not, but you never know, we do live in a small world after all.

[Mika Hayami]

Heh, thanks! ^^

No, I don't think he was...He was a private high school writing teacher.

[...-FTW-...]

hahaha, i figured ther wouldn't be a connection.

[kiyoshi]

SOB! I've had writer's block for like six months! > < It's so frustrating but I'll try some of those methods and get back to any of them that helped!