Have a life Music really inspires me, so I'll put something on and usually an idea or something shows up. Or re read some previous stuff for editing.
I have had writers block for two years, I used to write all the time and now I just don't seem to "have it" anymore. hopefully it'll come back soon. it seemed I could write better when my life was a mess now that I'm happy it's harder. there's something wrong with that....
Make myself write -- contrary to what you might think I write just as well when I force myself -- and I couldn't ever finish a book if I gave up when I lost interest or motivation.
Normally I drink copiously, chat to someone from my MSN list who I normally can't be bothered with, watch a movie, go for a walk, etc. I'm very rarely inspired to write, and when I am it's very rarely at a convenient time, I usually end up trying to jot ideas down on the back of my hand in pouring rain whilst late for a rehearsal. You can't really advise someone on these things. Writer's block generally comes from thinking too hard about writing; the search for an idea becomes so entrenched in your mind that you can't look at anything without trying to write about it. You just need to get some distance, do something else, and keep doing it until you've stopped deliberately doing something else to free up your writer's block, and instead are just doing it. That's when the ideas come. Unfortunately, that advice really isn't helpful, because as soon as you consciously try not to think about something you're thinking about it. Resist the urge to write about being a writer though. It's a bad idea.
Stop everything, clear out the continuous mental noise, and then decide what I'm really trying to say.
When I'm stuck i try writing pages and pages of crap, like "stream of concsiousness" style.. it helps and you never know what you might come out with
Barely relevant, but one of my favourite quotes: "When I want to read a great novel, I write one" - Benjamin Disraeli. That man was a fucking leg end.
actually, that's ghost writing, Matt. ;P As for can't write, deadlines are wonderful. set a time limit and something will spill out (if not, maybe writing isn't your main muse) I do it daily, and produce about 7000 words a week. ("noose" biz, as Ed Abbey called it) If you truly have writer's block, its actually a panic reaction. Write SOMETHING, crap or Ok and then leave it at the top until yoiu have eaten enough of that scary space to delete it/cross it out (always write a final draft)
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generaly the advice from profetional writers and such is to write anyway. like my lit teacher told me, painters paint sculpters sculp, and writers write, so if you want to be a writer,,,,,
For some reason, my first response was because I misinterpreted the original post. I thought he meant when he couldn't write for some reason, like, no paper around or something. Writers block didn't even enter my mind. Sometimes my fingers move faster than my brain. *shrug* That said, I say, just write. streaming thought onto the paper (or computer), write about how you can't write, then keep going and going. Sometimes things just start surfacing, and later you can go through and read it, and pick out some ideas or things you'd like to explore in your writing. Coffee helps too. Alcohol can help, but not too much. Write prolificly, and you're bound to get a few good ideas at least.
a joint after telling some friends all about your origional character as if they are a real person you met. only some time later in their development in your mind tell them actually this story was fictional and you were using them as a realism check canvas..!