Writer's block can affect anyone who has ever put pen to paper or faced a blank screen. While this is the most commonly referred to form of writer's block, getting stuck in the middle of a story can be just as debilitating. Here are 10 simple ways to get unstuck.
1. Establish a writing routine.
Create a series of steps to PREPARE yourself to write. The repetition of these steps will train your mind, so that when X, Y and Z happen, you know it's time to write. Use this to trick, cajole or otherwise lure yourself into writing mode. Light a scented candle, turn on your mp3 player or the stereo -- being respectful of others, of course -- adjust the lighting, arrange your writing area (without getting obsessive about it) along with any other little things you can do to set the tone for getting down to business.
But ultimately it's all about your mindset. A man in Japan wrote an entire novel on his cell phone while commuting via subway. For him, stepping into the subway car was getting down to business. Create your unique writing routine.
2. Make an appointment with yourself.
We're all busy people. Finding time to write isn't going to happen on its own if it's not already part of your life. You must carve out the time. Only you know your schedule and only you know how important writing is to you. If this is something you have always wanted to do, then prove it. Find at least 20 minutes a day. Don't wait for the big time chunks. In 20 minutes of focused work you can accomplish more than you might imagine. Don't believe me? Prove me wrong.
Note: Be sure to keep these daily appointments with yourself. An accountability partner may be necessary if you're not tough enough on yourself. Remember, it takes up to 21 days to form a new habit. Beware of giving up too soon.
3. Go do something else.
(If you only have 20 minutes a day, move on to number 4.) The idea here is not to just sit staring at a blank screen or empty page when you're stuck. Some people think best when their hands are immersed in warm, soapy water. Others need a cleaning rag in hand. Personally this technique only works for me when I need to work out a problem in my story, as opposed to fearing that this blockage will go on forever. I'm not fond of either washing dishes or cleaning, so if I'm doing either of those things, you can believe there's a compelling reason.
4. Start a journal.
Write about your frustration, your desire to create a book, to make a difference, to gain recognition. You can pour all of this and more into a writing journal. Don't worry about format, order or relevance to anything around it. You can make lists (linear ideas) or create a mind map (clustered ideas). This is your journal and there is no wrong or right way to do it. The important thing is that the simple act of self-expression will eventually unlock your creativity.
5. Read voraciously.
If you want to write a mystery, by all means read mysteries, but don't neglect other genres and non-fiction. Read the newspaper -- you may get inspired with an off-the-wall idea that destroys your writer's block. Read cereal boxes, comics, biographies and classic literature. Whatever you do, read, read, read.
6. Watch movies and TV.
This kind of screen viewing is not purely for entertainment. Stories are everywhere. Allow yourself to be open to all kinds. Pay special attention to those movies that are "based on..." novels or true stories. What events in your life could you base a story on?
7. Take a hike.
Go to the gym. Walk around the mall before it opens. If you've been sitting for hours on end, you need to remember that your body was designed for motion. And exercise sends oxygen to your brain -- a necessary ingredient for creativity.
8. Shake up your routine.
I know this contradicts number one, but if you're a methodical, habitual person, you may need to stir things up a bit. Go to a local coffee shop to write. You may find it too noisy at first to work on your prose, but if you combine this with keeping a writer's journal, the noise shouldn't matter.
9. Have more than one writing project going at once.
This technique may not work for everyone, but if you suffer from "shiny object syndrome," going between two projects should keep you from being totally blocked.
10. Be a people watcher.
Find a busy eatery, a mall, a park -- any place you can observe people. Make notes on physical descriptions, snippets of conversation, social interactions. Then speculate on the stories behind these people. Does the bag man or lady have a PhD in philosophy? Is the sad-looking new mother suffering from postpartum depression? Create a mini-biography for at least one person every time you venture among strangers.
The key with all of these methods is to do something.
No, I'm sorry. Moping, complaining and whining don't count. I've done all of those at one time or another and they are never effective. I'm learning now to be pro-active, because as Tony Robbins says, "Nothing happens until you take action."
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