Writer's block

How do you break through it?

 

Go for a walk, hang out with friends, and don't think about writing. That way, it'll creep up on you when you least expect it O_O

 

I think nothing helps. It just sort of comes back. Writers block can last for months, man.

 

No single solution, sometimes I just sit and hash out scraps and ideas, and old bits and pieces of writing I never found a use for till something comes.

Sometimes I just go put the kettle on and let it rest.

If you let it bug you, it will get worse I find

 

I've found that just sitting down and writing about how I can't write anything eventually gives me some inspiration. Try a toke first, if you're into that.

 

there are thousands of writing exercises out there that can get the ideas flowing. check out a writing book from the library (any "craft" book by Janet Burroway is helpful), or just google "writing exercises"...

while writing exercises are not always good to use as a base for larger works, they at least get you thinking in a different direction and help to open you up for creativity.

hope you get over it, writer's block is frustrating...

 

well i've another opinion... Try thinking back to the time when you first enjoyed writing. Try to re-write your earliest pieces word for word and try to remember why you wrote that piece in the first place. Eventually, the drive will come back and so will the creative juices. Worked once for me, hope it'll do the same for you man.

Knock the blocks down. Down with the blocks !!!!!

 

THIS.

I do have a few writers excercies I like for creativity,
one of my favs, take an old mag and cut out 20 words I am drawn to,
mix them up and make a poem.I have made some pretty interesting ones,and got my brain going that way.


...but I may not be the best person for advice on this,i find I get burn out and give up on longer projects.

 

For fiction writing exercises check out the book:

The 3 AM Epiphany by Brian Kitely

 

i usually just re-read what ive written, or find something else to do to take my mind off of it to "reset" real quick...lol...sometimes a hit from the pipe doesnt hurt as well

 

I usually work on something else. Like if i'm stuck writing a story, I'll work on a painting. If i get stuck on the painting, I'll try a poem.
Just mix it up but keep the creative juices flowing, ya know.

 

It depends how severe the problem is, and what sort of project you are doing, and what form the block is taking. If you're out of ideas, that's one thing. If you know what you want to write but just find yourself staring into space for hours on end instead of writing it down that is a worse problem--especially if you write for a living. I've never suffered from the first form, but the second is a constant problem for me. Cognitive therapy exercises are good (but you have to know cognitive therapy to do them). And medication can work wonders.

Writing is an extremely stressful profession, and it provokes extreme anxiety. You have very little control over your income, and none over the reception of your work. It's not wonder many writers become heavy drinkers. But now there are excellent medications that can help anxiety just as the SSRIs help depression.

Loss of concentration, inability to focus are both symptoms of depression and anxiety. I'm not saying you have either, but if you look at it from this angle you may find some real help. I've never found automatic writing or any of that stuff any use at all.

 

For me, marijuana works best.

 

Here's what i do.
always have a pen and paper ready, preferably a sketchbook or notebook or sticky pad or something. Write down any ideas you get while they're still fresh in your mind.
And weed helps too.

 

The worst for me is having a block while on a deadline to write something REALLY boring. What can make it worse is if I have nothing down yet and I have already blown my advance money. I've tried the "Whack on the side of the head" book. No use. I've tried drinking, pot and sex, still nothing. One of the few things that has helped me in the past is doing something I loathe, something that reminds me of how bad it was when I had to REALLY work for a living. So I'll clean a bathroom till you can eat from the floor or I'll do a weeks' worth of prep work in the kitchen. Other times I'll just mow the lawn or chop vines. If I'm REALLY in hell and can't make words into gold, I'll just sit with the tools of my trade and create useless crap. Here's one from a few months ago: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=291059 it's all Powerpoint, no imported graphics at all.

Or I'll sit in the Hip Forums chat room and try to commune with folks who have better shit to worry about!

Hope this helps, Charles

 

dont write go somewhere you like chill, if its extreme drop some acid or something and see were that takes you when you stop tripping a couple of days later you might have something good

 

I like the way you think man. However, I write a LOT of corporate crap and I can only imagine what it will turn out like if I'm tripping!