Writer’s block can be triggered by a lot of things. A new marriage or a birth of a baby are major distractions that can interrupt the flow of writing. Another block can come from not knowing where to take the character next. This can usually happen after writing the character into a proverbial corner and not knowing how to get him back out.
Don’t be Afraid of the Delete Key
Sometimes it’s necessary to delete the section that led to the block in order to get back into the flow. Other times it just takes stepping away from the project and then coming back at least a week later and reading over what has been written. The problem can then be found and fixed.
Working on Something Else Breaks Writer’s Block
One of the best ways to get past writer’s block is by working on something else. It doesn’t even have to be anything planned. Just start by writing a random sentence, like “She stood at the shore and stared out at the rough waves.” After that first sentence is written, think about why she’s standing there? What does she see…smell…feel? Imagine standing there in her place. Look around and then write. “The salty sea breeze caressed her face, drying the tears on her cheeks. The setting sun seemed to melt into the water in the distance, making both the sky and ocean look on fire.”
She’s crying, so the reasons can be brought out or maybe even hinted at. Be as creative as possible and don’t hold anything back. This isn’t a novel, merely an exercise.
“She lifted a hand to her cheek, still feeling the sting of the blow. He had never hit her before, and she was still reeling from the shock and pain. The waves seemed to beckon her, inviting her to join them.”
Writing Anything Helps Cure Writer’s Block
Writing like this is an excellent way to get the creative juices flowing again. Once those flood gates open, take another look at what caused the block in the first place. Read several of the last pages, again standing in for the character. Did he or she make the right decision? Could something else have worked better? Don’t be afraid of the delete key, especially if that section caused a break in concentration or flow.
If the block came from not being able to come up with an idea for a new book, try pulling from real experiences. Think of a bad memory. What could have happened to make that better? Sometimes the best fiction comes from a spark of reality. Writing a bad experience with a happy ending might even make the memory not so bad anymore.
Think of a movie that bombed in the box office. What would have made it better? Write a summary of how it should have been and then expand on that idea. Take a side character with little story or one that died, and give him or her a new adventure.
The Cure to Writer’s Block is to Write!
These are just a few examples of what will help break through writer’s block. For more help on how to get writing again, visit a site on Writing Road Blocks.
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