Post by Minuit on Jun 26, 2010 22:10:10 GMT 10
Breaking the Block
by Peroxidepirate
No one likes writer's block, but I think we've all been there. Fortunately, writer's block is not the end of the world, and it's not invincible. You can beat it! Here are some tips to help you do so.
1. Give in to writer's block. Really. Tell yourself you don't have to write. Tell yourself you won't write. Tell yourself you can't write, at least for this morning, today, or this weekend. At the end of that time, you'll probably be dying to start writing again.
2. Change your POV. If you can't write a particular scene, think about it from another point of view. Who saw it happen, or overheard the conversation? What did they think? How did they feel about it? Who did they tell? Did that person believe them? Did that person understand what was really going on?
3. Change your medium. If you usually write on the computer, try turning it off and writing by hand; if you usually hand-write your stories, try going straight to typing. If you have access to a microphone, try telling your story aloud and recording it, then transcribing later.
4. Start with a rough draft. You can edit later – it doesn't have to be perfect; it doesn't even have to be good. It just has to be there. You can, and should, change things later.
5. Make an outline. If you're stuck, it might be because you don't know where you're going with your story. An outline will help you find out. It doesn't have to be super detailed or well-organized; as long as it clarifies the the beginning and end of your story, it will help you figure out what belongs in the middle.
6. Make a spreadsheet. There are a ton of different things you can do with this: list your word count for each week, make a chart of where you are in relation to your goal, track the date you start each story and the date you finish it, record which characters you're writing about. If you're the sort of person who likes seeing data in a quantitative format, nothing beats a spreadsheet. (Note: if you don't already know the spreadsheet program, learning it can be a massive exercise in frustration. Mid-writer's block, you might or might not find this a welcome challenge.)
7. Get competitive. Join communities, respond to challenges, enter competitions. This doesn't work for everyone – maybe outside pressure is the worst thing that could happen to your writing. But maybe that little push from outside yourself is enough to get you writing when you would otherwise be completely stuck.
8. Take a break when you need one. Recognize the difference between being blocked (which you can push past) and being burnt out (when you need a serious break). When you are burnt out, respect the part of yourself that's telling you to step back for a while before you start again.
9. Remember that everyone is different. Breaking writer's block is like finding the perfect pair of sneakers or the best coffee drink ever: everyone is going to have a different opinion. Not everything on this list is going to work for everyone, so don't be discouraged if one technique isn't helpful for you. Just try something else, instead.
Happy writing!
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!