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Writers: How do you recover from writers block?

  • Everett Level X4
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    Writers: How do you recover from writers block?

    writer's block

    1. the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing.

    Writers: How do you recover from writers block?

    Often at times I am lost for words, or can't think of how to express myself. I pause for long moments just to think of what to write about or to even think of a word. This doesn't happen all that often to me, however since i am writing more and more this is becoming an issue.

    How do you recover from writers block? For more established writers with experience: How many times do you get writers block when writing?

    #Writer #Block #Writing Content & Writing
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    TommyCarey

    TommyCarey

    Ugh, I hate writers block Writers: How do you recover from writers block?

    I tend to get writers block if I'm writing for a long time and I think I use up all my ideas on a book or post. I've seen, and experienced myself, writers block where I just ramble on about the same thing for an hour and then trash all the pages because after I read back over it, it's complete garbage Writers: How do you recover from writers block?

    To fight writers block I'll usually write down a table of contents before I start writing. I'll plan out everything and even give secondary bullet points for each article, post, topic, thread, book, ebook, chapter, etc. I'll set this up over the course of a week with the longer things I write, like an ebook book for example, and for anything else I'll take a few minutes to map it out. This is obviously something I try to do when I'm writing an informative post, if I'm just responding to someone on a forum, blog or website I'll usually just wing it since the post probably won't be more than a few hundred words (like this post lol). I'll do this to avoid hitting any mental walls, and if I do hit one, I'll tend to move on and start at the next bullet point. I will then come back later and add additional information where I got blocked.

    Another way I deal with writers block is to just leave my work and come back a day, or longer, later and pick up where I left off. Sometimes people can't do this because their block is a week or month long, which is never fun. I've only experienced a block longer than 3 days, one time. I would assume that writing a book about vampires and making it intriguing is much more difficult than writing an ebook on something you do everyday already Writers: How do you recover from writers block?
    10 years ago

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    Everett

    Everett

    I tend to get writers block if I'm writing for a long time and I think I use up all my ideas on a book or post. I've seen, and experienced myself, writers block where I just ramble on about the same thing for an hour and then trash all the pages because after I read back over it, it's complete garbage


    I use to want to write books, and done this many of times in the past. I wonder how many of books would've hit it big.. maybe none? Lol.
    10 years ago

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    Lynne

    Lynne

    I also hate writers block and I get it when I am writing a lot and when I am thinking too much, if that makes sense. I find going for a walk or doing something completely different for a while even if I have a deadline and have to write something NOW. It just helps to get the brain going again.

    And yes mapping out my posts is very helpful too. I always do that. I have my methods for planning my posts and I always stick to that. It stops me from rambling, from repeating myself and from going off on a complete tangent from where I am supposed to be going.
    10 years ago

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    Everett

    Everett

    I just realize that sitting in a spot, somewhere where I don't want to be can actually trigger creativity. I think this is brought on by the flight or fight response? However this does seem to work for me.. LOL. And that place where you don't want to be can be at the DMV (Division of Motor Vechiles), court, public restroom, or a bad area of town just to name a few examples. LOL I'm serious but in those type of situations you WILL think of something to write. Haha.
    10 years ago

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    idealmike

    idealmike

    You know what's funny? There there must have been a million books written on writers block! Or over coming it. I wonder if the people that wrote books on overcoming writers block ever had writers block? I'm sure they did which is probably why they wrote the book!

    Writers block can happen to anyone at any time. It's like something shuts off in our brains that prevents the words from flowing. You can be on an unstoppable roll one minute and then the next bam! Can't think of what to say or write next. So what to do when that happens?
    • Take a break.
      Sometimes the best thing to do is to stop trying to think about what to say/write and to take a break from what you're doing. Whether that means switching off for 5 minutes and going to relax in a chair and listen to some music or watch the TV, or going outside and spending some time with nature or going for a walk through the woods, across the beach or just round the block (ignore the pun) once or twice. This will help because it will help to clear your mind which may have been stuffed with thoughts and words and by clearing your mind, you're leaving it open to think clearly again. It's like the mind has a limit to how much you can fill it with things and when you clear that it's free to be filled up again.
    • Start from the beginning.
      Sometimes we can be writing away and then hit a brick wall so to speak. Which is what happens when you get writers block. You find it hard to carry on from where you left off either because you can't think of what to say next or how you can continue your writing. When that happens, sometimes it's good to take a step back and look at your writing from the bigger picture. The best way to do that is to start at the beginning and start reading inwards, making mental notes or literal notes of things you could add in or change. But by reading your writing from the beginning to the point where you had writers block will almost always help you to carry on and overcome your writers block because you've visualized your story or piece and you know that it's not finished and how you should carry on.
    • Ask other people's opinions.
      Sometimes other people's opinions are enough to get us fired up and stocked up enough to carry on going. Literally asking someone else to read what you've wrote so far and then asking them what else they would say or what direction you think you should go in will help you to overcome your writers block. Since you might not even agree with their opinion or they might not see it how you see it and that can help to give you a perspective on your writing that can help you to overcome the block. It's probably best to ask someone who knows something about what it is you're writing about it who is fairly literate but even asking your partner or friend to read it and give you their thoughts on it can be enough motivation and give you enough ideas to carry on from where you left off. It's definitely worth a try!
    • Do something else!
      When you absolutely can't get over your writers block for whatever it is you're writing about, stop doing it altogether! Find something else you can devote your time to that's going to be more productive rather than just staring at the screen or a blank piece of paper and pulling your hair out in frustration that the old brain cells aren't firing in creativity. By focusing on something else instead, you can get out of that way of thinking and then later on when you return to it, you'll be thinking less like you have writers block and be feeling much more creative knowing you've done something productive and you are a productive person.

    Well I hope that all makes sense to you and it will help you to overcome your writers block! That's some of the things that I will do if and when it happens to me. I usually set out with a goal in mind and don't stop until I've completed doing what I set out to do. But sometimes I'll have to do one of these things otherwise I'm just not being productive and wasting time. Writers: How do you recover from writers block?
    10 years ago

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    EliteWriter

    EliteWriter

    This is one of the worst things for a writer. I find that I get a writer's block either when I am really tired, or when it seems to be one of those days that I just cannot seem to manage to concentrate. In the former case I just make myself take a break, and then when I feel more refreshed I go back to writing again. In case I feel I cannot make myself concentrate, I find it better to just stop and start again much later because it is useless to keep trying. In case I cannot stop because it has to be done on that day I try to read and get some knowledge that can help me come up with new ideas on what to write or how I can elaborate better.
    10 years ago

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    hitmeasap

    hitmeasap

    Hey Everett, thanks for this topic. I'm looking forward to read all the good suggestions in this one, so I'll be back to check it out Writers: How do you recover from writers block?
    writer's block
    the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing.

    I usually know exactly what I want to write about. I know the niche, I have to knowledge, I have the experience, I have everything I need, but sometimes I just can't get it out. It's literally stuck inside of me. It's like my hands are frozen. Nothing happens. I want to write and I know what to write, but it just doesn't work like that. Sometimes, it's almost impossible to get anything at all down on paper.. So I usually relax for awhile and focus on other things instead. Perhaps I'll just leave it for the day and watch a movie or something like that instead.

    As I already stated, I look forward to any tips I can get. Thanks for this!


    Best Regards,
    hitmeasap
    10 years ago

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    Everett

    Everett

    usually know exactly what I want to write about. I know the niche, I have to knowledge, I have the experience, I have everything I need, but sometimes I just can't get it out. It's literally stuck inside of me. It's like my hands are frozen. Nothing happens.

    You, sir, just described writers block in it's purest form! It happens to me all the time. I think it's partially due to me typing so fast, that my fingers usually move faster than my brain does. Well my brain needs to pick up speed, gosh! I hate writers block, and im not slowing my speed down.. no way!
    10 years ago

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    Corzhens

    Corzhens

    Let’s admit that we all enter that phase when our minds are fatigued that everything seemed to be blank. In those times called writer’s block, I would stand away from my writing area, be it our desktop or the tablet. Walking is good to relax not only your mind but also your body. For all you know, your body is already numb from too much sitting. Aside from walking, doing something else is a good way of relaxing your mind. But the best for me is to talk with someone. Visiting a friend who lives nearby or maybe a chat with the neighbor. It never fails me.
    8 years ago

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