Writer's Block

Creative Ideas For Overcoming Writer’s Block

If you have some to add, please let me know!

Writer’s Block can hit any writer, at any time. It can last for a few hours, days, weeks, months and sadly, even years. Here are a few creative ways to overcome writer’s block and get that creativity flowing again.

Write With No Purpose – Set a time (15-20 minutes seems good) and write. Just write. No editing, no stopping, just let the words flow through your pen onto the paper, or your fingers onto the computer screen. Write whatever is in your head. If you are thinking about your lunch, describe it. If you are thinking about the eighteen things you need to get done, hey – start writing about it. Don’t stop until your time is up! You might be surprised at where some of your thoughts will take you.

Write Creatively – Use a Prompt – I am a Writing Prompt junkie and sometimes my best writing comes from using a writing prompt. My very favorite piece I wrote was from a writing prompt. “The last time I saw…” It wound up being an emotional journey for me as I recalled the last time I saw my father before he passed away. Using a book, or website with creative writing prompts can be useful in getting your writer’s block to diminish and getting yourself back on track. On the main page you can click on writing prompts and you will be directed to an excellent compliation of them.

Read – Yes, pick up a book on something you wish to write about, or that might fit the genre that you are most interested in. Start reading and you might be surprised at the number of ideas that might start pouring fourth.

ReWrite Something Already Written Or Give It A Twist – Take a piece that has already been written and re-write it the way you wish it had been. Or try a spin on it. For instance, Alice in Wonderland could have been “Alex in Fireland” and could have a whole different spin. A fantasy about a little girl, might become a fantasy about a little boy and his adventure’s with a dragon. Or if you are a soap junkie, write the following days scenes from your point of view.

Try Some Lyrics – Try writing lyrics to a new song, a poem or even rewriting lyrics to an already recorded song. Or take a song and write the story behind the song. Country songs work especially well with this. It can be a serious, poignant piece or a silly, fun piece.

Be Spontaneous and Try Something New – Doing something out of the ordinary can sometimes help open a creative line that was otherwise blocked off. Perhaps you could try making a meal you’ve never tried, or try making a bowl out of clay. Perhaps taking a self defense class, or even a ball room dancing class. Just try doing something you’ve never done before, and you might just find yourself with a pen (or keyboard) in had writing about your experiences.

Be One With Nature – Stroll through the woods, take a walk at the local park, sit on a park bench and watch the ducks in the pond. Take a pen and notebook with you and record what you see, what you hear, what you feel. Watch what others are doing and write about that. If there is a duck alone in the pond, why is he alone? Why does one tree in the woods have yellow leaves when all the others are green? Take in nature. Lay back on a blanket and smell the air. Sometimes a nature break is enough to get someone back into the mood to write.

Stuck? Take a Break! – If you are in the middle of writing a piece, take a break. Especially if the ideas are not coming willingly and you are finding yourself forcing them. Your break can be a couple of hours or a couple of days. Come back and don’t re-read what you have, just start writing from where you are. You can go back and edit later!

Click Here For great Writing Prompts!