Overcoming Hurdles

Anathema · 08-June-04, 01:43 PM

I've noticed during my time here that there are many members who write. Not just for posts about watercooling or overclocking, and not just to educate uppity n00bs. There are those who write for pleasure, to tell a story, or to vent their feelings, whatever they may be. Because many of us like to write, it's quite possible that we all run into the problem of writer's block. I struggle with it quite often, in fact. In the spirit of being helpful, I'd like to share some tips with you for getting over writer's block.

Top Ten: Tips For Overcoming Writer's Block

1. Leave it alone for a while. Work on something else, or take a short break from writing altogether. Take a walk or a swim, workout, take a bath, weed the garden. Get your blood and breath and chi moving.

2. Change your writing location or routine. Move to the kitchen, the yard, the park, the library. If you usually write in the morning, try writing at night.

3. Make a "sense map" of your surroundings: smells, textures, sounds, sights. Slow down and dig deep. Embrace the subtle. Track nuance. Pay attention.

4. Change the mechanics of your writing. If you usually use a computer, write by hand. Buy a fabulous fountain pen and some beautiful paper. Try talking into a tape recorder. Sing your sentences. Paint your story. Dance your story. Turn your story into a poem.

5. Try "cluster" writing. Write down one word or idea, perhaps a key phrase from the piece you're working on, circle it, then free associate, writing down phrases and words as fast as you can, connecting one idea to the next with lines. Fill the page. Let your imagination loose. Don't question or judge, just let it rip.

6. Seek inspiration and feedback from your friends, writing group, teachers, or family.

7. Read a book. Read some poetry. Read aloud.

8. Try writing personality profiles of people you know, or of characters from your work in progress.

9. Keep a day book or journal. You needn't make it a grand opus--just recording the weather, what you did that day, or current events can be enough to keep your writing muscle flexed and active until the next burst of creativity strikes.

10. Relax. It's only ink.

Today's post was brought to you by Anathema and Pamela Michael.

BigAkita · 08-June-04, 01:48 PM

11. Slam a quick six of Pale Ale.

Anathema · 08-June-04, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAkita


	11. Slam a quick six of Pale Ale.

12. And if you're not old enough to drink Pale Ale, there's always Bawls!

DuplexEmotions · 08-June-04, 02:21 PM

what I do when I have writer's block is look at my little notebook of quotes. When I hear or say something that makes a strong message, I write it down. Then I refer to them to get me thinking in the right mood. I highly recommend this. To many good things are said and forgotten.

BigAkita · 08-June-04, 02:28 PM

That's an interesting idea, DE. Another method to overcome writer's block is

Darksamurai · 08-June-04, 02:48 PM

My solution to writer's block...

1. Large amounts of caffeine.

2. Uhh... see 1...

3. Did I mention one? I think I did...

4. Dammit, where's my coffee... what was I saying?

5. Oh yeah! Writer's block! Uhh, caffeine in large amounts. Does the trick!

6. Kung-fu flicks... can never have too many kung-fu flicks...

7. Get some Tacos... with sour cream... and maybe a little hot sauce... yeah... life's just better with tacos...

8. Video Games... lots of them. The more fast-paced, gore-packed, and corrupt, the better!

9. Music... gotta have music.

10. Just look around... life provides all kinds of material...

Jonny English · 08-June-04, 05:52 PM

I've never had a problem with writer's block ... my problem is wearing out keyboards too quickly.

Dakas · 08-June-04, 08:02 PM

girls solve writers' block. or guys, depending on your preference. they're just so darn inspirational!

that and staring at the sky for about 4 hours. if nothing else, you stop thinking after a while, and it gives your brain a chance to reset.

Highperf15 · 08-June-04, 09:08 PM

I just walk away and focus on something else and that's when it comes to me.....

j-dogg · 08-June-04, 09:28 PM

Forget Writer's Block, try CADDer's Block, it's the most annoying thing in the world to want to draft the living daylights out of AutoCAD and not know where to start or what to draw. Solution? Take a break from CAD for a while, which is what I'm doing now

caxis0 · 08-June-04, 10:16 PM

Okay. I find it hard to write anything real or satisfying unless I am inspired, and I have little luck finding inspiration. 99 out of 100 times, inspiration finds me.

That's the problem though, when I am inspired by life, feelin all great, I hate to take a break from it to write my thoughts because I am too busy living the moment... does this make sense at all? Much of my writing is editorial commentary, and almost all of it is introspective.

Quite often, inspiration hits while I am driving my car. I used to try and write things down as I thought of them--but this isn't very practical to do while driving! And even if I do jot down a note or an idea (which I do, and all of the time), when I come back to it later, time has robbed me of the clarity that the idea had at that moment and the writing falls strikingly short of what I had intended.

Any advice?

08-June-04, 01:43 PM		#1 (permalink)
Anathema Apex Tech Demi-God	Overcoming Hurdles I've noticed during my time here that there are many members who write. Not just for posts about watercooling or overclocking, and not just to educate uppity n00bs. There are those who write for pleasure, to tell a story, or to vent their feelings, whatever they may be. Because many of us like to write, it's quite possible that we all run into the problem of writer's block. I struggle with it quite often, in fact. In the spirit of being helpful, I'd like to share some tips with you for getting over writer's block. Top Ten: Tips For Overcoming Writer's Block 1. Leave it alone for a while. Work on something else, or take a short break from writing altogether. Take a walk or a swim, workout, take a bath, weed the garden. Get your blood and breath and chi moving. 2. Change your writing location or routine. Move to the kitchen, the yard, the park, the library. If you usually write in the morning, try writing at night. 3. Make a "sense map" of your surroundings: smells, textures, sounds, sights. Slow down and dig deep. Embrace the subtle. Track nuance. Pay attention. 4. Change the mechanics of your writing. If you usually use a computer, write by hand. Buy a fabulous fountain pen and some beautiful paper. Try talking into a tape recorder. Sing your sentences. Paint your story. Dance your story. Turn your story into a poem. 5. Try "cluster" writing. Write down one word or idea, perhaps a key phrase from the piece you're working on, circle it, then free associate, writing down phrases and words as fast as you can, connecting one idea to the next with lines. Fill the page. Let your imagination loose. Don't question or judge, just let it rip. 6. Seek inspiration and feedback from your friends, writing group, teachers, or family. 7. Read a book. Read some poetry. Read aloud. 8. Try writing personality profiles of people you know, or of characters from your work in progress. 9. Keep a day book or journal. You needn't make it a grand opus--just recording the weather, what you did that day, or current events can be enough to keep your writing muscle flexed and active until the next burst of creativity strikes. 10. Relax. It's only ink. Today's post was brought to you by Anathema and Pamela Michael.

08-June-04, 10:16 PM		#11 (permalink)
caxis0 BigA's Special Project	Writers Block Okay. I find it hard to write anything real or satisfying unless I am inspired, and I have little luck finding inspiration. 99 out of 100 times, inspiration finds me. That's the problem though, when I am inspired by life, feelin all great, I hate to take a break from it to write my thoughts because I am too busy living the moment... does this make sense at all? Much of my writing is editorial commentary, and almost all of it is introspective. Quite often, inspiration hits while I am driving my car. I used to try and write things down as I thought of them--but this isn't very practical to do while driving! And even if I do jot down a note or an idea (which I do, and all of the time), when I come back to it later, time has robbed me of the clarity that the idea had at that moment and the writing falls strikingly short of what I had intended. Any advice?

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08-June-04, 01:48 PM		#2 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	11. Slam a quick six of Pale Ale.

08-June-04, 02:21 PM		#4 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar	what I do when I have writer's block is look at my little notebook of quotes. When I hear or say something that makes a strong message, I write it down. Then I refer to them to get me thinking in the right mood. I highly recommend this. To many good things are said and forgotten.

08-June-04, 02:28 PM		#5 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	That's an interesting idea, DE. Another method to overcome writer's block is

08-June-04, 02:48 PM		#6 (permalink)
Darksamurai Sam-Hoe-rai N-Hoe-mad	My solution to writer's block... 1. Large amounts of caffeine. 2. Uhh... see 1... 3. Did I mention one? I think I did... 4. Dammit, where's my coffee... what was I saying? 5. Oh yeah! Writer's block! Uhh, caffeine in large amounts. Does the trick! 6. Kung-fu flicks... can never have too many kung-fu flicks... 7. Get some Tacos... with sour cream... and maybe a little hot sauce... yeah... life's just better with tacos... 8. Video Games... lots of them. The more fast-paced, gore-packed, and corrupt, the better! 9. Music... gotta have music. 10. Just look around... life provides all kinds of material...

08-June-04, 05:52 PM		#7 (permalink)
Jonny English Etiquette & English Gentleman	I've never had a problem with writer's block ... my problem is wearing out keyboards too quickly.

08-June-04, 08:02 PM		#8 (permalink)
Dakas Apex Master Tech	girls solve writers' block. or guys, depending on your preference. they're just so darn inspirational! that and staring at the sky for about 4 hours. if nothing else, you stop thinking after a while, and it gives your brain a chance to reset.

08-June-04, 09:08 PM		#9 (permalink)
Highperf15 a.k.a., Frank Bullitt	I just walk away and focus on something else and that's when it comes to me.....

08-June-04, 09:28 PM		#10 (permalink)
j-dogg Mystical Schwinn Guru	Forget Writer's Block, try CADDer's Block, it's the most annoying thing in the world to want to draft the living daylights out of AutoCAD and not know where to start or what to draw. Solution? Take a break from CAD for a while, which is what I'm doing now