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Young Writers Society


The Writer's Block



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Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:12 pm
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Angels-Symphony says...



Many people wonder what the mysterious, mine-boggling, condition known as "writer's block" is. Others, who have been hindered by its presence, ask how to overcome it.

I. What is Writer's Block?

Dictionary Definition: situation when writer cannot write: an inability on the part of a writer to start a new piece of writing or continue an existing one.

The real definition: whatever you think it is.

Writer's block is a plague of the mind, a disease that grows as you put more pressure on yourself. The dictionary is right when they say writer's block is a situation where a writer is unable to write, but they forgot to add a very important detail: why the writer can't write.

[writer's block] <--- See this block here? This is writer's block.

No one actually "gives" you writer's block. It's actually only you who can give it to yourself. The second you doubt yourself, the moment you look back at what you've written, and the time you see your writing through the eyes as someone other than the writer is usually when you get "writer's block".


II. Preventing Writer's Block

The best way to prevent writer's block is to know how writer's get it.

Here's a list of how most writer's get hit with the writer's block:

-no inspiration
-fundamentally misconceived/beyond author's experience
-putting to much pressure on self
-expecting their writing to be perfect or as good as the other "masterpieces" they wrote
-depression
-end of a relationship
-financial pressures
-sense of failure
-new ideas
-fingers, heart, and mind aren't in harmony

III. Overcoming Writer's Block

The first step to overcome writer's block:

Look at writer's block as the following --->[writer's block]

See? It's just a little block. Nothing more than a measly, little brick. Remember that the only thing that makes writer's block so deadly is the mind of the beholder.

Once you realize how powerful you are compared to writer's block, try some of the following:

Forget about writing for a moment! Don't think about your story, just live. Read a book, watch some T.V., eat some pie, play sports, and so on. Little things like this will ignite the fire called "imagination." This break from writing can be anything from 5 minutes, to a month depending on how long you'd like to take.

Change subjects for a bit. Maybe you need some time to express some other emotions you're having that's not exactly right for your main piece of writing.

Don't "force" yourself to write, convince yourself. Why are you writing? What do you want to achieve? Who are you writing for? Is there some sort of reward you'd like?

Write an experimental piece. Do some poetry, some scripts, and so on just to sharpen up your skills and get your creative brain cells going.

Schedule time to write and don't worry about the quality of your output.

Take a writing class! Do a writing workshop. Maybe enter a writing competition.

"mindwrite"-- impulsively write whatever the heck comes to your mind.

Join a writing group ;)

Meditate, excercise, or do yoga.

Write a plot outline and make character profiles. Brainstorm!

Research what you're writing about so you'll know what you're talking about.

Get some fresh air.

Watch a play, read a book, or do something related to your story that might bring inspiration.

Talk to people. Don't hide in your little corner and lay there all day.

Listen to music.

Draw your story.

Review other people's writing.

Don't focus on writing well. Focus on writing. To overcome writer's block, just write! It's simple as that! Just start writing, laugh at how silly writer's block is, and keep going! Don't look back until you're finished. Realize that nothing you write will ever be perfect and that changes can always be made. Be proud that you've overcomed the "monster" and laugh out loud for ever doubting yourself.


Thank you for tuning in ^^

PM me if you have any other questions on writing.
You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself into one.

The writer, when he is also an artist, is someone who admits what others don't dare reveal.
  








Writing is like love: the real thing is a lot less romantic
— dragonfphoenix